Never. Leave. Devices. Unattended.

If you get up for any period of time, no matter how short, be sure to lock your computer, phone or tablet. Leaving devices open and unattended puts your personal accounts at risk.

Follow these 3 simple steps to keep your data safe when you’re away from your computer.

Auto Screen Lock

Set your devices to automatically lock when not in use.

When your device has been idle for a set interval your screen will lock and you will need to provide your password to log back in.

Most devices allow users to set an interval of up to 15 minutes, however someone can access a lot of information in 15 minutes, so it is best to set the auto lock to 2-3 minutes.

I know it is annoying to have to log back in every time, but it is more annoying explaining to your boss how a stranger gained access to your company accounts.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are an easy and quick way to keep your information protected.

For Windows 10 users, hold down the Windows key and L key at the same time for a quick lock. You can also hold down Control+Alt+Delete and select the lock option.

For Mac users with an eject button, press Control+Shift+Eject and Macs without an eject button such as the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Retina press Control+Shift+Power.

Dynamic Lock Feature

For Windows 10 users there is another option for keeping your data safe when you’re away from your computer. Dynamic lock allows users to lock their computer with any Bluetooth enabled device once it goes out of range.

You can connect your wireless headphones or phone to your computer, so if you walk away and forget to lock your screen, your screen will automatically lock once you are out of Bluetooth range from your computer. Dynamic lock is a great safety net for when you forget to lock your screen.

To set up Dynamic Lock for a paired device

  1. Open Settings
  2. Click on Accounts
  3. Click on Sign-in options
  4. Under Dynamic Lock, check Allow Windows to detect when you’re away and automatically lock the device option

For more information about how to protect your companies data with Managed IT Security contact us today!

Ashley Pina, Marketing, The TNS Group

Categories: Managed Service Provider