What is Data Loss and How to Prevent Data Loss

What is Data Loss

Data loss is an error condition in information systems

in which information is destroyed by failures or neglect in storage, transmission, or processing. Information systems implement backup and disaster recovery equipment and processes to prevent data loss or restore lost data.

Data loss is distinguished from data unavailability, which may arise from a network outage. Although the two have substantially similar consequences for users, data unavailability is temporary, while data loss may be permanent. Data loss is also distinct from data spill, although the term data loss has been used in those incidents.

Data loss incidents can be also data spill incidents, such as in the case of media containing sensitive information being lost and subsequently acquired by another party. However, data spills are possible without the data being lost in the originating side.

1. Intentional Action

• Intentional deletion of a file or program

2. Unintentional Action

• Accidental deletion of a file or program

• Misplacement of CDs or Memory sticks

• Administration errors

• Inability to read unknown file format

3. Failure

• Power failure, resulting in data in volatile memory not being saved to permanent memory.

• Hardware failure, such as a head crash in a hard disk.

• A software crash or freeze, resulting in data not being saved.

• Software bugs or poor usability, such as not confirming a file delete command.

• Business failure (vendor bankruptcy), where data is stored with a software vendor using Software-as-a-service and SaaS data escrow has not been provisioned.

• Data corruption, such as file system corruption or database corruption.

• So how to prevent data loss to avoid losing important files

? Let’t keep reading.

How to Prevent Data Loss

Nobody likes to hear the words, I told you so, especially when they are busy trying to recover from a serious data loss. Here are some tips to help you avoid hearing them.

Computers should be located in safe, dry and dust-free areas. Low-traffic locations are best, to prevent physical damage to the computers.

Data must be backed up regularly, and the backups verified by actually getting the data off the tape and back into the computers.

Large power surges can destroy computer equipment but even relatively low-level bursts of energy can erase the data on hard drives. Uninterrupted power supplies give protection during lightning and electrical storms, so data can be saved or backed up during an outage.

Protect equipment from static electricity that can erase data or damage components. Today’s storage media is becoming more vulnerable to Extraneous Static Discharge (ESD).

Viruses may not be as common as the news media makes them seem, but they do exist and they can be deadly to data. Use virus detection protection programs and keep them updated.

Many installation and diagnostic programs offer ‘undo’ disks that can restore systems to their original configuration if things go wrong. It’s good practice to take advantage of this feature.

Software You May Need if You Meet Data Loss

To help in recovering lost data, some data recovery tools may be needed. For normal computer users, a tool which is easy to use and do no harm to the computer is the best tool is needed. I suggest you to have a try on uFlysoft data recovery. More details about this software you can read this post to know more.