January 14
Advice for travelers to avoid data loss
Technology has made it easier to take your office with you. However, efforts to secure borders and make international travel safer in recent years combined with threats to portable data mean business travelers must be more vigilant.
Whether you are a frequent or infrequent business traveler, don’t be remiss about protecting your data.
If you’re frequently on the road, the benefits of a laptop computer are obvious. However, there are many safeguards to consider, since you can’t take IT staff with you wherever you go.
One common threat to your laptop and to the data inside is the dropping or mishandling of the system. While some manufacturers have developed technology to better protect the hard drive, it is fallible. With increased security at airports, someone else will handle the machine when you go through security and they could unintentionally shake or drop your system.
Aside from accidental physical damage, there is the possibility your laptop will be lost or stolen – that’s why protective measures must be taken before you leave on a trip.
While physical hardware does have monetary value, it’s the data that is most valuable to any business traveler, so your first priority is protect your data on the hard drive.
If you can carry your laptop as carry-on luggage, back up your data before you leave. While in the office and connected to the network, use the backup system your IT staff has implemented and verify that it’s worked. If you’re leaving from home, back up critical data to a CD or DVD.
Travelers with laptops have become accustomed to removing them from their bags while security screeners at the airport scrutinize them, but terrorist threats in recent years. created situations where passengers were faced with the possibility of having them banned from carry-on luggage. While those restrictions have been relaxed, the wise traveler should be prepared to be separated from their data when boarding a flight, if they are instituted again. Play it safe. If required, check your laptop in its proper case.
Avoid checking a laptop bag as luggage — instead, place it in another piece of carry-on luggage that does not advertise the contents inside. This keeps it inconspicuous and the layering will help protect against damage.
One never knows when hardware might fail, so back up your data before you depart and bring the critical business information you need for your trip on a separate piece of media such as a CD or USB thumb drive. And, common sense says don’t store your backup in the same bag as your laptop. If you have any computer problems on the road or in the air, you can easily do that critical presentation or demonstration on somebody else’s machine at your destination when you have access to your backup.
In the worst case scenario of laptop theft, complex passwords and encryption solutions make it more difficult for the laptop to be “hacked” by criminals. While your laptop may be gone, it will be difficult for criminals to access the data residing on its hard drive.
If you assume something will threaten your data whenever you travel, these steps will ensure both you and your information, if not your computer, arrive safely at your final destination.
Don’t leave home without your passport or your backup.
Category: data loss prevention, helpful hints
Tags: backup
