Can Ontrack be trusted to handle extremely sensitive data?
Yes. Ontrack's Labs are ISO 27001 Certified. Ontrack also receives an annual SOC 2 (formerly SAS 70 II) report from a certified audit firm.
Does implementing SSD storage introduce difficulties for Microsoft SQL Server recovery?
Before making a move to an SSD-based SQL Server data stores, CTOs need to decide:
- How great a risk SSD failure poses to SQL Server recovery operations.
- Which technology provides the best balance of performance and reliability (SSD vs. HDD).
- How to monitor the SSD drives on which logs are stored to assess health.
- How to recover data from a failed SSD in the event of a disaster or drive failure.
It is also important to remember that the strongest feature of SSDs - a lack of moving parts - is also one of the greatest weaknesses. SQL data recovery from a failed SSD drive is an expert job, usually requiring professional assistance. Where platters could be removed and cloned from a traditional spinning disk in a cleanroom environment, SSD memory chips are typically harder to recover.Data recovery from SSD memory cells is possible, but it remains a complicated procedure. And because any SQL Server deployment needs to include data recovery provisions as part of its plan, CTOs and systems architects need to consider and mitigate the impact SSD outages can have on availability.
Are there any fees for Ontrack Tech Support?
Ontrack Tech Support is free, and available Monday - Friday from 7:30 am - 6:00 pm Central Standard Time (CST).
Will putting a bad hard drive in the freezer make it work?
Unfortunately, placing a hard drive into a freezer will not bring it back to life. This piece of advice was valid for hard drives manufactured roughly between 1989-1995 and was identified as a way to solve a unique problem known as "stiction.” The word stiction is derived from the words "static” and "friction” and was used to describe an issue where the read/write heads stuck to the platters preventing the motor from spinning. In theory, placing a hard drive into a freezer was meant to help free the stuck heads through the contraction of the metal components. As many people discovered, this wasn't always successful. Today, modern hard drives are manufactured differently from those early days, and stiction is an infrequent problem. With the massive amount of information available on the internet, the old "freezer trick” tip lives on even though it has no affect on modern hard drives.
Does recovering data from an SSD require a specialized environment like a cleanroom?
SSDs do not need to be opened inside a cleanroom. Unlike common hard drives that contain spinning platters sealed inside an enclosure, SSDs have no moving parts but are still susceptible to other types of failures.