If your business has a store, warehouse or office (including one at home), it is likely that some security measures to protect your belongings. You put locks the doors, maybe you have an alarm system, theft and attach tags to your inventory.

You may also have blockages in the drawer cash and in the archives. But what about your computer? What steps have been taken to protect all your critical data you have stored there?

Items such as its customer lists and contact information, your financial data and master files with contracts, proposals and other legal documents. What about graphics files for your marketing materials, backup your website and product photos for catalogs?

If your computer crashed, was stolen or was infected with a virus, what would happen to your business? Think about that for a minute and I think you'll agree that it's disaster prevention penalty a few minutes of your time each day.

Here is a list of 10 things you need to do to protect your computer from viruses, worms, Trojans, adware, spyware and other uninvited guests.

1. Install anti-virus program and set it to automatically check for updates every time you turn computer. Be sure that all emails are downloaded.

2. Installing an adware checker and set it to automatically check for updates every time you turn on your computer.

3. Install a spyware correction and configure it to automatically check for updates every time turn on the computer.

4. Use a firewall to monitor Internet activity.

5. Do not run programs from the Internet, choose the save option Instead, and run the antivirus against the downloaded files before installing them.

6. Do not open attachments that arrive in email (even from someone you know) unless specifically asked to be sent, if in doubt, confirm the identity of the sender and always virus check before opening.

7. Disable the autoplay and autorun.

8. Virus check all CD, DVD and USB disk that comes before use. That includes media entirely new commercial providers of library records and files provided by friends and family.

9. Password protect the important files, documents and email.

10. Backups of critical information and multiple ways FREQUENTLY. Make sure at least one backup is stored offsite.

There are some good free programs available to automate some of these tasks. Here are some links to more information. These are not affiliate links. I use these programs and recommend them because they are effective.

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Sheryl Schuff is a Certified Public Accountant, author, and consultant who has been in private practice for over 30 years. She teaches entrepreneurs how to organize their businesses, keep good accounting records, and maximize their business tax deductions.

She writes about free software and services and offers productivity tips on her blog at http://www.SherylSchuff.com/blog

Alarm Clock for Windows