{"id":866,"date":"2026-10-20T18:02:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T17:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/data-recovery-and-secure-erasure-policy\/"},"modified":"2026-10-20T18:02:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T17:02:08","slug":"data-recovery-and-secure-erasure-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/data-recovery-and-secure-erasure-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Recovery and Secure Erasure Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This policy supplements our <a href=\"\/index.php\/terms-and-conditions\/\">General Terms and Conditions<\/a> and <a href=\"\/index.php\/computer-and-laptop-repair-terms\/\">Computer and Laptop Repair Terms<\/a> where Tech Pro 247 expressly agrees to provide data recovery, data transfer, backup or erasure work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. A separate written scope is required<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data recovery or erasure is not included merely because a device is booked for repair. Before this work begins, we will agree the relevant scope. The job record may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the customer and their authority over the device and data;<\/li>\n<li>the source device or media;<\/li>\n<li>the requested outcome and priority data where relevant;<\/li>\n<li>whether diagnosis may alter the source;<\/li>\n<li>the proposed method and material risks;<\/li>\n<li>the destination media or return arrangement;<\/li>\n<li>the price or pricing basis;<\/li>\n<li>whether an approved specialist may be used;<\/li>\n<li>how temporary working copies will be handled; and<\/li>\n<li>what report, if any, will be provided.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Authority and lawful content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must own the device and data or have authority from the owner or responsible organisation to request the work. Do not ask us to access, recover, copy or erase information unlawfully. We may ask for proportionate evidence or decline work where authority is unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For organisation-owned equipment or data about other people, the parties must identify their data-protection roles before work begins. Where we act as a processor, we require appropriate written instructions and data-processing terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Recovery is an attempt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recovery depends on the condition of the storage, earlier use, encryption, overwriting, mechanical or electrical damage and previous recovery attempts. An initial diagnosis may not reveal how much data can ultimately be recovered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We will use reasonable care and skill for the agreed process, but we do not guarantee recovery of a particular file, folder, date range or proportion of data unless that exact result has already been verified and expressly agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fragile media may remain unchanged, deteriorate further or become unusable during a reasonable recovery attempt. We will explain a material risk before invasive work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Protecting source media and working copies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where appropriate and technically possible, the agreed method will use a controlled image or copy instead of repeatedly operating a failing original. The method depends on the condition of the media and the agreed scope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before accepting work that requires a diagnostic image, recovered data or another working copy, we will identify the storage location, authorised access, malware-handling approach, whether a backup is appropriate, and the deletion or return point. We will not create the copy until suitable controls for the agreed work are available and recorded. Copies created for accepted work will be separated by job and restricted to authorised staff under those controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Credentials and encrypted data<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do not send passwords, recovery keys, multi-factor codes or sensitive file contents through a public form or ordinary email. If a credential or key is essential to the agreed task, we will explain why and agree an appropriate handover method. Use a temporary credential where possible and change it afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We cannot recover encrypted information without a valid key or credential. We will not try to defeat security controls without verified authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Delivery and your checks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Recovered data will be delivered on agreed media or through another agreed secure route. Please check the result promptly and keep an independent copy. A directory listing or sample check does not prove that every file is complete, uncorrupted or safe to open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The job record will state what was delivered, when, to whom and on what media. Destination media, licences and transfer time may be charged separately where agreed in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Temporary copies and retention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We keep diagnostic images, recovered files and delivery copies only for as long as needed for the agreed service, secure delivery, a reasonable verification opportunity, complaint handling and applicable legal duties. The job record or service communication will state the relevant period or criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of that period, temporary copies are removed using a method suitable for the storage technology and the agreed service. Backups and any approved specialist copies follow their protected retention cycles and service terms. Removing a file from a working folder is not described as secure erasure unless the actual method supports that description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where we act as a processor, the responsible controller chooses return or deletion at the end of the service, unless applicable law requires retention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Secure erasure service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A paid device-erasure service is different from an individual\u2019s data-protection right to ask us to erase personal information from our business records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An erasure instruction must identify the device or media, authorised method, intended end state and whether the equipment will be reused, returned, recycled or physically destroyed. A factory reset, file deletion, overwrite command, cryptographic erase and physical destruction are not interchangeable for every storage technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before erasure begins, you are responsible for confirming that necessary data has been backed up and that you have authority to destroy what remains. Once an effective erasure or destruction step begins, the data may be permanently unavailable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We describe only the method actually used and the validation actually performed. We do not promise that data is irrecoverable against every possible technique or threat model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. Reports and certificates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A completion report may identify the device, serial number, authorised scope, relevant tool and version, method, date, operator, result and validation evidence. A completion report is not automatically an independently accredited certificate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We use the description \u201ccertificate of erasure\u201d or \u201ccertificate of destruction\u201d only where the agreed process, competence, chain of custody, validation and evidence support it. A report or certificate will not claim a stronger result than the evidence demonstrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Unsafe, failed or rejected media<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We may stop work where equipment is unsafe, contaminated, legally restricted, outside our competence, deteriorating unexpectedly or likely to require a specialist. We will explain the position and agree return, a specialist referral or another lawful route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We do not recycle or destroy media merely because recovery failed or you have not responded. Uncollected property follows the process described in the Repair Terms. Waste and hazardous components require an appropriate lawful route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">11. Specialist services<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We will not send a device or recovered data to a specialist without explaining the proposed service, material privacy and security implications, and additional charge, and obtaining the required approval. Appropriate supplier and data-protection terms must be in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">12. Confidentiality and incidents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We treat customer data as confidential and restrict access to the agreed purpose. Before accepting work that involves customer data, we will ensure that an appropriate incident escalation and assessment route applies. If we suspect loss, unauthorised access or disclosure, we will take proportionate steps to contain and document the incident, assess the legal and contractual notification duties, and make the notifications required for the circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where we act as a processor, we will tell the responsible controller about a personal-data breach without undue delay and provide the information and assistance required by the processing agreement. The controller remains responsible for deciding whether a regulator or affected person must be notified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">13. Privacy, complaints and legal rights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our <a href=\"\/index.php\/privacy-policy\/\">Privacy Policy<\/a> explains how we use service and customer information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Contact <a href=\"mailto:services@techpro247.co.uk\">services@techpro247.co.uk<\/a> or <a href=\"tel:02079986930\">020 7998 6930<\/a> with the job reference. Risk explanations and limits on possible recovery do not remove our duty to use reasonable care and skill or any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This policy supplements our General Terms and Conditions and Computer and Laptop Repair Terms where Tech Pro 247 expressly agrees to provide data recovery, data transfer, backup or erasure work. 1. A separate written scope is required Data recovery or erasure is not included merely because a device is booked for repair. Before this work [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-866","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=866"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":867,"href":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/866\/revisions\/867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techpro247.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}