Kroll Reveals Data Recovery Research

In 1987, Kroll Ontrack performed less than 50 data recoveries. In 2006 alone, the company performed more than 50,000 data recoveries.

In 1987, Kroll Ontrack processed less than one gigabyte of customer data. In 2006 alone, the company processed more than four million gigabytes (equivalent to 4,000 terabytes) in its worldwide data recovery operations centers.

In 1987, Kroll Ontrack averaged approximately one data recovery job per week. The company now averages one job every five minutes of every working day.

In 1987, Kroll Ontrack had one recovery lab and one engineer. Today, there are 30 Kroll Ontrack data recovery offices in 22 countries with more than 150 recovery engineers.

In 1987, people were shocked if their data was recovered. Now, they expect it in a few hours.

In 1987, the average recovery was performed from a five-and-a-quarter inch hard drive from a PC. Today, the majority of recoveries are completed on laptop hard drives that are two-and-a-half inches in size. While the physical size of hard drives has shrunk by a factor of approximately 35, storage capacity has grown by a factor of more than 100.

In 1987, Kroll Ontrack mostly recovered data from computer hard drives. Today, recoveries are performed from not only hard drives, but digital media, removable media, servers and databases.

In 1987, 100 percent of Kroll Ontrack’s clients were from businesses. Now, Kroll Ontrack performs recoveries for corporations, consumers, and financial, government, healthcare, and education entities.

In 1987, Kroll Ontrack only performed data recoveries in its in-lab facilities. Today, customers can achieve recovery via the company’s do-it-yourself software tools or through its remote and in-lab capabilities.