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31 August 2024  John Weaver  Senior Program Developer
 

Summary
Overview of a $2 million ISO 5 data recovery cleanroom.



Table of contents

table iconSecurity and Access Controlin CleanRoom
table iconInitial Consultation and Diagnosis in CleanRoom
table iconCloning and Analysis in CleanRoom
table iconParameters of The CleanRoom
table iconFlash Memory Recovery in CleanRoom
table iconLogical Data Recovery
table iconConclusion
You’d never know it from the outside, but behind the doors of DriveSavers’ headquarters in Novato, California, lies one of the world’s oldest and most advanced data recovery companies. This facility features almost a hundred employees, numerous security certifications, and a $2 million ISO 5 cleanroom. They invited us to take a closer look at how they transform damaged storage devices into functional data repositories once again.
CleanRoom

Security and Access Controlin CleanRoom

Security is a significant concern at DriveSavers, not just on the outside of the building but throughout the entire facility. Guests receive badges that change color over time, eventually turning red to alert staff that the visitor should be escorted out or reported. The facility employs biometric security for secure areas and conducts annual background checks for all staff members. This stringent security ensures that the data they recover is handled with the utmost care and confidentiality.
Security and Access Controlin CleanRoom

Initial Consultation and Diagnosis in CleanRoom

DriveSavers offers free consultations and diagnoses, including an analysis of the expected data recovery. When a drive is sent in, it is sorted into a colored bin according to the job’s priority and the drive’s cleanliness. The company has even had to use a Geiger counter to evaluate the radioactivity of drives from nuclear disaster sites. Forensic work has revealed devices found on murder victims, including a phone with its camera element gouged out in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Initial Consultation and Diagnosis in CleanRoom

Cloning and Analysis in CleanRoom

Every device eventually undergoes cloning to create a bit-for-bit digital copy of the data. This process significantly improves the chances of a successful recovery and allows for a thorough analysis of the data. DriveSavers maintains an extensive inventory of spare, wiped donor drives. The cloning process also includes the initial analysis of RAID arrays using software tools to rebuild the array logically and determine which drives need physical repairs.
Cloning and Analysis in CleanRoom

Parameters of The CleanRoom

The cleanroom is the heart of DriveSavers’ data recovery operations. It is an ISO 5 cleanroom, meaning it has less than 100,000 particles per cubic meter, making it 10,000 times cleaner than a normal room. This environment is crucial for working on sensitive devices without the risk of contamination. DriveSavers has an inventory of almost every hard drive imaginable, from the latest helium-sealed drives to older models like the MiniScribe. Technicians use this inventory to rebuild one working drive from the donor and the recipient.
Parameters of The CleanRoom

Flash Memory Recovery in CleanRoom

Recovering data from flash memory is significantly more complex than from traditional hard drives. Flash memory chips often require proprietary and expensive readers. Additionally, the data on these chips can be intentionally scrambled as a security measure, making the recovery process even more challenging. DriveSavers has the expertise and experience to decode this data, even from devices like iPhones, which require multiple components to be desoldered, cleaned, re-balled, and resoldered to a donor phone.
Flash Memory Recovery in CleanRoom

Logical Data Recovery

Devices without physical damage may go straight to logical data recovery. This process involves recovering data from drives that may have suffered logical corruption, such as plugging the wrong power supply into an external drive. Even in these cases, DriveSavers emphasizes the importance of data backup. The company preaches the principles of data backup because, despite their expertise, some data losses can be permanent.
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Conclusion

DriveSavers demonstrates the critical importance of having a cleanroom for data recovery. Their stringent security measures, advanced cloning techniques, and proprietary equipment ensure the highest chances of successful data recovery. However, the best defense against data loss remains a robust backup strategy. DriveSavers serves as a safety net for when things go terribly wrong, but proactive data management is always the best approach.