How Do Recover Data From the Server?

Recovery of data from a server is usually a very important and critical process. The process has to be done step by step to ensure integrity and reduce downtown. Below is an in-depth look at recovering data from a server.

1. Appraise the Situation

First and foremost, analyze the situation to know the very nature of data loss. Hardware failure, software corruption, or an accident reason could be anything. It might also be due to a cyberattack. Unless and until one knows the reason behind such data loss, one can't opt for the method meant for recovery.

2. Stop All Write Operations

Immediately stop any write operations in the affected server to prevent further corruption or loss of data. This way, the already bad state of the data is preserved-very important during recovery.

3. Create a Backup of the Current Data

Even in a compromised state, the current data needs to be backed up before any recovery attempts. Such a backup serves as insurance against possible additional data loss or corruption upon performing the recovery.

4. Ascertain Recovery Type

Apply one of the following appropriate types of data recovery, depending on the nature of the problem:

Hardware Failure: Whether partial damage or destruction has occurred to any hardware element of the server, like the hard drive, you will either need to replace the faulty parts or seek professional data recovery services that can recover data from drives physically damaged in severe cases.

Software Corruption: In the case of software corruption or logical errors, use the utilities of the data recovery software. These utilities will scan the storage on the server to recover lost or corrupted files.

Accidental Deletion: If the files were deleted by accident, check the Recycle Bin or Trash of the server first. If it's not found, avail of the utilities in file recovery software, which are capable of scanning storage for files that can still be retrieved.

Loss of Data due to a Cyberattack: If the loss includes a cyberattack, such as ransomware, cybersecurity experts would then come in who may either decrypt it for recovery or try restoration using secure backups.

5. Employ Data Recovery Software

Use reliable data recovery software for software-related issues. These utilities recover deleted files, get data back from corrupted partitions, and restore data from formatted drives. Examples of popular data recovery software include EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, and Disk Drill.

6. Restore from Backups

Restore the data from backups, provided you have recent backups. This may involve, depending on your backup strategy:

Full Backup: Complete backup; restoration will be done from this backup, and it includes all data. 

Incremental Backup: Restoration is done from the last full backup, along with some incremental backups. 

Differential Backup: It's also restored from the last full backup but adds the recent differential backup. 

7. Take Professional Assistance

If the process of data recovery is complicated or when the server contains sensitive data, one should look for expert services. Indeed, experts might have the highly specialized tools and sufficient experience required to recover data from a server that faced grave damage or corruption.

8. Testing of Recovered Data

After the event of recovery, the data has to be tested for its integrity and completeness. All the critical files must be opened and verified if they are intact.

9. Apply Preventive Measures

Ensure measures that will avoid loss of data in the future with appropriate data protection strategies:

Regular Backups: Make regular backups and store them at multiple locations, including offsite and cloud storage.

Redundant Systems: Utilize RAID configurations to enhance data redundancy and fault tolerance.

Security Measures: Provide more security to the servers with the addition of firewalls, antivirus, periodic audits concerning security, and other necessary measures in order to avoid losses on account of cyber threats.

Disaster Recovery Plan: It is required to create a disaster recovery plan based on the course of action or procedures to be followed in case of data loss.

Conclusion!

The process of recovering lost data from the server is systematic; it begins by assessing the situation and then immediately shutting down all the writing operations. Take a backup of the current data followed by selecting the right method for recovery depending on the type of data loss. Recovery using data recovery software in the case of logical errors, restoration from backups in cases of hardware failure or major data loss, and seeking professional help in complex scenarios are some of the approaches that can be done. Lastly, take preventive measures to prevent further loss and ensure the integrity and availability of the data on your server.