In this fast-paced world, there is one thing most computer users have in common: We have all lost data at one time or another. For the lucky ones, this is not a painful experience -- just one of inconvenience.

Unfortunately for others, the data loss is impacting because the lost data was irreplaceable and valuable. The good news today is that there are many types of data storage solutions available.

As you think about how to protect your data, it's important to understand the different ways in which data can be lost.

Device failure can happen when there is a corrupted area on the disk where your file is located. Your entire drive could fail. When this happens, you have to wipe the disk and reinstall the entire operating system .

In the same vein, equipment failure is more complex. This includes a failure like memory corruption within your computer and requires defective equipment to be replaced and information recovered.