Three Ways You Can Protect Your Data While Traveling

A lot can change in ten years. I’m sure most of you remember what a royal pain it was to work remotely—bulky laptops, spotty Internet connections, nightmarish VPN authentication. Nowadays, none of that stuff is really a problem anymore.

Electronics have never been more compact. We’ve got smartphones, tablets, and laptops more powerful than anything seen in the past. And thanks to a wealth of productivity applications, it’s never been simpler to stay on-task while out of the office.

Of course, that isn’t to say there aren’t still risks and challenges. Data security is still a huge concern – especially since the traditional perimeters established by firewalls and corporate intranet have pretty much dissolved. While it might be easier to travel, it’s also more dangerous if you’re working with sensitive data.

Luckily, it isn’t hard to keep that information safe, provided you know what you’re doing.

1. Avoid Public Anything

   I’m still somewhat baffled by how many people don’t stop and think about the dangers of public Wi-Fi. Just about anyone can run a Wi-Fi connection—and just about anyone can listen in on any traffic that passes through one unencrypted. And there’s some pretty nasty stuff they can do—anything from hijacking files to gaining remote access to your system.

   And you’re exposed to these threats even if you use a VPN.

   Do yourself a favor and invest in a portable hotspot like the GlocalMe U2. Sure, you might not get speeds as fast as you would on a hotel or airport network. At the same time, the network you’re on is your own – you won’t have to worry about any uninvited guests snooping on what you’re doing.

2. Use Monitoring/Control Software

   Do yourself a favor and install software like LoJack or Prey on your devices. These handy little tools act as a constant beacon for your device’s location in the event that it’s stolen. Better yet, they also allow you to lock (or remotely wipe) a device if you believe it to be compromised.

   Mind you, your business’s IT department probably already has something that offers this functionality in place—but there’s no reason you can’t add a bit of security of your own as well.

3. Don’t Let Your Devices Out of Your Sight

   Last but certainly not least, if you’re thinking of leaving your laptop on the table when you go to the bathroom or putting your bag down while you look at a map, don’t. Although a lot of data thieves these days prefer to steal data in a more sophisticated fashion, there are still plenty of people who’d think nothing of lifting your phone or laptop if they see an opportunity.

   And although you can’t prevent every theft, you can still minimize the chances that you’ll have to deal with one.

Stay Safe on the Road

I love to travel, and I’m sure many of you can relate. But I also acknowledge that if you’re not careful, it carries some pretty huge risks – both to your own data and to your organization. Follow the advice in this piece, and keep yourself safe on the road.