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Two leading IT think tanks estimate that 5.6 million hard drives will fail in 2007, and chances are fair to good that one or more of them might well be yours. So a new company has decided to step in and help out.
Data Recovery Whos Who on March 28 launched the Internets first one-stop directory of data recovery services and software, Data Recovery – Whos Who.
The new site is a free resource designed to “quickly and easily assist users in locating the tools, services and support necessary to not only recover lost files, but to ensure and maintain the integrity and health of files stored to virtually any media format including hard disk drives, flash memory, CDs, DVDs, RAID, and other digital storage devices,” a company spokesperson said.
The site consists of four major sections:
- Recovery Tips: important tips from leaders in the data recovery field, including Seagate, Drivesavers, and OnTrack.com.
- Buzzwords: Common terms you have heard but may not understand, such as “disk partition,” “head crash,” “hard disk failure,” “logical damage,” and “physical damage.”
- Service companies: A comparison chart of the major U.S. data recovery service providers, including media supported (HDDs, flash, RAID), on-site support, online recovery, forensics, media conversion, corporate accounts, government-level support, local partner program, and do-it-yourself software.
- Software: The majority of data recovery efforts can be performed immediately on-site. There are a number of software solutions available; this section features a comparison chart.
According to data from recent Carnegie Mellon University and IDC studies, an estimated 5.6 million drives are projected to fail in 2007, said Emily Vinik, vice president of marketing for Data Recovery-Whos Who, based in San Jose, Calif.
“Theres no shortage of companies offering data recovery services and/or software, however the real problem is: How do users quickly identify which one offers the services that best fit their needs?” Vinik said. “DataRecoveryWhosWho.com is a free resource designed to meet the requirements of technology novices and experts alike.”
The directory includes information that can help users identify which organizations provide on-site support, online recovery or maintain a staff of technicians who already have the security clearance necessary to work on government sites, Vinik said.
The site also includes a directory of do-it-yourself data restoration software with in-depth explanations of what the software can do and what it costs, as well as a direct link to the publishers Web site and product page.
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