Taken from PCWorld Magazine, December 2012

Whether thieves or tornadoes threaten your company, protecting your business’s assets from utter catastrophe is easier than you might think. You don’t have to look hard to find tales of technological catastrophe. Disaster planning is essential for individuals and businesses of all shapes and sizes. The only real variable is the complexity of the necessary planning.  Here’s how to start.

Backups – There are plenty of backup solutions, but finding the one that is right for you can be tricky.  If you have just one or two systems, and only a few files to backup, then simply plugging in a USB drive and copying the files to it can work.  If you have many systems or lots of files to backup, then maybe a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device would be easier. Then there are numerous online cloud-based backup providers that will automatically backup an unlimited number of systems, with an unlimited number of files, no matter where in the world they are.  If you don’t have a reliable backup plan in place… make one… and stick to it.

Antimalware and Data Security – This is simple… make sure you have an antivirus program installed, that you keep it updated, and you run regular scans.  This is the cheapest way to keep your system safe.  If you have many systems, or a server to manage, there are enterprise versions that allow you to manage all the systems from one place.  For business, I would recommend staying away from the “free” programs, as they do not offer support when the need arises.

Physical Security – Every business owner knows to lock the doors and install an alarm system to guard valuable assets on the premises, but you should also take action to protect your computer equipment in particular.  Cable locks are great for securing laptops, PCs and monitors to the desk or table they are sitting on.  LoJack for Laptops lets you track a laptop if it has been stolen, and can help the police in locating your system… or wipe its hard drive if it cannot be retrieved.  You can install video surveillance systems in and around your business as well.  Then there are the environmental disasters such as fire, flooding, tornadoes, lightning, etc.  Keep computer equipment off of the floor, make sure all systems have a battery backup unit installed, and don’t forget about your backups!