Whether data and information are your trade or you just need to make sure your employee and company data is safe, take a look at how to prevent data loss in a company. Cyber threats access more and more private data and information each day. While you may not think data loss can happen to your company, a large percent of businesses experience loss of some kind. From hard drive malfunctions or damage to software glitches and cyber theft, keeping your company’s data and information safe and secure can be paramount to proper function and productivity.
What is the Most Common Cause of Data Loss?
There are many common causes of data loss and each can happen at any time. Take a look at each type of threat to data loss and learn how you can identify potential risks for your company.
Hardware Failure
The kind of threats that come with hardware are the same kinds of risks that come with any type of machine with moving parts. Damage to the parts of the machine, user error when operating, or simple malfunctions are common issues that can happen with use of a hard drive for IT operation and storage. Overheating, power surges, outdated hardware failure, and damage can all result in loss of your company’s valuable data and information.
User Error
Have you ever thought you clicked that save button but suddenly found all your hard work gone in the blink of an eye? So have most data and information users. Human error accounts for a good percent of data loss and damages companies experience every day. Whether it’s an accidental click of a button, a trip over the wrong cord, or misuse of a software or hardware function, user error can cause instant damage to your IT safety.
Software Failure/Malware
While software use for IT storage and solutions can take some of the physical damage and malfunction risk out of the equation, there are some new threats that come with an internet based or wireless system. A large percent of the risk comes with the threat of cyber crime. Cyber threats can come in the form of information and data theft, malware that crashes a system, or ransomware that holds access to data hostage.
In addition to the cyber threat aspect of software usage, an online or software system is typically dependent on an internet connection to function properly. If a wire connection or a wireless connection is lost, software and unsaved data could be damaged or lost.
What is the Best Protection Against Data Loss?
While there are many safety security threats to IT data and information, you can take a look at the many ways data can be protected.
Hardware Upkeep
Many threats of data loss that come with a hardware operation can be mediated by investing in a high level of system upkeep procedures. Keep hardware systems clean and updated to avoid damage with age and overheating due to uncleared ventilation. Keep cords and infrastructure in a safe place to make sure connectivity is safe and protected.
Data Backups
The highest level of threat protection you can have for your company’s data and information is scheduled and consistent backups. Periodically make a copy of each piece of data to ensure you don’t lose the information completely in a data loss or damage event.
Safety Procedures
Take a look at the best antivirus and cyber threat firewall protection programs available. These programs can keep cyber threats away from your data and protect from ransomware and virus attacks. Keep these programs up to date to maximize protections.
Damage or loss caused by human error is also a type of threat that can be helped with safety procedures. Keep drinks and other liquids away from hardware and wires to avoid damage. Perform periodic copy saves and backups to keep data and information stored. Don’t rush when dealing with valuable information. Make sure data is saved and stored correctly.
How Can an Employee Prevent Data Loss on their own Computer?
Company leaders can implement procedures in data safety and security that can help employees take data loss prevention into their own hands. Employees can routinely perform data backups, update and check effectiveness of antivirus software and firewalls, practice mindful usage of systems, and keep their hardware clean and maintained. These simple tips can help employees prevent damage and data loss threats on their own computer.
How Do You Prevent Data Loss on an External Hard Drive?
It’s easy to remember the safety procedures to perform on IT items and systems you use everyday, but a lesser used external hard drive still needs the same kind of care to prevent damage and data loss threats. To keep an external hard drive working at its best level, take a look at some tips to keep it running and access to its stored information available.
Keep your hard drive in a good condition. Make sure it’s stored in a safe environment and it is protected from any damage. Do routine checks on your hard drive to make sure no damage or internal issues have developed due to any kind of threat factor.
Monitor the level of data and information being stored on the external hard drive. A higher amount of data stored, the more threat of loss there is for the hard drive. Keep a look on the level of data to make sure the hard drive isn’t overloaded. If a hard drive becomes too full, it can cause malfunctions or all over crashes that lose data for your company.
Finally, always remove the hard drive after use is finished. A range of data loss threats can happen if an external hard drive isn’t properly removed and stored after data is saved.