Data security

Most Common Factors That Could Put Your Data at Risk

The data you store on your computer is important to you. If you own a business, your data is the lifeline of your business. Losing it could stall your business. If you are a student, losing data could mean having to put in extra hours recovering lost assignments.

There are many risks that your data is exposed to. Being aware of these risks and taking measures to safeguard against them are critical steps for preventing data loss.

data storage

Some of the factors that could contribute to data loss include:

1. Accidental deletion

If you have been deleting a bunch of files, you could accidentally delete files that are still important to you.

Protect yourself from unintentional file deletions by making several backup copies of your work. You can back up both on external storage media and on the cloud.

2. Viruses

The internet increases the risk of virus attacks by opening your computer to hackers or to malicious file downloads. Viruses can also be introduced into your computer through email attachments.

Viruses will corrupt your data and make it unusable. To protect your data, do not launch or run any files that originate from unknown sources. As well, be careful when downloading files and applications from independent websites.

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You should also run frequent virus checks on your system by installing an effective antivirus.

3. Hard disk damage

Computer hard disks are very susceptible to damage. This is because they have so many spinning parts within them.

Your hard disk could get damaged due to

  • General wear and tear
  • Dropping a hard disk
  • Exposure to heat
  • Manufacturing faults

Be sure to also upgrade to an SSD hard disk. An SSD is stable as it doesn't have any movable parts. It is therefore less susceptible to damage.

4. Power failures and surges

Power surges can destroy the hardware components of your computer and result in permanent data loss.

security

While it is possible to replace the hardware parts that will be damaged, the bigger blow for you will be in the data you have lost. While there are professional services that can help you with data recovery, it is still prudent to prevent power interruptions by;

  • Investing in a UPS
  • Installing a surge protector

5. Theft of computer

Your computer could be stolen during a home break in, in your car or in a public place such as an airport.

If your computer gets stolen, you will lose your data along with it. You can protect your computer and data by:

  • Backing up all your data.
  • Insure your computer. This may not bring back your data, but it will at least save you the cost of having to buy a new one.
  • Do not leave your equipment unmanned while in public.
  • If you back up on external storage medium, do not store the backed up data in the same place as your computer. Otherwise, you won't have any backup to use.

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