Data Recovery vs Data Restoration: What's the Difference?

Data recovery retrieves data from a damaged, failed or deleted source. Data restoration copies data back from a backup you already have. The two terms are often confused, but they are different processes with different odds of success.

Data recovery

Recovery is what you need when there is no usable backup. It involves extracting data from a failed drive, a corrupted file system, a deleted partition or a damaged device. It can be done with software for logical problems, or by specialists for physical damage. Success depends on the fault, the device and what has been written since the loss.

Data restoration

Restoration is the process of copying data back from a backup to its original location or a new device. If your backup is current and tested, restoration is fast, predictable and cheap compared with recovery.

Side by side

• Starting point: recovery works from the damaged original; restoration works from a separate copy.
• Success: recovery is never guaranteed; restoration is as reliable as the backup.
• Speed: recovery can take hours to weeks; restoration depends on the size of the data and your connection.
• Cost: recovery costs more than restoration.

Which one do you need?

Always check for a backup first. If a recent, tested backup exists, restore from it. If not, stop using the affected device and start recovery as soon as possible.

Avoid needing recovery

The best plan is regular, tested backups so that restoration is always an option. Read why regular backups matter, or see our backup and disaster recovery service.