by Helium01

Created on: May 09, 2011

Backing up data is often seen as redundant at worst and a hassle at best. The question that often arises is: what could happen to the data? The unfortunately related question is: where did the data go? Below are possible causes of data loss and reasons why backing up your data is important.

1. Computers crash. When they do, data can be lost. A computer recovery may recover the data, but it may be corrupted. If there isn’t a backup or a successful and error-free recovery, the data is permanently lost.

2. The internet is full of malicious software. When malicious software, be it a virus or Trojan gets on a computer, it may destroy the data. Even if the data is not gone, the computer may not be able to be cleansed. In that case, the data is irretrievable and thus lost.

3. Antivirus software is often too protective. In some cases, it will recognize legitimate files as malicious software due to a similar name or format. The user may not think about looking at the virus vault when the computer pops up a notice of “2 threats found”. They select to delete the threat, and their files are then deleted. Unlike human efforts to delete files, the antivirus software clears away all traces of the file in order to protect the computer. When this happens, there is no restore option from the recycle bin.

4. The person with the password or encryption key is suddenly gone. It could be due to a car crash. They might have had a heart attack. They might have been fired. But the knowledge in their head, and password to get to the data, is lost.

5. To make mistakes, paraphrasing Shakespeare, is human. Accidental deletions of files happen. And a thorough cleaning of a computer could result in the files being totally gone.

6. Humans not only make mistakes, they act out of maliciousness. An angry soon-to-be former employee can easily get back at someone by deleting their files. System administrators set for outsourcing or layoff have destroyed data at major companies. A vindictive person could delete files from a coworker’s computer, causing them additional work or intentionally creating delays.

7. Computers go obsolete very quickly. A system refresh will result in the same computer screen and box sitting on the computer with a new hard drive and memory installed. Best practices include copying old data to the new computer. However, best practices are not always followed or followed correctly. Alternatively, the standard practice may not have been thorough enough if someone saves files in locations that the computer technician does not migrate to the new computer.

These are just some reasons why data may be lost. The importance of backing up your data cannot be emphasized enough: better to be safe than sorry. Though you may never need that backed up data, if the day comes that you do, you will be very thankful to have it.

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