Securing Your Digital Life

NewsUSA) – Photos, documents and written communication have all gone digital, largely to everyone’s benefit. Digital documents are quicker to send and need less storage space than physical files. But a paperless world comes with its own problems.
When a system crashes or a computer breaks, important e-mails, documents and photographs can be destroyed. According to the FBI, one laptop is stolen every 53 seconds, leaving computer owners without their family photographs or financial files. Thirty-one percent of PC users have lost all of their files through no fault of their own. Every 15 seconds, another hard drive crashes. Yet, despite these looming threats, an Interactive Data Corporation report shows that only 1.3 percent of consumers currently use some type of data backup.
With the increased use of laptops, more computer users are beginning to realize they cannot afford to leave their personal and professional digital files unprotected. With the advancement of the online data-storage industry -; which is expected to become a $715 million market by 2011 -; data protection has become more affordable and user-friendly.

“Overall, people are becoming more and more comfortable with Web-based services, and access is more convenient and secure than in the past,” says Jamie Brenzel, CEO of Data Deposit Box, a successful online data-storage and backup service. “With that in mind, it’s important that the services that protect computer users advance in the same way.”
Data Deposit Box uses an automated system to protect customer files. Users install a small piece of software, which automatically monitors selected folders, including e-mail and open files, whenever a computer is on. When a file changes, the software immediately encrypts and securely sends new data to a secure offsite server.
Online storage is also proving itself to be a valuable ally against not-so-typical data-loss incidents. Business owners and individuals are increasingly using online data-storage services to protect themselves against data loss from fires, floods or natural disasters. Unlike using an external hard drive, online storage offers more practical protection.
“Many people back up their data but leave external hard drives in the same location as their PC. But if your home or office is damaged, there’s a good chance your backup will be, too,” says Brenzel. “Online storage is a crucial part of a data-protection plan because people can still access their data remotely.”
For more information about Data Deposit Box, visit www.datadepositbox.com.