 |
Frequent Flyers Beware
May 16, 2007
By Vicky Brauner, Managing Director
CBL Data Recovery Australia
Don’t get caught with your guard down: tips for securing your laptop and sensitive data when travelling.
For the business traveller, mobile devices such as laptops and PDAs are a virtual necessity, giving you the freedom to stay connected and keep working while on the road. Mobile technology makes it easy for us to take the office with us wherever we go, but recent airport security upgrades, combined with growing threats to mobile data mean business travellers must be more vigilant than ever to protect against data loss when on the road.
Right now you might be reading this article on a plane or in your hotel room while on a business trip. While you have planned ahead to cover eventualities such as the weather and unexpected delays, have you given a thought to protecting your sensitive data? What happens if your laptop is damaged, lost or stolen? All too often, business travellers believe ‘it won’t happen to me’ and hope for the best when it comes to data loss. If you think nothing bad will happen to you, think again! Don’t get caught with your guard down when travelling, protect yourself and your critical data with the following commonsense tips and advice.
Break me, shake me: protect your laptop from damage
It goes without saying that one of the most common threats to laptops and mobile data while on the road is physical damage. What happens if you drop your laptop, accidentally step on it or spill that much needed coffee over the keypad? Mobile hard drives are generally smaller and more prone to damage because the hard drive components are compressed into a smaller space than desktop PCs.
While some computer manufacturers have developed technology to better protect hard drives from being damaged when dropped or shaken, they are far from indestructible.
It is also worth remembering that with tightened security at airports, you’re no longer the only one handling your computer. At least one other person will handle your computer when you go through security and could, either intentionally or otherwise, damage your laptop in the process.
As there is no fail-safe way protect yourself against this risk, the important thing is to be aware and take precautionary measures to avoid losing data if your laptop is damaged. A couple of simple ways you can protect yourself include using a secure, encrypted USB flash memory drive to back up your data, a 2.5” external unit with the thought being your back up is on your person and separate from your laptop, or backing up data to an online storage site so your data doesn’t go missing if your laptop is damaged. Where possible you should also pack your laptop with foam or bubble wrap and store it inside other luggage to protect the device as much as possible from potential damage in baggage handling.
Finder’s keepers: is your data safe from prying eyes?
Aside from the potential for physical damage, there is always the possibility your laptop will be lost or stolen when travelling. A recent survey by computer security watchdog, AusCert found that laptop theft was one of the leading types of computer crime experienced by Australian businesses, with over 58% of organisations having executives’ laptops lost or stolen in 2006. This risk is magnified whilst travelling, as it is easier to misplace – or be vulnerable to criminals – in transit or in unfamiliar places.
In addition to being a very frustrating, costly experience, you also risk sensitive data falling into the wrong hands if your laptop is lost or stolen. Recent high profile examples include the theft of a laptop from an employee of the US department of Veteran affairs which contained the personal details of millions of veterans.
While on the road, you are heavily reliant on your mobile data and can least afford to lose this information. The key to avoiding a data loss crisis when travelling is being prepared and taking steps to protect yourself from this scenario. Protect your laptop with complex passwords and encryption solutions that make it difficult for your laptop to be “hacked” by criminals if it is stolen. You should also consider using remote data protection so sensitive data can be wiped remotely if your laptop goes missing. Again, because your data is the most valuable and hard-to-replace component of your laptop, make protecting your data the number one priority when travelling.
Get smart when it comes to security
You may be used to removing your laptop from your luggage for airport security staff to scrutinise, but with the looming threat of terrorist attacks last year, many passengers in the UK were faced with the possibility of having them banned from carry-on luggage completely.
While those restrictions have since been relaxed, they could be stepped-up again in the near future. You should be prepared to be separated from your data when boarding a flight, and if forced to check your laptop, be sure it’s in its proper case. If possible, do not check-in a laptop bag as luggage — instead, place it as 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.
Even if you can carry your laptop as carry-on luggage, it's a good idea to back up your data before you leave. If you’re connected to a network while in the office, be sure to use the backup system your IT staff have set up and verify that it’s worked and you can access the data if needed. If you’re leaving from home, you should back up critical data to a CD or DVD as well, just to be sure.
Be prepared: better safe than sorry
These tips and advice are useful at any time, not just at times of heightened security. After all, you never know when a piece of technology will fail. You should not only back up data before you leave, but also keep critical business information needed for your trip with you on a separate piece of media such as a CD or USB thumb drive. That way you can easily do that critical presentation or demonstration on somebody else’s machine at your destination if anything goes wrong.
When it comes to data security, don’t think you’re invincible. Remember, prevention is the best cure for data loss. Protect yourself and your sensitive data with these simple tips. Data loss can happen to anyone, but by following our commonsense advice and educating yourself about the risks, you can significantly reduce your chances of losing critical data when travelling.
Vicky Brauner is Managing Director of CBL Data Recovery Technologies' Australian operations. CBL is a leading international provider of data recovery services to consumer, enterprise and public-sector clients who experience data loss disasters. E-mail vbrauner@cbltech.com.au
  |
 |
