R&D COMPANIES and DATA LOSS
by: jameswalsh
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Word Count: 811
This includes analysis of their present achievements, study of changing market characteristics and searching for scope for further improvement.
This is where R&D comes in. R&D generates new products, processes and services which lend the desired competitive edge to the company. Any company which consistently under invests in R&D as compared to its best competitors soon finds its products less attractive to the customers. It also slides down to the lower rung of the market where it competes in the lowest value added segment of the market.
That is why it is important for a company to invest in R&D at a level comparable to the best in the market. This increases the chances of gaining customers and maintaining its lead in the market. Besides the increase in market share and market value on a more personal level, there is a bigger purpose of R&D. The dynamics of technological progress in all sectors is lead by the twin factors of cumulative experience which is ‘learning by doing’ and accumulated knowledge which is ‘learning by searching’. R&D is an aggregate of both these factors.
The attention R&D has got in recent time is comparable to rapid progress technology has made during this time period. These are especially visible in companies related to pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, oil and food, Information technology etc. The emphasis on R&D is such that many companies now float an R&D company separate from the original with separate listing in the stock market.
These companies are not only working on developing new technology but are also using the latest ones too. Computers are helping them in a big way by simplifying and making lot of procedures faster and are used as storage for the critical and life changing data these companies produce. Their data would include market research, trends, projections, plans, results of various tests and experiments, information about new procedures, products and so on.
Anything of any value attracts attention. Something of this great a value is bound to attract a lot of attention especially from detractors. This can lead to attempts to steal the data by competitors or by someone who expects to sell it to them. Also, no technology is foolproof, data can also be lost due to other reasons like software errors, virus attack, user errors and hardware problems or damage and so on.
The value of this data is immeasurable for those who find it and for those who loose it. It can set a company back by many years. Years of painstaking research would need to be redone, pushing back the launch of a product indefinitely. As mentioned earlier, R&D budgets are very high nowadays; loss of data would mean loosing all the money and the effort put into creating it. It can even lead a company to close down. At times the research is time and condition specific, that it is impossible to recreate it.
This high risk of data loss demands that companies adopt a well thought out data protection policy. This needs to consider all possible risk factors. First of all a timely and properly maintained data backup should be maintained. It should be stored at a safe place away from the original data. A reliable data storage media should be used suited to specific needs of the type and quantity of data.
Other measures like restricting employee access to confidential information, software to report any unauthorised usage or breach of data, firewalls and anti virus program to discourage external attack; online or through a disgruntled employee should be in place. Also, employees should be educated and trained to identify any security threat, about keeping their data safe from physical damage or theft if they are carrying it in any portable media and so on.
In case any data loss is detected a decision should be taken regarding data recovery. Various options DIY software, professional data recovery services are available in case data backup fails to deliver. Assess the situation and always opt for professional services if unsure of the extent of damage or if there is substantial loss incurred. Also, in case of any malpractice by any employee or a competitor, hire computer forensics firm to detect the person responsible and detect the modus operandi. This will also help you prevent any similar attacks in future.
The data of R&D companies is invaluable and R&D budgets should definitely take data protection expenditure into account. R&D data is not just important for the company but is the key to progress of mankind.
About the Author
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk
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