Data loss

System Fundamentals

Data loss is the unplanned or unintended or accidental or purposeful corruption of data. Data is any stored information (user data, operating system data, etc.).

Causes of data loss

There are hundreds of reasons we can experience data loss. However, these can broadly fit into the categories below.

cause of data loss	for example
malicious activities	External malicious actor who is deliberately causing data loss Internal malicious actor who is deliberately causing data loss Innocent user tricked into running malicious program which causes data loss Deliberate sabotage by an actor (unplugging power, causing physical damage to the system
Natural disaster	Flood, lightning, storm, earthquake, tornado (also called an Act of God) For something to be qualified as an act of God: (i) which involve no human agency (ii) which is not realistically possible to guard against (iii) which is due directly and exclusively to natural causes and (iv) which could not have been prevented by any amount of foresight, plans, and care
system failure	Loss of ANY computer component (power supply, NIC card, temporary or permanent storage) Loss of HVAC leading to heating / cooling issues

Consequences of data loss

Data loss can have significant consequences, depending on the nature of the data and the context in which it is used. Here are some possible consequences of data loss in a specified situation:

1. A business may suffer financial losses if data loss results in the inability to complete transactions or access important financial information.
2. Data loss in a healthcare setting can have serious consequences for patient care, as it may result in the loss of important medical records or treatment information.
3. In the education sector, data loss can result in the loss of important grades, transcripts, and other student records.
4. Data loss in a government organization can compromise sensitive information and potentially have serious security implications.
5. Data loss in a research setting can be detrimental, as it may result in the loss of valuable data that has been collected over a long period of time.

Overall, data loss can have significant negative consequences for individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. It is important to take steps to prevent data loss and have a plan in place to minimize the impact if it does occur.

Preventing data loss

Strategy for prevention	Description
failover systems	a failover system is a standby/ redundant system which is used to eliminate or reduce downtime on users by automatically taking over if the primary system suddenly becomes unavailable. A failover system does not have to be on the same physical server.
redundancy	when we have duplicate components. For example, 2 power supplies, extra memory (unused), 2 network interface cards, etc... This is VERY common in servers, as if one system fails another is immediately available.
removable media	when we can remove data on a CD or tape drive we reduce the chance that a failure on the system will damage data, because the data isn't on the system.
offsite/online storage	moving data to another physical location helps to protect it from problems in the original location. Online storage works the same way.

Real-world practical advice

I'm happy to report that data loss is rarer today than it was 10 years ago. However, without careful planning, we can be assured a data loss will occur. Whenever you design a system, you should include fault-tolerance, redundancy, offline/ online storage, and failover into your design.

Standards

• Identify a range of causes of data loss.
• Outline the consequences of data loss in a specified situation.
• Describe a range of methods that can be used to prevent data loss.

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