By Tian DuBelko
No matter if you’re a freelancer working from home or an entrepreneur on the go, you need to protect your files and data. Not only is your own information at risk, you could be risking your client’s information if you’re not careful. All it takes is one spilled coffee or a file being accidentally deleted to throw your livelihood into chaos.
Especially in light of the recent Ransomware attacks, it’s more important than ever to keep your data safe and secure. Keep these following factors in mind to bulletproof your data and protect your information in case of a data or tech disaster.
1. Your data isn’t safe in public
Any time you’re working on the go, you’re exposing your data to security risks. Just because you’re using a Wi-Fi network doesn’t mean that any confidential information you’re working with is safe. Should someone sharing the same network as you gain access to this private information, you’re on the hook for the breach.
Protip: Get a password-protected personal hotspot if you’re going to be working in public access locations. That way, you can work in public Wi-Fi places without worrying if someone is trying to access your information.
2. Backup your files
Many freelancers work with multiple clients and need to share their work over cloud storage. However, just because a file in on cloud doesn’t mean it’s 100% safe. What happens if your file is accidentally deleted? It’s gone for good unless you’ve backed it up somewhere.
Protip: When working with multiple collaborators and passing files back and forth, make sure you have a copy and multiple versions of the file you’re working on, so you don’t lose out on hours of work should something go wrong.
3. Physical protection is important, too
Anytime you’re working away from the safety of your home, whether that’s in a coffee shop, a shared office, or an airport lounge, your laptop or tablet is at risk of being stolen. Hours of hard work, along with any projects or important files, could be swiped if you’re not paying attention at all times.
Protip: Backup all the files on your laptop to an external hard drive. You should do this even if you don’t work from public locations like coffee shops or airports. Also, make sure that you have a strong password to make it difficult for attackers to get into your data. Finally, never leave your workstation unattended in public places. It’s better to be paranoid than be out of hours and potentially days of work.
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