Latest news: New IT service for students

The new computer service is set to save student homework after two graduates start their own data recovery business. 16/09/2011

They started their business, Zibit Datalab, in February 2011 having both completed the BSc Forensic Computing course at the university’s faculty of engineering, technology and environment.

Dominic Nielen-Groen and Chris Elmore use an advanced technique called ‘data carving’ which allows them to extract accidentally deleted file content from computers and restore them to their original setting.

‘Data loss is all too common, but is fairly misunderstood. Deleting a file doesn’t mean it’s actually deleted. Whether you’re using a Mac or Windows, your operating system keeps a record of where your files are stored. When you delete a file your operating system purposely forgets where that file is located but in fact the contents remain stored,’ said Chris Elmore, co-creator of Student Data Recovery.

The business is based at Fort Dunlop in Birmingham and was set up after the two former students realised there was a gap in the data recovery market. Despite the current economic downturn, Dominic and Chris have built industry contacts and a client base by offering fixed price services. 

‘We are also proud of our staff who always go the extra mile to help students. In this case it is a testimony to the level of confidence our students now have in their skills and the entrepreneurship to spot a rising market in Cybersecurity of which our School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks has a deep technical insight,’ said Dr Peter Rayson, associate dean of the Faculty of Technology, Engineering and Environment.