Whether you store business data or personal files, data loss can be your worst nightmare. Data loss is problematic for every user but severely impacts an organization’s financial health. Irrespective of the size and type of a business, losing files means losing time and money. Companies store several valuables files and documents that are crucial for day-to-day working. And if those files somehow become inaccessible, restoring or recovering that business information is imperative.
Data loss scenarios are quite common and often linked to how we store and handle our data. If you suffer data loss and don’t have a backup, it is possible to get it back with some methods. However, data recovery is not always possible, and the process of recovering is also very complicated. Unless you’re a computer genius, you’ll need the assistance of a professional data recovery specialist to get back your valuable data.
Even if it’s possible to regain your data, it’s better to take precautions to avoid such a data disaster. Businesses and individuals can minimize the chances of data loss by understanding the common causes. So, here is a list of the most common causes of data loss to help you avoid these situations and prevent data loss.
1. Mechanical Damages
Hard drives are the most crucial for storing data. These drives are quite fragile, and every industry will eventually fail. HDDs have several moving parts, which makes them vulnerable to damage. When a hard drive fails, it leads to data loss. There are multiple reasons for hard drive failure, like physical damage, logical error, and aging. Sometimes, drives show signs of wear but may also crash suddenly. In all such situations, you’ll need the help of an IT professional to recover your important data safely.
2. Human Error
Unintentional deletion of data files and folders is another common cause of loss. Sometimes, users accidentally delete files or update the system without taking a backup. Users commonly perform hard delete by pressing a Shift+Del key, permanently deleting data. Actions like updating files, system registry settings, altering system files’ location, and incorrect installation of OS result in data loss. Maintaining proper workflow procedures and backup strategies is important to avoid such situations.
3. Virus Attack
Hundreds of computers suffer virus and malware attacks every day. Hackers keep targeting businesses that lead to data breaches. Any computer connected to the worldwide network is at risk of virus attacks that can harm or damage essential data. A system may get many types of viruses from third-party application links or external devices such as an external hard disk, pen drive, memory card, etc. So, to protect your system and data from such malicious programs, install and keep updating anti-virus software. Also, regular data backups should be made habitually and stored at multiple locations.
