The Difference Between Data Recovery and Data Backup

Data recovery and data backup are not the same thing, but forgetting one can require that you acquire the other.  Data backup is the process of making copies of your important information such as emails, files, documents, pictures, music, spreadsheets, contact information, in short, any kind of data that you need, preferably in a form that can be easily restored to your computer or another computer in the event that something makes your data inaccessible. This can happen if your drive is damaged, or if a CD or DVD is badly scratched, or if you drop your cell phone in the toilet when you stand up. There are so many ways that you can lose access to your important files that it’s a wonder it doesn’t happen more often.

Most experts recommend that individual users back up their data at least once a week. When you back up your data, you should back it up to somewhere that is not on your computer. The safest backups are stored “off site” usually somewhere outside your place of business or your home. These days, you can easily back up your entire hard drive automatically to an online media locker at intervals that you determine. This can be one of the safest options for your data.

Data recovery is the process of retrieving files, music, emails, spreadsheets, documents and the rest in the event that you forgot to back it all up and then dropped your phone in the toilet or contracted a virus that rendered your hard drive inaccessible or ran over your camera when you backed out of your driveway or any of the other million ways that you might damage the media that holds your important data. Depending on how difficult it is for a company to recover the data, it can be expensive because it requires specialized software, equipment to repair and rebuild your drive and a facility with a clean room where your drive can be safely opened if needed. Prices to recover lost data can range into the thousands of dollars, and even then, there’s seldom a guarantee that the experts will be able to retrieve all of your lost files.

If you do end up needing the services of a data recovery company such as Fields Data Recovery, you should follow certain precautions to make sure that you don’t cause further damage to your drive or device when you send it for service.

First, remove the drive or device carefully from your computer, and then place it inside an anti-static plastic bag. Next, wrap the drive in bubble wrap, and place it in a box slightly larger than the drive. Pack the box with packing peanuts or wrapping paper to provide more cushioning. Finally, mark the package FRAGILE and ship it via UPS or FedEx to the data recovery facility.