12 Common Reasons Why Your Data Gets Lost

Have you accidentally deleted an important work file or maybe even lost your precious vacation pictures from this past year with your family? These unfortunate events can be devastating, and we have all experienced the feeling of dread that comes along with losing a file. The loss of data is not usually the result of external attacks. All it takes is one negligent employee’s activity or a simple technical failure to wipe out all your essential data.

To choose a recovery method, you must understand how and why data is lost.

Common Reasons for Data Loss

Here are some common reasons for data loss.

1. Hardware Failure
   Hardware failures can lead to data loss in many ways. A hard drive crash is the most common type of hardware failure, but other types can also result in data loss. For example, a power surge or lightning strike could damage your computer’s motherboard or circuit board. If your computer doesn’t have a surge protector, it could be damaged by a power outage or brownout (a voltage drop). It’s also possible that a virus or other malware could damage your computer’s operating system or corrupt files on any attached storage devices, such as USB drives.
2. Software Corruption
   The operating system’s or applications’ corruption can cause file system damage and lost data. This is often a result of bugs or viruses that corrupt your data files. These bugs are typically found in software programs or drivers used to run your computer’s hardware.
3. User Error
   User error is another prevalent type of data loss, especially among home users who don’t understand computers very well. Education and training are the best ways to prevent this data loss. If you have a friend who doesn’t know much about computers but wants to learn, get involved in backing up their important files so they understand why it is essential for them to do so.
4. Malicious Action
   If you have sensitive company or personal information stored on your computer, you must ensure that no one else has access to your machine. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. If you’re not careful, someone could hack into your device and delete files without you knowing about it until it’s too late. This is especially true if you use public Wi-Fi hotspots and don’t protect yourself with a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A hacker could quickly gain access to your computer and steal any sensitive information.
5. Overwriting Data
   For the computer to store information, it needs a way to write on the hard drive and keep track of where everything is located so it knows where to find it later. When you delete files, they aren’t erased from the disk until you overwrite them with new data. If you don’t overwrite them with new data, they remain on the disk until they’re overwritten by something else — which could be years later! If someone gets their hands on your computer when there’s still old data on the disk waiting to be overwritten, they could recover that old information in some instances.
6. Accidental Deletion
   Accidentally deletion occurs when people try to remove files from their computers but delete them by mistake. This often happens when trying to remove malware or other unwanted programs that have infected their computer systems. Even if they think they’ve deleted all traces of the infection, they might be mistaken; certain types of malware are designed to hide until they cause further damage to your system.
   
7. Hacker Attacks and Data Theft
   Data thieves use sophisticated techniques to get their hands on information they can sell or use themselves. This includes using malware to infiltrate your system, stealing passwords and other login credentials, or gaining access by posing as an employee or contractor. These attacks can cause significant damage, so you must take steps to secure your data and protect against them as much as possible.
8. Viruses and Malware
   Viruses and other malicious software (malware) can completely corrupt or delete your files. Viruses can also infect your computer’s operating system, leading to other problems. Contact a professional immediately if you suspect your device has been infected with a virus or other malicious software.
   Protected Harbor can protect your business from infection from ransomware, viruses, useless subscriptions, phishing attacks, and end-user problems, making your IT as strong as Protected Harbor does your business.
9. Accidents Involving Fires and Explosions
   Explosions are uncommon, but fire will almost certainly utterly destroy your computer and any data stored on it. The backups kept in the same residence are likewise at risk from fire. For example, having weekly backups on an external hard drive held in the same building won’t assist much if the building burns down. The computer and the backup disc will be destroyed in this instance, and all data will be lost. Making regular backups and keeping them in other (different) locations is the safest strategy against fire.
10.   Power Failures
    A sudden power outage could cause your computer to lose data if it was writing an update when the power went out. This can be especially problematic if you’re storing all your data on one drive because there will be no duplicate copies stored elsewhere. Other causes include faulty batteries or power surges that cause damage to hardware components.
11.   Memory Corruption
    A bug in your code causes an unexpected result that might corrupt memory, leading to problems with reading or writing data stored in memory.
12.   Liquid Damage
    Water or any other liquid getting into your computer or digital device can cause permanent damage and make it impossible for you to re-access your files. For example, most hard drives will not be able to read the information on a damaged platter, even if the rest of the campaign is still working fine. If you spill water on your laptop while it’s running, there’s a good chance you’ll lose all of your data because moisture can cause corrosion inside your laptop’s internal components.

Final Words

As it turns out, data loss can happen in several ways, but there are steps you can take to minimize the chance of this happening to you. It’s always important to make regular backups of your information—never keep all your eggs in one basket. Also, remember to secure sensitive information correctly especially if you’re dealing with sensitive data.

Protected Harbor enables you to store data in multiple locations and ensure that your data is safe in case any location is affected by a critical disaster. It also keeps your data protected by monitoring and securing it from viruses and other malicious software. This solution also enables you to set up a disaster recovery plan so that your business does not incur any loss of data.

Above, we have listed the most common reasons as to how and why you can lose your data; you need to be proactive and take the proper measures to secure your data. Consider partnering with a data expert like Protected Harbor. We understand that data is important; that’s why we help you keep it safe.

Get free data penetration testing, including hardware check, and Protected Harbor today.

How Do You Handle Employee Data Theft?

When we hear the word “cyber threat,” we immediately think of hackers, trojans, phishing emails, and ransomware. While businesses should invest in efforts to prevent these external dangers from infiltrating their systems, there is another, far more prevalent hazard that is sometimes overlooked: employee data theft, especially when it comes to departing staff.

The insider threat posed by retiring employees is frequently disregarded. One out of every four departing employees steals data, which can be due to negligence or deliberate intent. In each situation, firms suffer negative consequences, ranging from a loss of competitive advantage to penalties for failing to meet cybersecurity regulations.

Insiders are a massive threat to your company’s security. The Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found that 30% of all cyber-security incidents come from malicious insiders, which is rising! In 2020 alone, there’s an increase of 47%. It would be best if you could prevent these problems before they arise. Still, unfortunately, there’s not always room on the timeline for everything—especially when it comes down to protecting against human error or mistakes made by loved ones who have access rights within their department.

Why Do Employees Steal Data on Their Way Out?

Employee turnover is inevitable. No matter how much you invest in your team, people will move on to new opportunities at some point. And while most employees will leave without incident, there is always the risk that someone will try to steal company data on their way out the door. There are a few reasons why this might happen.

• A disgruntled employee may try to take revenge by taking sensitive information with them.
• An employee who is leaving for a competing company may try to take customers’ or proprietary data to give their new employer a leg up.
• An employee careless with data security may accidentally leave behind sensitive files.

No matter the reason, it’s essential to have strict policies to prevent data loss when employees leave your company. You can help protect your business from the risks of employee turnover by taking a few simple steps.

How to Prevent Data Theft from Employees?

Protecting sensitive data against insider threats and data theft is a broad topic that touches on almost every aspect of data security. It might be difficult to distinguish between what we consider an insider threat and a threat from outside the company.

1.    Implement Zero Trust Security

A zero-trust security strategy is one in which organizations do not automatically trust any user, device, or system -inside or outside the network perimeter. Instead, they verify every request and connection before granting access to data and resources. This verification process can include authenticating the identity of users, assessing the risk of devices and systems, and authorizing the requested access. Organizations can improve their security posture by adopting a zero-trust approach and better protecting their data against emerging threats. Implementing a zero-trust security strategy does require some initial investment, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.

2.    Give Limited Access

Only a few people should have access to employee data. This will limit the spread of information if there is a data breach. Handling employee data theft becomes much easier if there is limited access to the data. Also, if you have a process for handling data breaches, it is much less likely that your company will be the victim of a data breach.

• Educate your employees on the importance of keeping their passwords safe and secure.
• Have them change their passwords every few months.
• Install security software on all company computers.

These are just a few ways to help prevent employee data theft.

3.    Plan Exit Interviews

In an exit interview, you can ask questions about how the employee plans to use company data after leaving and remind them of any confidentiality agreements they may have signed. You can also explain the consequences of stealing company data, such as their new employer’s legal and disciplinary actions. By conducting exit interviews, you can help deter employees from stealing company data and prevent them from taking advantage of your company’s information.

4.    Creating an Anti-Theft Policy

In today’s age of technology, data theft is a growing concern for businesses of all sizes. Employees with access to sensitive data can easily copy or download it onto a portable storage device and take it with them when they leave. Once the data is out of your control, it can be used for identity theft, fraud, or other malicious purposes. To protect your business and your customer’s information, it’s essential to have a clear and concise anti-theft policy in place.

Your anti-theft policy should spell out what types of data are considered sensitive and off-limits for removal from the premises. It should also state the consequences for employees who violate the policy. In some cases, you may want to consider instituting a “clean desk” policy, which requires employees to completely clear their desks of all papers and personal belongings at the end of the day. These proactive measures can help deter data theft and safeguard your business against this growing threat.

5.    Revoke Privileges and Credentials After Termination

When an employee is terminated, it is essential to take steps to prevent them from accessing company data. One way to do this is to revoke their privileges and credentials. This will prevent them from logging into company systems or accessing sensitive data. Additionally, it is essential to change any passwords to which the employee has access. This will ensure they cannot access any account or system they should not have access to.

Finally, it is essential to monitor any activity on company systems for any suspicious activity. If there is any activity that appears to be unauthorized, it can be investigated and dealt with appropriately. By taking these steps, you can help prevent employee data theft and protect your company’s information.

Final Words

It’s critical to ensure that everyone understands their role in keeping an eye on how their coworkers act. Introducing a system that allows employees to report questionable conduct might be an excellent idea anonymously. Finally, remember that no data loss prevention technique is 100% effective, so having a tried-and-true incident response plan is essential. However, if an employee lost your data, Protected Harbor would be an excellent solution for retrieving it.

Protected Harbor secures your endpoints and network and is a step ahead with proactive monitoring. We continuously watch for data interchange and how they are shared and stored. Regular user access and credentials updates are also a part of our process. And to check all the boxes, isolated backup, recovery, and an incident response plan tailor-made to your organization’s needs. Employee awareness training is equally essential when it comes to data security. Handling employee data theft is not so easy. That’s why you should call in for help and get a free IT audit, pen-testing, and data theft check today. Call Protected Harbor today.

The Best Ways to Save on Technology Costs During a Recession‍

When you’re in the middle of a recession, it can be hard to think about anything but how much money you don’t have. However, one area that many businesses cut when finances get tight is their technology budget. This is unfortunate because technology isn’t an optional expense for most companies – it’s necessary. After all, new technologies make business operations more productive and help companies reach new markets and sell their goods more efficiently. Nevertheless, a tight economy can force even the best-managed businesses to make unwise cuts to their technology budgets. This doesn’t mean that you have to give up on investing in new technologies until things get better; instead, there are plenty of ways that you can save money on your technology needs during a recession.

Welcome to another blog from the series Uptime with Richard Luna. Watch the video to understand why technology costs matter and how you can cut your bills during a recession.

Review Your Bills

The first step to saving money on technology bills is to review your current bills. You’ll want to ensure you’re not paying for services you aren’t using. For example, if you have internet service with a data cap, you may lower your costs by using a different plan that doesn’t have a cap. Similarly, if you’re paying for software subscriptions that you aren’t using, you should be able to cancel them for a full refund. While these simple savings may not be enough to eliminate the need for cost-cutting measures, they can help you to get started.

Determining Which Tech Investments are Worth the Money

If you’re looking to cut your technology budget, the first step is determining which investments are worth the money. Doing so will allow you to make targeted cuts that will reduce your costs without compromising your ability to do business. If you’re looking to reduce your IT costs, you should evaluate your current IT infrastructure and see if there are any areas for improvement. You can then use this information to decide what new technologies you need. For example, if your business still uses landlines, you should upgrade to VoIP phone service. Similarly, if you’re still using a traditional PBX system, you’ll save money by switching to an IP PBX. Each of these investments will save you money on your monthly bills and help you to modernize your business communications.

Hold Off on New Subscription Purchases

If you’re facing a severe budget shortfall, the first thing that you should do is hold off on new subscription purchases. Many business owners make the mistake of thinking they need to keep up with the latest technological trends, even if they don’t have the money to do so. However, the truth is that most businesses can get by just fine without the latest gadgets. Holding off on new subscriptions will allow you to spend less money on your existing technology. Then you can use the money you’re saving to help offset your technology budget.

Bottom line

Technology is a necessary part of any business, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. To save money on technology costs during a recession, you should review your current bills to ensure that you aren’t paying for services you aren’t using. You should also determine which tech investments are worth the money and hold off on any unnecessary new subscription purchases. By following these tips, you can save money on technology without sacrificing your ability to do business.

Sign up now with Protected Harbor for a free IT audit and find out where you can save money. You will receive recommendations on improving your company’s IT infrastructure to save money, receive a free consultation, and ensure your systems are secure.