Data recovery in the age of remote work: challenges and solutions
The world of work has changed noticeably in recent years. Remote work is now part of everyday life for many and gives you the opportunity to work flexibly from home, on the road or even from another country. This freedom brings numerous advantages: less commuting time, more self-determination and often a better work-life balance. At the same time, however, it also means that protecting your data is even more important than before. The more decentralized you work, the more diverse the devices, networks and tools that are in use – and this is where new challenges arise.
Where the risks lie
If you no longer work exclusively in the protected company network, your data will be spread across different devices and storage locations. Perhaps you use your private laptop, a tablet or your smartphone to work on projects. These devices often do not run with the same security standards as an internal company computer, which can open doors for attackers. What’s more, many people use insecure Wi-Fi connections when working from home or on the move, for example in a café or hotel. Data can be intercepted unnoticed there.
Another problem: backups are easily forgotten in everyday life. If files are only stored locally on the work device, all it takes is a small defect or a careless click – and important documents are gone. Such a loss can be particularly serious in an environment without a central IT structure.
Solutions for more security in the home office
The good news is: with the right measures, you can reliably protect your data even when working flexibly. First of all, it is important to have clear rules on how to handle sensitive information. For example, if you work with customer data or confidential documents, you should always make sure that your devices have the latest security updates. This is the only way to close known vulnerabilities in good time.
A secure connection is just as important. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) ensures that all data is transmitted in encrypted form. This means you can also work securely in external networks. In addition, it is worthwhile to consistently use strong passwords and, if possible, two-factor authentication.
Another cornerstone is data backup. Automated backups ensure that your work is not lost, even if your device breaks down or is stolen. A combination of a local backup on an external hard disk and a cloud backup is a good idea here. While the external hard drive enables quick restores, the cloud ensures that an up-to-date copy of your data remains available even in the event of theft or fire. Modern cloud services also allow you to access your backed-up files at any time and from anywhere.
Prevention and rescue in an emergency
Remote work requires a rethink: security is no longer just the responsibility of the IT department in the office, it is also your personal responsibility. If you pay attention to the basics – up-to-date software, secure networks, automated backups and clear access rules – you significantly reduce the risk of data loss.
If it does happen despite all precautions, it is important not to make any hasty rescue attempts that could make the damage worse. This is exactly where we at Datenretter Schweiz come into play. With our experience in professional data recovery, we support you quickly, discreetly and reliably – whether it’s damaged hard disks, defective SSDs or lost cloud data.