Tip of the Week: 7 Guidelines to Make Sure Your Technology is Ready for Your Next Trip

For the busy business owner, getting work done while traveling is a way of life. Unfortunately, working on the go can be a disaster if you don’t properly prep your technology. Here are seven guidelines to make sure your technology is ready for your big trip.

Be sure to add these suggestions to your pre-trip checklist.

Update Your Software
As a general rule, you should make sure that your company’s software is routinely being updated. This is especially the case for software you plan on using while on your trip. It’s easy to overlook updating personal devices that aren’t overseen by a network administrator, but it’s a critical task that must be done in order take care of known vulnerabilities before venturing off to unknown lands.

Back Up Your Data
Another best practice that applies to both office technology and mobile technology is backing up your data. You’ll want to do this before hitting the road, and you’ll be glad you did if something were to happen to your mobile device, like it getting lost or stolen. In an unfortunate situation like this, you’ll find a cloud backup solution to be super handy because you’ll be able to access your files from another device, going back to the last time you backed up. This makes it so your work won’t skip a beat.

Make Sure Your Accessories are All in Order
While traveling, the last thing you’ll want is to have to make a detour so you can purchase overpriced headphones or charging cables from a gas station or airport terminal. Therefore, make sure that you pack every device accessory you’ll need. Here’s a checklist to help you out:

• Charging cables
• Wall charger (bring the correct charger when traveling abroad)
• Headphones
• Bluetooth accessories like a mouse, keyboard, and handset
• Extra batteries
• A secure carrying case
• A mobile device portable battery pack for extra battery power
• An extra SD card if you plan on taking a lot of pictures and videos

Double Check Your Device’s Insurance Policy
Some mobile carriers offer insurance on devices to replace them if they were to become lost or stolen. Seeing as there’s a higher likelihood of losing your device while traveling, you may feel better about your trip if you add insurance to your device (if you haven’t yet done so).

Forward Your Office Calls to Your Mobile Phone
If your phone system gives you this option, make sure to forward all calls to your mobile device. That is, unless you’re going on vacation and don’t want to hear from the office.

Set Up Your Email Autoresponder
Similarly, if you’re not going to be answering your emails, or you will be unable to reply as timely as people are expecting you to, then you’ll want to set up your email autoresponder to let people know that you’re out of the office or away from an Internet connection. Be sure to include details about when you’re expecting to reply to their message.

Have Your Mobile Carrier's Information Along With Your Account Details Stored Separately
In the unfortunate event that your mobile device is stolen while you’re on a trip, you’re going to want to contact your mobile carrier as soon as possible to let them know. Depending on the carrier, they may be able to remotely brick your phone in order to prevent the thief from using it, should the need arise. Having your account information handy will allow your carrier to lock down your phone that much faster.

With your technology squared away, your trip should go much smoother. This will put you in a good place to be productive. Also, while using your technology on the go, be sure to take advantage of secure mobile solutions like a Virtual Private Network, a mobile device management solution, and cloud computing. To make sure your technology is prepped for any trip, call Horne & Benik today at (603) 499-4400.