Computer Forensics And Forensics Data Recovery

CONDUCTING THE SEARCH AND/OR SEIZURE is an important party of Computer Forensics. If the search is not done properly then you will not be able to enter evidence to the case. The following is a outline

Secure the Scene.

Assign an safety officer to manage the scene. Preserve the area for potential finger prints Leave computer in the state found. Document how they were found with photographs and written documentation. Immediately restrict access to computer(s). Isolate from phone lines (because data on the computer can be access remotely).

Identify which machines are stand alone or network based. If the computer is network based then some of the data might reside on another machine. Below is a rule we follow when collecting evidence:

? On/Off Rule for Forensics data recovery and evidence gathering.
? If the device is "ON", do NOT turn it "OFF".
o Turning it "OFF" could activate lockout feature.
o Write down all information on display (photograph if possible).
o Power down prior to transport (take any power supply cords present).
? If the device is "OFF", leave it "OFF".
o Turning it on could alter evidence on device (same as computers).
o Upon seizure get it to an expert as soon as possible or contact local service provider.
o Make every effort to locate any instruction manuals pertaining to the device.

One of the key elements in every data forensics procedure is time. Users may unintentionally or inadvertently overwrite evidence simply by continuing to complete their daily tasks. Collecting and preserving data or evidence that may have been deleted or become inaccessible through normal computing methods is an important consideration. Determining what information needs to be gathered before hand is critical to a cases success or failure.

A computer Forensic Services specialist is available in Los Angeles to address your needs.

Small Business Owners: How To Prepare For Data Loss And Disaster Recovery

A Data Disaster Can Occur Anywhere, Anytime

When the subject of natural or man-made disasters comes up, a common and very human reaction is to assume, "It won't happen to me."

Unfortunately for many small business owners and IT managers, this is an assumption they've lived to regret. Each year, according to the Business Continuity Institute, about one in five businesses faces a major disruption such as data loss due to power outage or a natural disaster that destroys an office.

Yes, the consequences can be devastating. And, at a time when IT systems and networks have become indispensable to nearly every small business, a major IT disruption can result in a crippling revenue loss, an array of additional expenses, a major productivity drop, delayed collections, and even a damaged reputation that weakens vital relationships with customers, suppliers, partners, creditors, and others.

The solution is proper planning: a disaster preparedness and data recovery strategy with an implementation plan that ensures that the business survives and recovers from even the most severe occurrence. Four key issues deserve special attention.

Performing a Business Impact Analysis

A business impact analysis allows you to identify both tangible and intangible effects on business processes, functions, or departments over time. The analysis allows management to identify recovery priorities and develop an effective recovery strategy. The result of the process also supplies the data to help define an appropriate disaster recovery program budget.

For IT systems and networks, a business impact analysis is invaluable in two ways.

1. It identifies business-critical applications and the systems they run on.

2. It finds areas of vulnerability within the environment to address.

Never Underestimate the Importance of Backup

It doesn't take an earthquake, hurricane, or fire to destroy data critical to your business' success: a new virus, a leaky roof, or employee mistakes can do the job. A comprehensive strategy for backing up critical data is a must for today's small businesses.

The most effective strategies address:

1. Data Prioritization: identifying and deciding which data cannot be lost under any circumstances

2. Testing: Regular checks to make sure backup and restoration will work properly

3. Off-site Storage: storing tapes off-site and taking other steps to quarantine disaster before it happens

Work on the Plan as a "Living Document"

Once a disaster preparedness and recovery plan has been researched, designed, developed, implemented, and tested there is a common desire to declare the job done. However, as your business evolves, your IT environment must also evolve. Your IT team should continually develop new strategies to grow your disaster recovery plan.

Seeking Outside Help

It makes sense for small businesses to turn to outside IT service providers to help address disaster recovery requirements.

1. Most small businesses don't have the in-house staff to conduct a thorough assessment, select the right solutions or continuously upgrade them to keep pace with their business requirements.

2. An outside firm can evaluate business practices without bias.

3. As specialists, they have experience with a variety of approaches and effective solutions.

Look for an organization with:

- A strategic perspective that considers your company's key business goals

- A comprehensive assessment and solution development methodology

- Sufficient experience working with your industry

- The ability to provide remote managed services

- Proven expertise both in disaster preparedness and disaster recovery

Nick Pegley is VP Marketing for All Covered: Technology Services Partner for Small Business, providing disaster recovery solutions and technology services in 20 major U.S. metro areas.

Tape Data Recovery Software

Tapes are used to store large amount of data, but the tape media can get corrupt due to unknown reasons. The inaccessible data is then recovered through Physical and Logical data recovery techniques.

Tape drives are installed in the cleanest environment and require high quality, cleaning on a regular basis, and proper handling of the tape media. Improper or poor usage, handling, and storing of tape drives lead to tape drive corruptions or damages.

Tape drives are developed to be operated in clean environment; dust particles, fibers and airborne particles can cause damage to the tape drive. The tape drives need clean environment because when a tape is installed to a tape drive, the clearance between the heads and the tape is measured in microns thus the particles can damage the tape or the head if they come in contact with either.

The tape drive is generally used to save and restore system data files, to archive important records and to distribute operating system software upgrades. The needs are great but also are the consequences. Tape media can get damage or corrupt due to mishandling, improper usage, damaged tape headers, erased tape drives, broken or de-spooled backup tapes, failed backup systems and tape libraries, unexpected system shutdowns or system failures.

In this scenario, tape data recovery proves effective and user can always get back the lost data. There are two primary tape data recovery procedures ? Physical and Logical.

Physical data recovery comes into existence when there is physical problem with the tape media. This type of data recovery includes dealing with deteriorating magnetic coatings, broken tapes, twisted or folded tapes, cracked or sealed cartridges and also the tape media affected due to fire, water, mud, debris etc.

Logical data recovery is the most difficult and expensive data recovery process. This process includes recovery of files logically from the tape drives. Data which was successfully recorded on the media but now cannot be read for unknown reasons is recovered. This type of data recovery involves usage of tape recovery software. The tape data recovery software effectively restores and recovers the lost and inaccessible files and folders.

The tape recovery utilities like Kernel tape recovery software effectively recovers missing, lost, deleted file (s) and folder (s) from all types of corrupt, damaged tapes like DLT, LTO, AIT, DAT and every other tape media type.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

The author is a technical writer for Nucleus Data Recovery, the leading provider of data recovery software, data recovery services, tape recovery software, email recovery.

Data Backup And Recovery Processes

You need to know an awful lot when it comes to computers and computer systems, one of the most important is the matter of data backup and recovery.

You need data backup and recovery processes in case something happens to your computer, in case it shuts itself off suddenly or in case it becomes corrupted. You need to know that your files and information are safe and are not going to be deleted, but rather put into a data backup and recovery partition so that you can retrieve them later if you ever need to.

More info about Data Backup and Recovery

Just make sure you save your data as many times as you can, just in case the files you are working on do get deleted and you can't go back to them, and in case the data recovery files that work on your computer can't save them. Make sure that you take as many precautions as you can, to be safe, but try to be aware that if you do have proper data recovery processes on your computer, then you can stop worrying.

Also, try to make sure that you upgrade your data backup services in your computer whenever you need to and whenever you can. If you aren't sure if you've got any data recovery software on your computer, or if you know that you have and want to know if it can be upgraded, the best thing for you to do is to take your computer into a professional so that they can tell you whether or not you can or need to upgrade.

Or, the alternative would be to get someone in to your place of work to say if you can be upgraded or not. Once you have determined if you need to or not, you can then work out what type of system you should upgrade to. Ask the right people so that you can learn what you need to before making any decisions, try with the guy who told you to upgrade. The type of data backup software will totally depend on what you are trying to backup, and how quickly you will need to recover the data, just make sure that you are buying what you need and don't end up pruchasing things that you don't need to.

Do your own research, this way you will truly learn as much as possible, because you want the make sure that you are as knowledgeable as possible in order that you get the best results possible from your purchase.

Andrew Manifield is the owner of On Data Backup, THE best online source for every you might want to know about data backup and recovery.

Hard Drive Data Recovery Doesn't Need To Be Hard

Hard drive data recovery can be a difficult topic for many new computer users. No one wants to believe that their data is lost, and most people have no idea how to get it back. Fortunately, there are data recovery services available that can help you with the overwhelming task of recovering your lost data. This article is intended to help you learn more about hard drive data recovery and how you can learn more.

A hard drive is a "non-volatile" storage space designed to hold data. The data is stored on a magnetic surface which is called a hard disk platter. There are many reasons why data can be lost from the hard drive, including the mechanics of the hard drive itself, and external problems. Most hard drives today have several moving parts which need to be carefully synchronized in order to maintain a constant spin rate, called RPM, inside your computer.

Modern hard drives have "SMART" technology, which stands for "self-monitoring, analysis, and reporting technology." All that means is that the computer will diagnose itself and be able to solve the majority of its problems, also that it corrects the motors and fans when needed, and lets you deal with using the computer instead of trying to maintain it.

In order to understand hard drive data recovery, it is essential to understand how data is lost from a hard drive. Let's define data loss as an unforeseen loss of data or information previously stored on your hard drive. Murphy's Law demonstrates only when it's too late that we should have been backing up our hard drive better. The best way to recover data is to never lose it in the first place, but that is a topic for a different article.

Data can be lost during a power failure, because there is unsaved data in the memory which is not yet been saved to the hard drive. Data can also be lost through a disk failure which can happen for a number of reasons, usually mechanical such as a crash in the hard drive machinery itself. Software can also crash on your computer, especially if you are using Microsoft products, and could lead to a loss of data on your hard drive. Viruses or other malicious software can corrupt your data and is one of the biggest reasons for data loss. Fortunately, today's technology provides a pretty good track record on recovering data from your hard drive.

The best thing to do is to look in your phone book or on the Internet for a local hard drive data recovery specialist. These are people who have been trained or have experience in recovering lost data and can be your best friends-especially in an emergency situation. There are many who specialize in hard drive data recovery and are happy to help you with your data recovery problems. The price they charge is normally a small price to pay if the alternative is losing your data forever.

Ever had your entire hard drive crash, and you didn't know what to do about it? Learn what you can do about hard drive data recovery at http://www.datarecoverplan.com