How Should You Store Your Portable Storage Devices?

Today, our access to data is substantially larger than it has ever been. With smartphones holding our banking details, social media accounts, emails and more, huge amounts of confidential information is just a click away. Phones aside, external hard drives, USB sticks and memory cards can hold much the same and, in many cases, contain even more important data.

Unfortunately, the risk of data theft remains high. Portable storage devices could be seen as easier to steal and in the eyes of a criminal, easier to access than an actual computer or phone. In fact, they may even be preferential for theft because if you own both a laptop and external HDD, arguably the valuable information is stored on something separate to the laptop itself.

In this blog, we look at how you should store your portable storage devices to minimise the risk of both general theft and data theft.

What is a portable storage device?

A portable storage device is any piece of technology that can store and transfer data files. These could be photos, videos, documents, sounds and programmes themselves. Their purpose is to allow you to record information on one device and, if required, instantly access it on another once the storage device is connected. For large files, this is extremely useful as transfer times via certain apps or programs can be considerable. In addition, the natural storage capacity of some devices is quite low. Having an additional storage facility enables you to access files that may otherwise have not been possible to store.

What are the risks of failing to store portable storage devices properly?

If you choose to neglect the storage of your portable devices, you could become vulnerable to several risks.

The most common risk would be the theft of information stored on them. Failing to keep devices secure gives thieves ample opportunity to harvest your data, sell the devices for a cash gain or add them to their own inventory.

Improper storage could also cause you to inadvertently damage your portable storage device. Despite the often-robust appearance, exposure to extreme environments or physical damage could see your storage devices being compromised.

For example, intense heat or extreme cold could mean that your USB, memory card or HDD becomes inoperable. Data could be wiped, or the device may longer work alongside the items you connect it to. Physical damage such as a sudden drop or impact could do much the same and disable your device, too.

It’s important to eliminate these risks, a large part of which revolves around how they are stored. Below, we review the best methods of storing portable storage devices properly.

How should portable storage devices be stored?

Ultimately, any portable storage device you own should be stored carefully and safely. Even when in use, you should take care to ensure it cannot be damaged. Providing the correct storage for your portable storage devices enables you to gain longevity and better performance from it.

It is recommended that you store your device:

• Away from magnetic fields: Strong magnetic fields can corrupt data on your portable devices. You should ensure your HDD, memory card, USB or other portable storage device is kept away from magnetised items
• In a suitable position: You don’t want your item to fall or roll from where it is being kept. A sudden knock or impact as a result of this could cause your storage device to suffer internal as well as external damage and become inoperable
• In a cool, dry environment: Exposure to extreme temperatures or humidity can cause significant damage to the workings of a portable storage device
• In protective cases: Adding an extra layer of protection makes sure that physical damage is minimised. Doing so can avoid scratches, dents and breakages that could cause lasting damage to the device.
• With data encryption: Even when stored in protective environments, there could still be a risk of the information on the device falling into the wrong hands. Encrypting the data helps reduce the risk of the data being used if the device is stolen.

You can ensure all your portable storage devices are kept safe by opting for safe secure storage with Stockroom London. Our specialist facility ensures any portable storage device you keep with us is catalogued, monitored and free from the risk of being compromised or damaged. We can also safely transport data from your portable hard drives to LTO tapes, adding a further degree of security and additional storage capabilities. Our data storage guarantees that your storage devices are kept secure at optimal temperatures, free from risk of corruption and protected from any form of physical damage. Speak to our team about your media storage solutions and business storage needs today.