A recoverable data storage apparatus includes a hand-portable housing configured with an input/output (I/O) port presented outwardly therefrom, a data storage means retained within the housing and operatively coupled with the input/output port, and a client agent embodied as device-executable code residing on the data storage device and configured. When executed on a network-linked host computing device, the client agent is configured to establish communication with a remote server and receive data indicating a possession status of the data storage apparatus. A device tracking system includes a data network means, a hardware portion, and a software portion. The hardware portion includes at least, (1) a server device operatively coupled with the network means, and (2) a data storage device with an externally presented input/output port configured to operatively couple with a host device. The software portion includes at least, (1) a data storage device tracking means configured to identify a data storage device based upon unique identification-relevant data included in a polling message received via the network means, and (2) a client agent configured as device executable code stored at a memory means operatively coupled with the data storage device, wherein the client agent is configured so operatively when coupled with a host device to cause the host device to transmit host device-relevant identifying data via the network means.