MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 6, 2004 - Although natural disasters have recently wreaked
havoc on valuable data stored by businesses nationwide, it is everyday
occurrences such as human error or software problems that most frequently
cause data loss. According to Ontrack Data Recovery, the largest, most
experienced and technologically advanced provider of data recovery products
and services, most organizations are unsure of what constitutes a “data
disaster,” and do not know when, or how, to implement an appropriate crisis
plan. To help them minimize business disruptions, Ontrack has created a
Data Disaster Scale that grades the severity of IT calamities and defines
appropriate crisis management steps to support business continuity.

“Most people associate data disasters purely with fire, flood or other
natural disasters causing physical damage to hard drives,” said Jim Reinert,
senior director of Software and Services for Ontrack Data Recovery.
“However, almost 90 percent of data loss occurs due to human error or
mechanical failure. While natural disasters attract the highest media
profile, such situations are rare, comprising only two percent of data
loss.”

“The Ontrack Data Disaster Scale illustrates the different levels of data
loss, all of which are reason enough to call a specialist or revert to a
business continuity plan. Data loss does not have to be a disaster, but it
will become one if staff does not immediately recognize the seriousness of
the threat to business, and act quickly,” Reinert added.

The Ontrack Data Disaster Scale

1. File or email deletion: A file or email is accidentally deleted or lost
   due to a virus.
   ACTION: Check alternative folders, trash and any back-up files.
   Alternatively, download self-recovery software from a data recovery company’s Web site at minimal cost.
2. Loss of data on one computer: A virus hits a PC or laptop and “wipes” the
   hard drive.
   ACTION: Check back-up, if available, run data recovery software or call a
   data recovery company. Determine
   whether recovery process can be carried out remotely via an Internet
   connection, quickly and securely.
3. Physical damage to a PC or laptop: Computer is dropped, exposed to excess
   heat or water, or caught in a fire.
   ACTION: Do not try to dry, cool or rebuild the computer, or recover data
   yourself. Call a data recovery company immediately, who will advise you
   about the best options.
4. Hard drive error: Computer reports that the hard drive is experiencing
   errors, and may be damaged or corrupted.
   ACTION: Shut down computer immediately. The longer a damaged hard drive is
   left running, the more data that can be irretrievably lost. Call an expert,
   who will advise on next steps.
5. Burnt-out hard drive or electrical circuit board: Part of the hard drive
   is damaged internally, due to age or power spike.
   ACTION: Call a data recovery company that has a substantial circuit board
   database.
6. Physical damage or “head crash” inside the hard drive.
   ACTION: Contact a data recovery company immediately. Ensure it has an
   audited professional cleanroom, and that the company is recommended by the
   respective hard drive manufacturer.
7. External damage to the actual hard drive: Physical damage, as mentioned
   in No. 3, also damages the hard drive.
   ACTION: Call a data recovery company that has audited professional
   cleanrooms immediately.
8. Server failure: Two disks within a RAID array “fall out” or are damaged
   consecutively, server goes down and all company information disappears.
   ACTION: Do not run “CHKDSK” or “VRepair.” Check to see if back-up tapes
   exist and are current enough. If not, call the experts immediately for
   advice on recovery of most current data from the stricken RAID.
9. Server destroyed and backup fails: Natural disaster results in total
   destruction to server, and the restore of backed-up data fails or tapes are
   damaged.
   ACTION: Call data recovery experts that have onsite recovery capabilities
   immediately. Determine what can be recovered from the damaged backup tapes.

Ontrack is able to recover lost or corrupted data from all operating systems
and types of storage devices through its do-it-yourself, remote and in-lab
capabilities, using its hundreds of proprietary tools and techniques.