Computers, the Internet, and other technology has certainly changed the way we do business, and we can work more efficiently than ever before, However, there is a downside to these conveniences when business owners fail to prepare. Data loss is unfortunately common, and in an instant you can lose all the important information, spreadsheets, and documents you have spent years developing. By following a few simple tips, you can best ensure you don’t fall victim to this devastating problem.
Antivirus Software
For real-time protection you can always count on a reputable antivirus software program to provide the security you need. There are plenty to choose from – if you’re willing to spend some cash, go for the trusted ones (like ESET) or, if you’re after a free solution, Avast seems to be popular choice.
The moment it detects an infected file or program, it can either delete it immediately or designate it to a special quarantine folder that disables it from interacting with the rest of your computer. You can also take advantage of benefits such as:
- Boot-time scan
- Individual file scan
- Protection of your sensitive information
Back it Up
There are so many things that can go wrong when it comes to your data, and it’s important to know that you have a separate stash when it comes to the important stuff. There are various ways you can do this including:
- Purchasing an external hard drive where you can save a copy of everything important. Ensure you keep it in a safe place.
- Most of the people nowadays have good internet connections – you can make use of that, and the fact that Google is offering free cloud storage with their accounts. Leave your PC overnight so it can upload all the important files to your own Cloud, where they’ll safely wait for you, if things go south.
- If you don’t have external hard drive nor internet connection, hopefully you at least have some free capacity left on your disk. Use it to backup your most important files, but make sure it’s different from your System partition (where Windows is installed). Also, apply “Read Only” attribute to them, just in case.
Be Careful Opening Attachments
Attachments can be dangerous. All too often creative scam artists send an attachment that will compromise your data, but they make it appear harmless. Before opening any attachment, ensure you know the sender. If you don’t, it’s always a good idea to email them back and get verification in regards to what the attachment is before opening. Furthermore, if your email reader is set to open attachments automatically, take a few minutes and disable this feature.
Regular Upgrades
It’s important to keep up with the latest innovations, not only to ensure you are working with the most efficient technology, but also to protect your data. You can do this by enabling automatic updates when possible and regularly checking to ensure your software has the latest updates.
Ensure Password Protection
You likely have many passwords in your life, and this can be confusing at times. However, they serve a valuable purpose, and there are some things you should be doing to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands. Just a few tips that could prove very beneficial include:
- Changing passwords on a regular basis
- Not using easy-to-guess passwords such as your date of birth or mother’s maiden name
- Making your password at least eight characters long and including numbers and special characters
- Avoiding using complete words
- Making new passwords significantly different from previous ones
- Not including your username, real name, or business name
- Including both upper and lower-case letters
Saving As You Go
As you work on a project, make sure you save your work regularly. Few things are more frustrating than working on a project for hours, losing power, and in turn losing all your hard work in an instant.
An Investment That Pays
The time and money you invest in the protection of your data is well worth it as it can save months or even years as well as hundreds or thousands of dollars. When this devastating event does occur, you’ll realize new things every day that were lost and you now have to recover from scratch. Whether you have recently experienced data loss or are taking measures to prevent falling victim to begin with, now’s the time to start protecting your future. These tips can prove highly beneficial when implemented correctly.
