Latest news with #ChongweiChen


Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Beyond Backups: A Practical Guide To Data Recovery
Chongwei Chen is the President & CEO of DataNumen, a global data recovery leader with solutions trusted by Fortune 500 companies worldwide. As a data-recovery expert with 24 years of experience, I have witnessed countless examples of companies facing catastrophic consequences when faced with data loss. Take, for example, a mid-sized manufacturing company I worked with that could not access its production database due to a hardware failure. Although they had regular backups, the latest incremental backup file was also corrupted. Because of these issues, they had to pause production for several weeks, causing losses of about $1.2 million. Unfortunately, this company's experience isn't unique. A 2022 Arcserve study found that 76% of businesses lost mission-critical company data. Verizon research supports this, concluding that small instances of data loss cost businesses between $18,000 to $36,000, while large-scale incidents can cost up to $15.6 million. The stakes are so high that, according to the University of Texas, 94% of companies facing catastrophic data loss don't survive—43% never reopen, and 51% shut down within two years. Given these risks, understanding how to recover data is critical. Let's look at common storage methods and recovery techniques that organizations should be familiar with. In modern computers, data is generally stored logically as files, which are managed by a file system. Companies typically use two types of infrastructures to store data: • On-Premises: This includes traditional hard drives, USB flash drives, SD cards, CDs, DVDs, etc. • Cloud: Today, over 60% of all corporate data is stored in the cloud, according to G2 research, which includes Google Drive, Amazon S3 Storage, Microsoft OneDrive and so on. While human error is the leading cause of data loss, other causes include hardware failure, theft, software corruption, viruses, natural disasters and power failure. Data recovery is closely linked to the storage methods used to preserve the data, and the recovery techniques can generally be classified into these two categories: This method is geared toward hardware failures in storage devices, and it focuses on using the most advanced hardware technologies to: • Replace damaged interfaces, circuit boards or write heads. • Use specialized devices or environments to extract data. This recovery method uses an advanced software algorithm. There are two sub-categories: • Raw-Level Recovery: Generally deployed when the target files are lost due to issues like accidental deletion or reformatting the disk by mistake, the data-recovery software scans the raw disk or drive and recovers the files. In general, this software will support multiple file types. • File-Level Recovery: This method is used when target files exist but cannot be opened by the necessary application due to file corruption. Normally, for each file format, there will be a dedicated tool from the designer of the file format to check the integrity of the file and fix errors in it. For example, for an Outlook PST file, Microsoft provides an Inbox Repair Tool ( that can scan and fix errors in the PST file. For a SQL Server database file, a SQL command—DBCC CHECKDB—can check the integrity of a database and fix it if necessary. The two above classifications are not absolute. In real-world practice, multiple techniques may be required. For example, consider a situation where a criminal deleted a database containing financial data from a hard drive and then used software to overwrite the entire hard drive. Start by using a hardware method to recover most of the raw data from the drive. Then, apply raw-level recovery software to scan and extract the database file. If the recovered file still isn't recognized by SQL Server, use the DBCC CHECKDB command to attempt a repair, hopefully recovering most of the financial records from the database. These techniques can also be very flexible, and the techniques in one category can often be applied to another category to obtain better recovery results or lower the cost. For example, some file-level recovery software can also recover data from the hard drive directly if no files are available, which will normally offer a better recovery rate than using a raw-level recovery tool first and then a file-level recovery tool second. Some raw-level recovery software can also recover files with hardware issues, such as bad sectors, which will lower the cost because this method does not require specialized hardware devices. Data loss is often unavoidable, but it doesn't have to be a disaster if organizations familiarize themselves with the proper planning and techniques. To minimize the impact of data loss and ensure a swift recovery, organizations should follow a few essential best practices: • Prevention is the most important. Design a comprehensive business continuity plan, including a regular backup strategy and an incident response plan. Implement this plan strictly. • Act quickly after a disaster. Once you know there has been data loss, respond quickly, ideally within 48 hours of the incident. • Get professional help. For complex cases, seek professional help from data-recovery experts; they have likely seen the issues you're facing before, and they can help design the best recovery strategy. • Implement post-recovery review. After the incident, update the continuity plan and backup strategy based on the findings to reduce the likelihood of future incidents. With these best practices and by responding strategically, companies can often turn a data-loss incident from a crisis into a manageable challenge. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?


Fast Company
6 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
9 strategies for hiring a CEO you can trust with your vision
Hiring the right CEO means finding someone who's not just capable but deeply aligned with what your company stands for. You're handing over the reins to someone who needs to lead, and lead like you would—with full conviction in the company's mission and the clarity to drive it forward. It's a high-stakes decision that can either strengthen or unravel your foundation. To help you make the right call, nine Fast Company Executive Board members share how they've identified and retained CEOs who are mission-driven, reliable, and ready to take the reins. Below, they offer practical ways for finding a leader who can build on your vision while giving you the freedom to focus on what's next. 1. DEFINE WHAT THE ROLE TRULY REQUIRES. Question your approach. Map the role to the candidate, not the other way around. Understand what the role specifically requires for success in terms of skills, acumen, behaviors, critical thinking, and decision-making. Understand what the role really needs before determining if you have the right person for it. – Jay Steven Levin, WinThinking 2. OFFER GROWTH POTENTIAL AND ROOM FOR INNOVATION. I have two strategies to attract and retain a trustworthy CEO. First, show the candidate a clear and well-defined career advancement path. Second, provide an environment that allows full autonomy for technical innovation, which is especially important to the CEO of a technology company. – Chongwei Chen, DataNumen Inc. 3. FIND A PARTNER WHO CAN CARRY THE BATON. Hire a CEO like you'd choose a relay race partner. You need someone who can run their leg with clarity, speed, and trust, not someone who just mirrors your stride. Share your toughest lessons alongside your vision. The right CEO carries the baton with conviction, even when the course changes. – Albert Lie, Forward Labs 4. CHOOSE A CEO WHO SHARES YOUR VISION AND CULTURE. Ensure a clear understanding of your company's vision, mission, and long-term goals. The CEO should align with these objectives. Ensure the candidate fits within your company's culture and leadership style. The CEO must be genuinely passionate about driving the organization's mission forward and building on your company's success. – Britton Bloch, Navy Federal Credit Union 5. PRIORITIZE ALIGNMENT FROM THE START. Attracting the right CEO starts with clarity. Define the mission, values, and expectations up front. Look for alignment in vision, not just on a resume. Retain them by offering autonomy, support, and shared purpose. Trust grows when there's transparency, mutual respect, and a culture of accountability from day one. – Stephen Nalley, Black Briar Advisors 6. LOOK TO EMERGING LEADERS WITHIN YOUR ORGANIZATION. Nurture potential, budding, and current leaders of your organization. Leadership development programs will set you up for success, ensuring that a CEO candidate shares the company's strategic vision, mission, and level of commitment. Internal candidates will best match the founder's vision and culture. If looking externally, advisers who understand your mission will help find the best hire. – Mark Valentino, Citizens 7. WAIT UNTIL YOUR MISSION IS CRYSTAL CLEAR. As a CEO recently hired into a legacy, founder-led company, be crystal clear on your mission before hiring—if it's still fuzzy, wait. Prioritize alignment over credentials; if they don't deeply believe in the mission, keep looking. To retain them, give them space to lead, shape the how, and support them with trust and clarity. – Sarah Buckler, Tangible 8. BUILD TRUST THROUGH VALUES AND OPEN DIALOGUE. It begins with a candidate who fits the company's mission and has a matching set of values. Mutual trust is developed through the facilitation of open dialogue, clearly established expectations, and a dedication to commitment over impact. – Asad Khan, LambdaTest Inc.

Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
85% of Organizations Experienced Data Loss in 2024: New DataNumen Report Reveals Alarming Trends
Sheridan, Wyoming--(Newsfile Corp. - May 29, 2025) - DataNumen, a global leader in data recovery solutions, has released its highly anticipated Data Loss Statistics Report 2024, shedding light on the severity, causes, and consequences of data loss incidents across businesses worldwide. According to the report, an overwhelming 85% of organizations experienced one or more data loss incidents over the past year. Even more concerning, 93% of businesses that suffer prolonged data loss lasting more than 10 days go bankrupt within a year, underscoring the catastrophic impact such events can have on long-term business viability. Key Findings: 'Our research confirms that data loss is not just an IT issue — it's a critical business risk,' said Chongwei Chen, President & CEO of DataNumen. 'The consequences go beyond lost files. We're talking about massive financial losses, operational disruption, reputational damage, and in many cases, the end of the business itself.' The report also highlights the growing threat of generative AI misuse, with AI-related alerts rapidly becoming one of the most frequently implemented data loss prevention rules. About DataNumen DataNumen is a world-renowned data recovery company serving customers in over 240 countries and regions. Its award-winning software is trusted by Fortune 500 companies, governments, and consumers worldwide to recover lost or damaged data from all types of storage media. For more information about DataNumen and its products, visit Links: Company website: Report URL: Data Loss Statistics Report 2024 Media Contact: Alan Chen DataNumen, Inc. E-Mail: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
85% of Organizations Experienced Data Loss in 2024: New DataNumen Report Reveals Alarming Trends
Sheridan, Wyoming--(Newsfile Corp. - May 29, 2025) - DataNumen, a global leader in data recovery solutions, has released its highly anticipated Data Loss Statistics Report 2024, shedding light on the severity, causes, and consequences of data loss incidents across businesses worldwide. According to the report, an overwhelming 85% of organizations experienced one or more data loss incidents over the past year. Even more concerning, 93% of businesses that suffer prolonged data loss lasting more than 10 days go bankrupt within a year, underscoring the catastrophic impact such events can have on long-term business viability. Key Findings: Hardware failure remains the leading technical cause of data loss (40-44%), followed by human error (29-32%). 33% of users send at least two misdirected emails annually—posing a major risk for data exposure. The average cost of downtime ranges from $427 per minute for small businesses to $9,000 per minute for larger enterprises. 93% of companies suffering data loss for more than 10 days file for bankruptcy within one year. Only 38% of businesses have a mature Data Loss Prevention (DLP) program in place. "Our research confirms that data loss is not just an IT issue — it's a critical business risk," said Chongwei Chen, President & CEO of DataNumen. "The consequences go beyond lost files. We're talking about massive financial losses, operational disruption, reputational damage, and in many cases, the end of the business itself." The report also highlights the growing threat of generative AI misuse, with AI-related alerts rapidly becoming one of the most frequently implemented data loss prevention rules. About DataNumen DataNumen is a world-renowned data recovery company serving customers in over 240 countries and regions. Its award-winning software is trusted by Fortune 500 companies, governments, and consumers worldwide to recover lost or damaged data from all types of storage media. For more information about DataNumen and its products, visit Links: Company website: Report URL: Data Loss Statistics Report 2024 Media Contact: Alan Chen DataNumen, Inc. E-Mail: pr@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data