There was a time when losing data would mean a situation of irreversible loss. But it is not so any more. There are a number of avenues open for the home user as well as a business house through which lost data may be got back. Recovering data with the help of professionals is an option that some people consider to be the best, and some others feel is not worth it at all.



The Options

What can we do on losing data? There are, broadly speaking, three options:

• We could try to rebuild everything again from existing backups and possible sources of ready information.



• We could use DIY software and try to solve the problem ourselves.



• We could call a data recovery company and have the matter solved by them.

The viability of the option that we choose would depend on certain factors too. We need to remember that data loss situations vary from person to person and no solution is generally acceptable.

• The first query is ? how did the data loss happen? If it was due to a software problem (such as virus attack, accidental deletion or formatting, OS failure etc) then we can try to use DIY software. However, if the problem seems complicated in nature, or concerns official data, or has legal implications (such as hacking into potentially sensitive data) then DIY software will not help. Obviously, hardware failures can be managed only by professionals.



• The second concern is the volume of data. For huge amounts of data, a proper firm should be called for help.



• The last factor is the value of data. If the data is very precious, no matter how much the professional recovery people charge, you have to do it. This point will be further discussed below.

Is It Worth It?

It is not very easy to judge the value of data. But in a data loss scenario, we need to have our parameters for understanding the worth of the information lost so that we may budget ourselves accordingly. Once again, this is totally subjective, but a few points can be crystallised.

• If the data is rare and cannot be procured again, you need to recover it, and do so securely. It is fine to use recovery software if you have deleted a few mails from your inbox by mistake. But what if it is the folder containing your wedding photos? You cannot afford to take such a risk with it, because the occasion will not recur.



• For any official data, DIY software is out of question. What you pay the recovery firm today, is the value of your future income. There are many businesses, especially home-based desktop SME, that have been forced to shut shop because of data loss. Luckily, the UK has several competent firms, so you may even manage to get the work done at affordable rates.



• If you do not have any backup, and you need the data anyhow, there is no scope to experiment yourself. The data recovery professionals do this for a living and it is better to leave it to them instead of jeopardising what may still be intact.



• Do not try DIY if you are unsure with its applications.

The Cost Factor

It is true that professional data recovery is more costly than DIY. But you also have the security of being in good hands. Such companies maintain clean room facilities and other professional standards at a high cost, so it is natural that they will charge for it. And if things go wrong, at least you can blame them.

The Time Factor

The advantage of DIY software is that you can download and apply it immediately. Professional data recovery may take days or even weeks. But it is, once again, secure.

How to Choose a Suitable Company

The following criteria can be kept in mind to locate a good firm.

• The company should be listed in reputed directories.



• It must have state-of-the-art clean rooms.



• It should be readily recommended.



• The website should be impressive.



• They will have prompt customer service.