When RAID arrays or NAS devices fail, the consequences can be severe—lost access to business-critical data, service outages, and pressure from stakeholders. At Cambridge Data Recovery, we specialise in RAID recovery and NAS recovery services, helping organisations of all sizes—from SMEs to universities—restore access to vital information.
With over 20 years of hands-on experience in data recovery, we understand the complex nature of RAID systems and the urgency involved when they fail. This article outlines the key factors in RAID and NAS recovery, the common causes of failure, and how our service works to give you confidence before committing to recovery costs.
We Recover Data from All RAID Levels and NAS Devices
Our engineers are equipped to handle recovery from all major RAID levels, including:
- RAID 0 – High-performance, but zero fault tolerance. A single drive failure can cause total data loss.
- RAID 1 – Mirrored arrays often used for redundancy, but still susceptible to simultaneous disk failure or controller issues.
- RAID 5 / 6 – Common in business environments for balancing performance and redundancy. Multiple drive failures, rebuild errors, or degraded states can make recovery complex.
- RAID 10 / 50 / 60 and hybrid arrays – More complex architectures combining striping and mirroring or parity.
We also support recovery from JBOD configurations, ZFS, and custom RAID setups used in enterprise and academic environments.
Whether your data was stored on a Dell PowerEdge, HP ProLiant, Synology, QNAP, Netgear, Drobo, or another NAS system, we have the tools and knowledge to handle the recovery.
Common Causes of RAID & NAS Failure
RAID arrays and NAS devices can fail for various reasons, including:
- Disk failures – Especially in RAID 5 or 6, simultaneous or cascading disk errors can overwhelm parity protection.
- Controller issues – RAID controllers can fail or misbehave, leading to degraded arrays or corrupted configurations.
- Rebuild errors – During rebuilds, a read error or drive mismatch can destabilise the entire array.
- Firmware updates gone wrong
- Stale drives – A drive removed too early or reintroduced later can introduce outdated data, further corrupting the volume.
- User error – Accidental reinitialisation or configuration changes during troubleshooting.
Why RAID Recovery Can Vary in Complexity and Cost
RAID data recovery is inherently more complex than recovering data from a single drive. Factors that influence the cost and complexity include:
- Number of drives involved – More drives = more potential failure points.
- Drive condition – One or more drives may be mechanically or electronically damaged.
- RAID level – Complex RAID types like RAID 50 or nested RAID 10 require advanced reconstruction.
- Logical damage – Corruption at the file system level or incorrect rebuilds can complicate recovery.
- Unknown or undocumented configurations – Especially common in DIY or older NAS setups.
Each case is unique, and that’s why we always begin with a no-obligation analysis. We’ll examine your array, determine what data can be recovered, and only proceed with your approval. No data? No charge.
Our RAID and NAS Recovery Process
At Cambridge Data Recovery, our approach is methodical, transparent, and focused on data integrity:
- Free Evaluation – We analyse your failed RAID or NAS system and identify the root cause.
- Detailed Report – You’ll receive a clear breakdown of recoverable data and an exact quote for recovery.
- Safe Recovery – We image all drives before working on them, ensuring no risk to the original data.
- Recovery & Delivery – Once approved, we recover your data and can deliver it securely on encrypted media.
Why Choose Cambridge Data Recovery?
- ✅ 20+ years of RAID and NAS recovery experience
- ✅ Recovery from RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60 and more
- ✅ Support for all major NAS brands and configurations
- ✅ Free initial analysis – know what’s recoverable before you pay
- ✅ Friendly, expert service trusted by businesses, universities, and IT professionals
We are always happy to discuss specific RAID failures or NAS issues and offer guidance before you send in your device. Whether you’re dealing with a sudden RAID failure, a degraded array, or a NAS that’s gone silent, our engineers are here to help.
Get in Touch
If you’re facing a RAID failure or a NAS device that’s stopped responding, don’t panic. Contact Cambridge Data Recovery for expert advice and fast, reliable recovery solutions. Call us on 01223 900400 or email us at info@cambridgedatarecovery.co.uk or via our Contact Us page to start your recovery today.