IPDRA - Have you joined yet?

[Disklabs]

Just incase anyone here isnt aware, the IPDRA (http://www.ipdra.org) is now free to join. All that is required is that you are at a technical standard.

We now have members from Russia, Mexico, UK, USA, Ireland and Canada that have joined.

I have recently added a directory for all members to add a link to thier site free of charge too - so its free plugging for their websites - Great for Google links!

Without you as members, the IPDRA wont work, with you, it becomes more powerful.

For those concerned that I have a lot to do with it, simply join the committee and help share in the approvals and denials of member requests.

Some organisations that have joined include Seagate, MJM, Disklabs, and those here: http://www.ipdra.org/data-recovery-directory/

Please note that this is not all the members, just those that have filled in the directory application.

Best regards,

Simon
http://www.ipdra.org

[CK]

absolute joke, granted there are some recognised people on the list but what checks are you doing on members to validate? Who are lostdata.ie? They don't even have a physical address on their website. I would be interested in joining but only if there is any sort of validation that helps to root out amateurs.

[HDD Spaz]

isn't there supposed to be 2 recomendations required from people who are currently members?

[Disklabs]

absolute joke, granted there are some recognised people on the list but what checks are you doing on members to validate? Who are lostdata.ie? They don't even have a physical address on their website. I would be interested in joining but only if there is any sort of validation that helps to root out amateurs.

Lostdata.ie are a company based over in Ireland. I have personally met Kevin, the owner, who applied for Professional membership, but was only allowed Associate Membership - which is for anyone within the industry, (be they suppliers, small companies or software vendors).

To date, approximately 40% of all those that have applied have been rejected.

At the moment, the validation is done by myself, Mike from MJM and Richard from Xytron. For the Russian companies I request information from my senior technician to tell me about what he knows about the company, what their website says etc..

I request on the main page of the site people to assist me in by running the association by joining the committee, which makes the association more and more democratic.

Its up to you if you join. you could well benefit at best, at worst, nothing.

Best regards,

Simon
http://www.ipdra.org

[Disklabs]

isn't there supposed to be 2 recomendations required from people who are currently members?

Yes there is.

Until we have a critical mass of members, this will be at the discretion of the committee. Its not perfect, but its the best option available at the moment.

I think that the critical mass will be around 100 members.

You raised a good point, I hope what I have put gives you some confidence?

Best regards,

Simon
http://www.ipdra.org

[BlackST]

I am eligible for a prize... Not on Facebook, not on Second Life, not on Twitter, not on Linkedin, not on IPDRA...

[CK]

Simon,

I applaud your efforts to setup something useful, however, I disagree with the Associate membership level as I cannot see the point of having this? Granted, it will get you lots of people on your list, but value is added by their presence? Any small pc repair shop or parts supplier can join - which dilutes the value of your organisation. What would be the point of any Ontrack or Disklabs agent joining? I have hundreds of trade customers who would technically qualify as associates but they would add nothing to the group.

CK

[Disklabs]

CK,

Excuse the delay in responding, I've been quite busy.

You make a fair point about the Associate Members, but as you rightly said, its a way to get initial membership up. It also does have some relevance to members, (spare parts suppliers, equipment suppliers etc, (Salvation Data for example are an Associate Member - I am sure you will agree, they are quite important?)).

Its difficult to balance what is good and what isnt. As you can see from this site, the IPDRA is apposed too, (though I still dont know why - as we still dont charge a penny).

The idea is to promote professional data recovery businesses and practitioners. We have companies on board from one man bands to Seagate. We have members in over 20 countries. Its still free, its still done for the right reasons - to protect the customers from some of the 'rogue' outfits out there.

Best regards,

[MANDR]

For the Russian companies I request information from my senior technician to tell me about what he knows about the company, what their website says etc..

surely this is not basis for acceptance? Word of mouth and a google search...

To date, approximately 40% of all those that have applied have been rejected.

What basis have you rejected applicants on? If you can include members based on a meeting (as with lostdata.ie), whats to say these decisions are not biased?

Salvation Data for example are an Associate Member - I am sure you will agree, they are quite important?

Depends on your idea of 'important'.

I do not see Acelab, or Atola here. Or Ontrack, i365, CBL....

Personally, I do not see how an association that determines how good or bad a DR company is, and even rejects applications from (potentially) established DR firms, and does not have members from the leading DR firms such as i365 and CBL, can or should be run by a DR company. Surely a independant body not associated with data recovery in any way would make a more successful and fair system.

Also, I would be surprised if there was not any complications running an association such as this when your an active member of the industry you are trying to police.

[Clusterox]

I am agree with the basic flaw that there is no such authoritative process of selecting the members, but Steggles must be appreciated for atleast starting of such a thing. There is no proper regulatory association for Data Recovery.

Who knows such an association may take a nice shape in future?

[BlackST]

There is no proper regulatory association for Data Recovery.

Thank God, no - and - Unluckily, it's true.

[pclab]

When at the beginning, it's hard to get members, so I think that being able to be part of as Association is always good.

Of course, there's must be rules to accept and recognize a valid member, so if anyone goes to the IPDRA web site, to check if a determinate company is real and competent, there's mustn't have no doubt of that.

[Clusterox]

Thank God, no - and - Unluckily, it's true.

Alexy, Yes - unluckily, it's true. However, the same can't be said explicitly for the future. You never know when your horses may join that too

[MANDR]

When at the beginning, it's hard to get members, so I think that being able to be part of as Association is always good.

Even when this association has 3 links on the top of each members page:

Data Recovery, Data Forensics, RAID Recovery ?

And, surprise surprise, guess which company they lead to.....

[Clusterox]

What I failed to understand is the cause of such treatment like someone has committed a non-bailable crime by just organizing something.

It's my personal opinion that if one wants to join, let him do. If one doesn't - then it's good too. What's the point of throwing flames?

Or somehow, it has something to do with competition?