From losing cherished memories to missing deadlines, the impact of not having backups when a data disaster strikes can hardly be overstated
By Amer Owaida
Losing valuable data is one of the worst things that can happen to anyone – digitally, at least. Imagine losing critical data that you need to deliver a time-sensitive project with a deadline looming, like a school assignment – or documents needed when you’re applying for a grant, or even a freelance job you’ve taken on.
World Backup Day, was envisioned as a way to help raise awareness
of the fact that data loss costs people dearly and that it pays to be prepared.
To mark this special day, we’ve dissect the various aspects of not having a
backup when experiencing
data loss, and what to do in case
that happens to you.
What are the
impacts of data loss?
Imagine you have lost that
critical, not backed-up data for a time-sensitive project. The time you spend
trying to either recover the information by some miracle, or having to go
through researching, compiling, and rewriting it – this all translates into
being less productive and maybe even delivering an inferior product. You also
can’t make up for the time lost doing that and therefore you’d be operating on
a tight deadline and possibly miss out on an opportunity in the end. And some
opportunities don’t come around that often, do they?
The impact of data loss may
vary depending on what kind of data is lost, and when during your process it
happens. Had you regularly backed up all the important data during your
workflow, most of your stress and headaches could have been avoided simply by
jumping back into the process where you left off after restoring
the lost data from your backup. Besides losing data instrumental to your work, such losses can be even
more gut-wrenching if you lose pictures, or videos capturing cherished memories
that you won’t be able to recreate. These may range from marriage proposals to
childhood memories, or even photos of family members who have long passed on.
How does your
data get lost?
There are multiple ways you
could lose your precious data; some are avoidable while others are more
difficult to predict and prevent. Getting your device
infested with malware is one
way you could lose your data; depending on the malicious code, your computer
could either get entirely wiped, your data corrupted, or – if you stumble
upon ransomware – your data could get locked up. This specific cause of data
loss belongs in the realm of the avoidable if you use a full-featured security
solution and apply cybersecurity best practices.
Meanwhile, on the other end
of the spectrum, we have unforeseeable events or accidents. Your device could
get stolen, or it could suffer mechanical damage like spilling liquids on it or
falling from a significant height. Beyond mechanical damage, it isn’t uncommon
for devices to malfunction, either due to age or a manufacturing defect
affecting a specific component, like your hard disk overheating. Power outages
are also a thing that can occur, which means if you’re working on a desktop,
you could lose the data you’re working on in the blink of an eye. Then you also
have to factor in human error, which could result in critical data being
accidentally deleted, or set off a chain of events that could possibly even
lead to your device being completely wiped.
I don’t have
a backup – what do I do?
If your data has been
accidentally deleted, stop using the device immediately, but do not turn it
off. If it is battery-powered, put it on its charger. Now disable all network
connectivity – if it has a “flight mode” or similar, enable that and then put
it in “sleep mode”.
However, if your device has
suffered an accidental liquid spill, immediately turn it off and try to quickly
dry it with a soft dry cloth and if any external media is connected it plug it
out and dry that off too. Leave it a few days to dry completely; depending on
the amount of liquid damage you may have to consult a professional service.
Fortunately, even if one of
the aforementioned scenarios happens, you’re not totally out of luck yet. There
are ways you can try to recover your data. If your device was compromised with
ransomware, you may be able to find free
decryptors created
by security companies to address various strains. You can also try to get your
data back by using various recovery software that was specifically developed
for this purpose. These utilities can either be from the manufacturer of your
device or developed by the producer of the components, or alternatively, you
can rely on third-party software that can be specific to certain operating
systems or devices.
If you’ve run out of DIY
options or feel that you are out of your depth, then you can call in the
cavalry in the form of a data recovery specialist. However, consider that to be
the nuclear option that may set you back hundreds or even thousands of dollars,
to get your data back. It’s also worth mentioning that if you attempt to do any
DIY recovery and it doesn’t work, you may reduce the chances of a professional
being able to help you.
Depending on the type of
device and type of damage, such services may be offered by remotely connecting
to your device or require you to take or ship the device to the recovery
service. If considering this option, contact the service as soon as possible as
its staff will have advice on exactly what is best to do with your device
following the data loss event.
Summary
One thing is for sure:
“prevention is better than cure”. In this context, backing up your sensitive
and important data at regular intervals, so you always have something to fall
back on is preferable to frantically trying to recover lost data. When it comes
to planning your backups, it is better to have several mediums where you have
saved any precious memories or mission-critical data.
The best thing you can do
is use multiple forms of storage like a reputable cloud solution so you have
the data on hand whenever you need it and offline physical storage devices like
external drives. For good measure, you should always encrypt all your data as
well before you store it anywhere, so that even if someone steals your cloud
backups or your external drives, your data is protected.