This entry shall give you an overview of five simple measures to increase the availability and confidentiality of your data, be it for your home or your offices/ business. Below, there is a download button for the same content as work document in German and in English.

1. Backup (data security against loss)

• Should go automated (so that it is really done regularly, and also so that it is not a productivity brake)
• Label data medium or make excel sheet: What is backed up where, because:
  • as soon as a data medium is broken, you can no longer see what was on it.
• Ideally: Store backup media in another location

2. Updates (security against cyber attacks)

• Activate (automatic) updates:
  • Windows
  • Productive software

3. Policy (guidelines and training)

• Basically good rules here would be e.g:
  • Do not connect USB sticks from home to the company PC
  • Beware of phishing e-mails: pay particular attention to the sender and domains of links.

4. Additional measures (virus protection, etc.)

• Backup production systems as images at a time when they are running smoothly. e.g. With „Macrium Reflect“.
• Activate Windows Defender incl. „Real-time protection“, „Cloud-based protection“ and „Tamper protection“ (mostly sufficient as virus protection)

5. Confidentiality of (own and client) data

• Do not use public hosts for confidential data such as Google Cloud, GitHub, Windows cloud services, Dropbox, etc.
• No confidential information via email
• And if it is necessary: encrypted. Key exchange either personally, via encrypted services such as Signal or PGP (mail encryption), or use key infrastructure such as e-card (citizen card), cell phone signature.