It’s a Good Time for Digital Spring Cleaning

March is a good time for a digital spring cleaning, at work and at home. Regarding your IT, spring cleaning should focus on:

• Accounts: Review each account for a long, unique password; consider using a password manager; enable multifactor authentication (MFA) wherever it’s available.
• Programs: Keep all computers and mobile devices updated, including firmware, operating systems, and all application software; enable automatic updates; delete unsupported and unused programs. Periodically check to make sure that all security updates have been installed.
• Data: Make sure that all important files and data are saved and backed up. Clean up files/data that’s no longer needed.
• Disposing: Store old computers, smartphones, tablets, and storage devices in a secure location if you decide to keep them. Securely wipe confidential data if you dispose of them.
• Backups: Keep multiple backups, on at least two different kinds of backup media, with at least one offsite. Test restore from back up.
• Social Media: Review passwords and privacy settings on social media accounts; enable MFA. Review contents and delete confidential information that should not be shared and delete outdated information.

It’s best to have good digital hygiene on an ongoing basis, but a few hours, once a year can make a big difference. Click here for more.

This tip courtesy of the ACBA Legal Technology and e-Discovery Committee, and the March, 2023 SANS Institute “OUCH!” newsletter.