Data loss: the most common causes
The most rigorous procedures and the most effective security devices cannot completely eliminate the risk of data loss. If the company thinks it can solve the most common scenarios, where does it draw the line?
Common causes of data loss
Human error
Human error is the most frequent cause of data loss. Humans are simply not infallible, and no user can claim to be immune to operator error.
Loss of alertness, inattention or carelessness are at the root of most of these errors:
- Accidental deletion of files or folders
- Inadvertent overwriting of backups or data
- Input errors leading to data corruption
- Inadvertent formatting
The use by staff of IT solutions (open-source software, online applications, etc.) not controlled or authorized by the company is also a source of vulnerability. Generally speaking, any IT practices outside the established procedures can lead to the loss or alteration of data.
Accidents
Accidental causes cannot be completely reduced or anticipated because they are so numerous and unpredictable:
- External causes ranging from simple falling equipment to natural disasters (lightning, floods, etc.) or accidental disasters (fires, etc.).
- Internal hardware failure (hard disk crash, component failure, etc.) or software failure (driver conflicts, unexpected shutdowns, etc.).
Software failures can sometimes be handled in-house, depending on their nature and severity. However, mechanical and electronic failures often require the intervention of a specialized service provider. The most frequent case being the opening of a hard disk, this operation must be carried out in a clean room to prevent particles from damaging the magnetic tracks.
Malice
Computer malware is constantly expanding and evolving. It presents companies with constantly renewed challenges.
Most viruses and malware circulate indiscriminately, with the aim of corrupting a computer system, deleting data… Rigorous computer procedures and security devices (firewalls, anti-virus software…) can be enough to prevent them.
However, intentional, targeted computer malware is harder to anticipate, and its consequences can be far more critical:
- Hacking, sabotage or computer attacks emanating from deliberate human actions, sometimes by a member of staff.
- Cryptolockers and ransomware encrypt data and require companies to pay a ransom to recover it.
Aging
Computer ageing is becoming increasingly rapid, due to the acceleration of technological innovation and progress. Lack of anticipation can lead to data loss:
- Outdatedness resulting in hardware incompatibility with the rest of the IT environment or loss of access to data.
- Obsolescence, whether programmed or not, can lead to mechanical or software failure, loss of access or outright destruction of data.
- Lack of updates can lead to the same consequences as hardware obsolescence, but also to data corruption.
Nevertheless,anticipation does not eliminate all scenarios. For example, transfermigration or conversion of data are unavoidable deadlines for the company. Problems of loss or alteration can arise during these delicate operations.
Consider the possibility of in-house recovery
From the accidental deletion of a file resolved by a simple Ctrl+Z to a server fire that leaves little to the imagination, where does a company’s ability to resolve data loss end?
Even the most frequent and trivial scenarios should prompt him to ask himself these questions:
- How big is the loss? The extent of data loss is often underestimated. The company may even be unaware of it, and only detect the destruction, alteration or loss of access to certain data much later.
- Can the repair/restoration/recovery be carried out in-house? In the same way as it is difficult to measure the extent of the loss, it is not only difficult to predict the effectiveness of an in-house intervention, but also to avoid making the situation worse: opening a hard disk, using unsuitable recovery software, restoring an out-of-date backup… can exacerbate losses and make any other recovery operation impossible.
