Ransomware Reality: Inside a 16TB SME Data Recovery Case – No Ransom Paid
When ransomware hit a UK professional services firm, it didn’t just lock files — it froze their entire business. Client deliverables, audit data, and legal records were suddenly inaccessible. Andy Butler, CEO of R3 Data Recovery, explains how his team restored 11TB of encrypted data and why SMEs must never rely on backups alone.
Why This Matters
Ransomware attacks on SMEs are increasing by over 30% annually, targeting those least equipped to respond.
Key lessons for SME leaders:
* Backups aren’t enough — they’re often on the same network and also encrypted.
* Data loss = downtime — a single attack can halt operations for weeks.
* Paying ransoms is risky — no guarantee of decryption or data return.
* Professional recovery is possible — if evidence is preserved early.
* Every minute counts — swift action limits damage and cost.
Authoritative Insight
According to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), ransomware remains “the most significant cyber threat to UK businesses.”
Andy Butler, CEO of R3 Data Recovery, notes:
“We treat every case as a forensic challenge. In this one, we rebuilt a 16TB RAID array from encrypted drives and restored 11TB of usable data. The key was acting fast — before the system was wiped or overwritten.”
SME-Specific Impact
This wasn’t just a technical challenge — it was a business-critical recovery:
* Client projects mid-delivery were frozen by encryption.
* Audit records were inaccessible, threatening regulatory deadlines.
* Three years of email history risked permanent loss.
* Sensitive legal documents were locked behind ransom demands.
For SMEs, the loss of even a few days’ data can mean lost clients, compliance breaches, and long-term reputational damage.
What R3 Data Recovery Did
The client drove the HP ProLiant server — containing 4 × 4TB SAS drives — directly to R3’s Sheffield lab. The drives were almost full, and two external backups were also infected.
R3’s process included:
🔹 Cloning all four drives (one with sector errors).
🔹 Reconstructing the RAID array from encrypted volumes.
🔹 Running extensive RAW and indexed file scans.
🔹 Identifying millions of files across multiple partitions.
🔹 Recovering the operating system partition to access program data.
🔹 Transferring 11TB of recovered data.
🔹 Producing a searchable HTML index of 3+ million files for review.
After reviewing the data, the client confirmed recovery of around 4TB of critical files — including audit records and client deliverables.
His verdict: “Very pleased and relieved.”
