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Course Library · Lesson 5 of 6
Digital · Guided lesson

Secure devices and backups

About 27 minutes
Work at your own pace. Optional videos take extra time.
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Before you begin

The idea in everyday life

Enable automatic updates, screen lock, device encryption, safe software sources, and location or remote-wipe features where appropriate. Back up irreplaceable data to more than one place and test restoration; synchronization alone can copy deletion or corruption.

The idea

A backup is real only when it is separate, recent, and restorable.

Try it

One step at a time.

Use the sample or information you have permission to use. Keep your work as you go. You can pause between steps.

  1. 1

    Enable automatic operating-system, browser, and app updates on supported devices.

  2. 2

    Use a screen lock, device encryption to protect stored data, and trusted software sources. Give each account only the permissions it needs; this is called least privilege.

  3. 3

    Keep important data in multiple copies with at least one separated from the everyday device or account.

  4. 4

    Test restoring a sample file and record what is not covered by the backup.

Example

See how it works.

Sam keeps working files on an encrypted laptop, syncs a current copy to a protected cloud account, and creates a periodic encrypted offline backup disconnected after use. A quarterly restore test successfully opens ten sampled photos and documents.

Check your work

Did you cover these?

  • Operating system, browser, apps, and router firmware follow a current update plan.
  • A lost device locks quickly and does not expose unencrypted data.
  • At least one backup is isolated and a restore was actually tested.
Your work

What to finish

Updated and encrypted devices plus a documented, tested backup routine.

Common mistake

Watch for this

Assuming file sync is a complete backup when deletion or ransomware can synchronize too.

How can I tell I understand it?

You can restore one important file without using the original device.

Try 3 questions

Quick knowledge check

Answer all 3 questions. Get at least 2 right and the lesson completes automatically.

Not yet passed

You’ll get an explanation for each answer. Signed in? Your results save to your account.

1Which step is part of “Secure devices and backups”?
2What should you have made by the end of this lesson?
3Which mistake should you watch for in this lesson?
0 of 3 answeredApply the lesson to a short question, then review the explanation.
5
Finish this lesson

Pass the check. We’ll save the progress.

Answer all 3 questions above and get at least 2 right. You can review the explanations and try again.

Go to the knowledge check
Optional course overview video · same video as Lesson 1
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security AgencySecure Our WorldYouTube
Optional course overview

Secure Our World

From Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Watch here or open it on YouTube .

Use CISA's update guidance as the prevention layer, then add a separate recovery layer for failure, theft, ransomware, and accidental deletion.
Tools, templates, and lesson sources

Tools and templates

Tools open in a new tab so you can keep your place here.

Sources and further reading

Explore the references behind this lesson.

CISA — Secure Our World
NIST — Small business cybersecurity
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