Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 servers are widely used by businesses, including packaging companies, for data redundancy, secure file storage, and operational efficiency. However, when a RAID 5 volume is deliberately deleted, it can result in data loss, business disruption, and potential legal investigations.
This case study details how we successfully recovered critical business data and provided a full forensic report for a packaging business in Glasgow, after a sacked ex-employee maliciously deleted their RAID 5 volume.
As Glasgow Data Recovery, Scotland’s oldest and best data recovery company, we have 25 years of experience in RAID reconstruction, forensic data extraction, and corporate cybercrime investigation.
Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 Volume Deleted by Ex-Employee
A Glasgow-based packaging company contacted us after their Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 server was compromised, with the following issues:
- A recently terminated employee intentionally deleted the RAID 5 volume.
- The server could no longer access business-critical files.
- Attempts to rebuild the RAID failed due to missing metadata.
- The company required a full forensic report for legal purposes.
Since RAID deletion does not immediately erase data, but overwriting can, an immediate forensic-level recovery solution was required.
Diagnosis & Evaluation
When the Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 server (5-disk setup) arrived at our cleanroom facility, we conducted a full forensic and RAID analysis. Our findings:
- RAID 5 volume deletion detected, but the data was still partially intact.
- RAID metadata corruption – Making the system unable to recognise the array.
- No significant data overwrites detected, increasing the likelihood of full recovery.
- Log files and user activity records were retrievable for forensic investigation.
Since further system use could cause permanent data loss, we prioritized RAID reconstruction and forensic documentation.
The Recovery Process
1. Cloning & Imaging All RAID 5 Disks to Prevent Further Data Loss
To preserve recoverable data, we:
- Created forensic sector-by-sector clones of all RAID disks.
- Used specialised RAID recovery tools to reconstruct missing metadata.
2. Manually Rebuilding the RAID 5 Array & Extracting Deleted Data
Since the RAID metadata was erased, we:
- Manually reconstructed the RAID 5 volume outside the Dell PowerEdge system.
- Recovered missing RAID headers and partition structures.
3. Extracting & Verifying Packaging Business Data
Once the RAID 5 structure was successfully rebuilt, we:
- Recovered all business invoices, production schedules, and financial records.
- Restored client contracts, order details, and warehouse inventory records.
- Transferred the fully restored data to a secure external RAID backup device.
4. Generating a Full Forensic Report for Legal Evidence
Since this was a malicious data deletion case, we:
- Retrieved deleted system logs and access history.
- Provided a detailed forensic report documenting the deletion event.
- Created a timeline of user activity for legal proceedings.
The Results: 100% Data Recovery Success & Forensic Documentation
Thanks to our RAID reconstruction and forensic investigation techniques, we successfully recovered 100% of the business’s lost data and provided a comprehensive forensic report, including:
✅ All critical business documents, order details, and financial reports recovered
✅ RAID 5 volume fully restored with no missing files
✅ Forensic report detailing system logs, timestamps, and evidence of deletion
The packaging company was able to resume operations without losing essential data and pursue legal action against the ex-employee.
Why Choose Us?
With 25 years of experience and tens of thousands of successful RAID recoveries, we are Scotland’s leading RAID and forensic data recovery specialists. Our expertise includes:
✔ Dell PowerEdge RAID 5 recovery & metadata reconstruction
✔ Forensic investigation & cybercrime documentation
✔ Corporate data security, compliance, and legal evidence gathering
✔ Secure & confidential enterprise data recovery services
If your RAID 5 server has been deleted, compromised, or contains data critical to legal proceedings, stop using the system immediately and contact us for expert RAID data recovery and forensic analysis.