Every second, people create 1.7 MB of data. The pace at which we create new data is speeding up. For comparative purposes, in the previous two years, people have created 90% of the world’s data. In other words, we are surrounded by data. We are virtually drowning in data. And yet, we continuously produce more. It is like a giant data plague that can’t be stopped.
Admittedly, it’s not all bad. Data are useful. They help make better-informed decisions. But when we have too much of it, we need to figure out how to handle them effectively. How can you get rid of confidential data without putting your business or yourself at risk?
Printed documents can be read and found
Most people believe that data only exist online. In reality, printed data can be just as harmful if you don’t dispose of the document appropriately. You wouldn’t just throw your bank statement in the bin! Anybody could find it. Most people would ignore it, but it takes only one person to use the information, and your savings could be in trouble! Ideally, you want to keep all confidential documents secure and out of reach until you can arrange for safe document shredding with a specialist. Here’s something to bear in mind, though: Don’t get too shred-happy, as anything that’s shredded is lost!
Erasing files permanently
The delete button is so conveniently placed on a keyboard that it’s easy to think it can do the job for you. Here’s some alarming news, though. Deleted files can be recovered. A lot of people tend to keep their deleted file in the recycle bin, which keeps it intact for unwanted eyes to read. Or you may choose to overwrite a document. But don’t believe that the previous file can’t be restored. With the right recovery product, people can restore an overwritten file in a matter of minutes. Therefore, if you’re going to get rid of confidential data on your computer forever, you need a third-party shredding tool for online data. Professional removal and deletion programs securely remote data from your storage space.
Do you need to erase it?
Why do you want to erase your data? There could be two reasons. Firstly, you don’t need the data anymore, either because it’s come to the end of its life or because it isn’t relevant anymore. Secondly, you might need the data, but you need to create additional storage space for future data. If you lack storage room, you can find different ways of creating a safe and secure data area. Mac users can find it hard to extend their storage space. Some devices let you upgrade your SSD, but the majority of Mac models can’t support the upgrade. However, you can consider an external hard drive or additional cloud storage to secure your data and free up more space.
As we create more data every day, we need to be specific about the data we keep and those we erase. Confidential data may be of value for a short time, and therefore doesn’t require permanent storage. Therefore, it’s essential to consider safe data destruction methods. But, more often than not, we’re running out of space for our existing data. This contributes to a perpetual process of data erasing and data creating. Upgrading your storage space will make data handling more secure and reduce the need for spontaneous removal.
