Epsom, UK (PRWEB) August 25, 2010
Demand for data recovery services during the summer months continues to increase, according to Kroll Ontrack, the leading provider of data recovery, information management and legal technology products and services – and this year is no exception.
Average global temperatures from January to June 2010 were the warmest on record since 1880, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). This warmer weather, in addition to summer storms and other major weather disasters, often leads to data loss incidents for businesses and consumers alike.
In the UK, extreme weather conditions in the north and south this year have also set the stage for an increase in data loss incidents. According to the Met Office, July was wetter than normal across most of the UK – except in the south east, which experienced unusually dry weather. In addition, with more key personnel on holiday during the summer months, the likelihood of data loss due to human error tends to grow as well.
“While data loss can happen at any time, we have seen a distinct increase in demand for recovery services from second to third quarter, which coincides with the onset of the summer holiday season as well as volatile weather conditions,” said Phil Bridge, managing director, Kroll Ontrack UK. “This summer, we have already seen an uptick in the number of data recovery requests.”
Based on global data from 2007 to 2009, Ontrack Data Recovery engineers report that requests for hard drive data recovery services increase an average of 12 percent from second to third quarter, during the months of June, July and August, confirming the seasonal effect on data loss. In the UK, data recovery requests are expected to grow by 15 percent between Q2 and Q3 2010.
In determining the causes of data incidents during the summer season, Robert Winter, chief engineer, Ontrack Data Recovery, Kroll Ontrack, says data loss can be attributed to a variety of factors. “Causes range from IT maintenance-related issues and gaps in IT processes, to floods and elevated temperatures, which can contribute to hard drive failures and data loss in general. Here in the UK, the use of air conditioning is also not as prevalent as in the US, making it more challenging to maintain a cool office environment,” said Winter. “Storms and floods are also significant causes of data loss. Over the past couple of months, we’ve seen an influx of these types of jobs in particular.”
Fortunately, there are several simple steps that enterprise and home users can take to prevent this type of scenario, lessening the chances of a data loss related to extreme weather conditions in the summer.
Business Users
Extreme heat can result in the premature failure of hard drives, while low humidity combined with dust in drought conditions can promote static electricity issues with electrical components. Adjust temperature and humidity control systems accordingly during changing weather conditions.
Ensure the continuity of IT processes and systems through appropriate training of all IT administrators, and plan for backup resources.
Conduct data backups regularly and often, and ensure backups and critical documents are stored offsite.
Consider uploading data to the cloud, which may protect customer data from natural disasters.
Home Users
Install a surge protector and get in the habit of turning off your desktop computer or laptop during a storm to avoid any power strikes or surges caused by lightning strikes.
Backup your data regularly – at least once a month, or more often if possible.
Move important files and information, such as personal documents and photos, to an external USB storage device.
Before leaving on holiday, turn off and unplug your laptop or desktop computer.
Keep your computer hard drive off the ground and in a cool, dry area to prevent overheating and water damage should flooding occur.
For more information about Kroll Ontrack and its Ontrack Data Recovery services and solutions, visit http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.co.uk.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Allison
+44 (0)20 8846 0715
About Ontrack Data Recovery
Through its Ontrack Data Recovery products and services, which include RAID data recovery, Kroll Ontrack is the largest, most experienced and technologically advanced provider of data recovery products and services worldwide. Using its hundreds of proprietary tools and techniques, Ontrack Data Recovery solutions help businesses and consumers recover lost or corrupted data from all types of operating systems and media and storage devices through its do-it-yourself, remote and in-lab capabilities. Kroll Ontrack offers a free initial consultation for customers experiencing a data loss.
About Kroll Ontrack Inc.
Kroll Ontrack provides technology-driven services and software to help legal, corporate and government entities as well as consumers manage, recover, search, analyse, produce and present data efficiently and cost-effectively. In addition to its award-winning suite of software, Kroll Ontrack provides data recovery, data destruction, paper and electronic discovery, document review, computer forensics, secure information services, ESI and jury consulting, and trial presentation services. Kroll Ontrack is the technology services division of Kroll Inc., the global risk consulting company. For more information about Kroll Ontrack and its offerings please visit: http://www.krollontrack.co.uk; http://www.ontrackdatarecovery.co.uk.
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