Library IT Help Desk >> Staff Computers >> Protect Your Data and Your Computer >> Read Me First
Data protection: read me first!
- You are responsible for the data files, email, databases, etc. you create
and manage. Good data protection practices are essential to avoid
loosing any of your information in the event of a hard disk crash or
during an operating system upgrade or computer replacement. Here is a checklist of things you
can do to protect your data.
- Save all work-related data to the network
- Do not save important data on your C: drive (the local hard drive on your PC.) Data stored on the C: drive is NOT backed up by Library IT and could disappear at any time for any number of reasons--for example, a computer virus, a power spike, or a system crash. Library IT maintains two network drives (the G: and H: drives) and backs up the data on these drives every night. Store your data on the G: (Group files) drive or the H: (your Home Directory) drive, as appropriate, to avoid loosing it. For more information on saving to the network, please see the page How to save your data to the network page.
- Log out at the end of each work day
- Library IT may have to reboot the file servers or other servers during the evening. If you have an application open that accesses data on one of these servers, there is a small chance that during a server reboot data could be lost, so be sure to log out of your machine at the end of every work day. More importantly, when Microsoft releases an important Windows patch, we will be forced to apply it to your machine overnight which will mean a reboot.
- Leave your computer on
- You can turn your monitor off, but never turn your computer off. Log-off, don't turn-off. Library IT staff need to apply security patches overnight so it is important that you leave your machine on so it can be updated and rebooted.
- Do NOT share your password
- Each University employee has several accounts they are responsible for. Each employee is responsible for choosing a good password and not sharing that password with anyone else. This includes posting passwords on monitors, under keyboards, or in public view. See CITES guide on how to protect your passwords.
- Read LIBNEWS
- Although staff workstations will be updated and rebooted overnight without notice, the Library IT will announce other system updates, server reboots, and security alerts through the LIBNEWS list serve. If you are currently not receiving e-mail from LIBNEWS please arrange with our office to start.