Data Protection

System
System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
edited June 18 in AAT member discussion
I would be interested to know what measures other MIPs take to protect data, both electronic and paper based.
For example, do you consider it sufficient to use passwords on user logins, or do you password protect individual spreadsheets and data files?
Do you consider it sufficient to lock the office door, or do you also lock the filing cabinet?

Does anyone know of any guidelines available on the web which would describe the lengths we should go to to protect client information.

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    I think you need to look at the risk involved. Where are you working? Can other people easily look at the information? Do many people come and see you?

    Personally I use a log in for my computer - some files are password protected. I lock the office door but have lost the keys to the filing cabinet! :lol:

    I am far more anal about backing things up - hard drive, CD and remote back up - no idea where but everything goes there every night on a weekly or monthly rotating basis - it costs about £50 pa - brilliant.

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    PS - I have also paid my £35 to the data protection act commissioner as well!

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    When i first started I was so good at keeping everything under lock & key, but that has slipped somewhat in the madness of the past year.

    As I work from home there's little chance of anyone accessing confidential information and when I go out I only transfer the files I need to my laptop. But no, I don't password-protect each file - I'd be interested to know whether it's something that should be done.

  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    Claudia

    I'm hoping to do my Oxford Brookes project on consequences of IT failure, can you tell me who you use for remote back up?

    Annette
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    Hi Annette

    I use depositit (I think www.depositit.com) who were well written up in (I think) Accounting Web - really simple, just set it up and it does everything automatically, and you get an email saying that it has happened, which is quite re-assuring - thankfully, though, I have never had to try and restore any of the information :lol: so can't verify as to how easy/difficult that would be.

    I use Bullguard for my a/virus and they have a small amount of data back up included in the price - i assume that everything happens as it should!

    Hope this helps a bit.

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    claudia, are you saying that it costs £50 a year to do remote backups?! I looked into it a while ago and it was going to cost a fortune. i've bought a spare external hardrive now so i don't need it, but i really must have been looking in the wrong places!
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    Yes it was about £50 + VAT and for that I back up all my important stuff - sage, payroll, outlook, tax programme, my docs etc - some on a daily basis and others on a weekly basis, and then they are rotated on a monthly basis.

    All works well with no involvement from me! :lol:

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    This sounds like just the sort of information that I need, thanks.

    Annette
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    Annette

    You do so much for people on this forum - if you want any further information, please feel free to email me direct - send a PM and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

    Claudia
  • System
    System Posts: 100,534 🤖 Admin 🤖
    Re:Data Protection

    Hi
    Thank you Claudia and Jodie for your replies.
    I am just setting up a new office and I feel a bit insecure not having my data and paperwork where I can see it! I guess I'll get used to it.
    I have used reomte backup for some time. I'm going to change to Back2Go (www.Back2Go.com) for the new set up - it's really easy to use, and costs from about £6 per month.
    I'm really careful about backing up, ever since a client had a hard drive failure - no warning whatsoever - which caused them bucket loads of stress.
    I registered with Data Protection Commissioner. The blurb says you're supposed to have a policy for data protection and recovery. I guess as long as you're confident about your procedures and they are being followed properly then thats all you have to do.

    Thanks again

    Sheelagh

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