Keeping your laptop safe while you are travelling can be a hassle. By their very nature, laptops are simple to misplace or steal, but if you use these simple tips when travelling you should be able to protect your laptop and its data from unwanted accidents and theft:

1. Encrypt Your Data – Encryption is a process that changes the letters and numbers of plain text into other letters and numbers in such a way that the message becomes unreadable. In this way your entire hard disk can be encrypted therefore rendering it unreadable by anyone without the proper access credentials. Encryption provides a good first level of defence against unwanted access to private data.



2. Always Backup Your Data Online before you go - Now that your business has taken steps to ensure that data on distributed devices is properly secured and safe from unauthorised access, it needs to ensure that it still has access to the data if it is no longer available on the mobile device.
   Your company needs a backup and restore solution that will provide this access and retention, while ensuring that the backup process and storage mechanism maintains the necessary levels of security. The solution that adheres to these guidelines is Back2Go’s Backup and Recovery Solution.



3. Don’t lose sight of your laptop when travelling - Putting your laptop on the floor is an easy way to forget it or lose track of it. If you have to put it down, try to place it between your feet or against your leg. (so you always know it’s there).
   
   
4. Buy a laptop security device - If you need to leave your laptop at your desk or in a room , use a laptop security cable to securely attach it to a heavy chair, table or desk. This makes it more difficult for someone to steal your laptop. There are even programmes that will report the location of a stolen laptop (such as AbsoluteTrack). Programmes such as AbsoluteTrack work when the laptop connects to the Internet, and can report the laptop’s exact physical location.
   
   
5. Use a screen guard - Screen guards prevent people from peeking over your shoulder as you work on sensitive information in a public place. This is especially helpful when you are travelling or have to work in a crowded area. The screen guard from Secure-It is one example of a screen guard you could use.
   
   
6. Don’t leave your laptop in your hotel room or with the front desk. Too many items have been lost in hotel rooms and your room may not be completely secure. If you must leave your laptop in your room hide it carefully and put the “do not disturb” sign on the door.
   
   
7. Keep an eye on your laptop - When you go through airport security don’t lose sight of your bag. Hold your bag until the person in front of you has gone through the metal detector. Many bags look alike and yours could be lost in the shuffle.
   
   
8. If possible carry your laptop with you - Take your laptop on the plane or train rather than checking it in with your luggage. It’s easy to lose luggage and it’s just as easy to lose your laptop. If you’re travelling by car, keep your laptop out of site.