CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS FOR SAVING AND PROTECTING YOUR DATA.

What is Data?

Data is distinct pieces of information that can exist in a variety of different forms (Beal). It represents unstructured facts that are recorded from observations or recordings about events, objects or people (Patricia). Data Governance are activities that assess the data and how it is classified into categories pertaining to their privacy (Ernst & Young 2011). 

Saving your Data

The most valuable thing on our computer and network is the data we create and it is also the reason we have the computer and network to begin with (Shinder 2006). The data that is obtained is unique and is irreplaceable if lost, (Shinder 2006) and that is why it is imperative to save our data. According to the Enterprise Strategy Group Survey (Buffington, Keane 2014), the most important IT priority for mid-market operations is to improve data backup and recovery. One way to protect data is also to backup the data that is obtained, as backing up vital data ensures that our data will not get lost if it becomes stolen or compromised (Lord 2016). The ideal medium for data protection is to backup onto a disk-based storage system (Buffington, Keane 2014).

Protecting your Data

Once our data is saved and and backed up it is now imperative to protect it using security measures if we want to prevent loss of data (Ernst & Young 2011). One of the simplest ways in protecting data is to use passwords, stronger passwords with the combination of upper case, lower case letters, numbers and symbols are ideal (Botelho 2012). Without a strong password, there is a strong possibility that it can be cracked within seconds (Info Security 2013). Users can also use password managers that allow them to have strong passwords and store them securely on the computer (DesMarais 2013). The best way to protect data is to encrypt them (Ivey 2013). Encrypting enhances the security of data by scrambling them and can only be read by someone who has the authorization or encryption key to unscramble them (Microsoft).

YouTube Video

References

Vangie Beal, Data, Webopedia Resources, viewed 21 January 2016, http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/data.html.

Ernst & Young, 2011, "Data loss prevention: Keeping your sensitive data out of the public domain", Insights on governance, risk and compliance. 

Patricia, MA 2003, "Towards reconstructing meaning when text is communicated electronically", Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, University of Pretoria, ch. 03, pp. 56-85.

Shinder, D 2006, "10 Things you can do to protect your data.", Tech Republic, viewed 20 January 2016, http://www.techrepublic.com/article/10-things-you-can-do-to-protect-your-data/.

Buffington, J, Keane, M 2014, "HP Answers SMBs’ Data Protection Needs Through Simply StoreIT Offerings", Enterprise Strategy Group, viewed 21 January 2016, http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA5-1360ENW.pdf.

Lord, N 2016, "101 Data Protection Tips: How to Keep Your Passwords, Financial & Personal Information Safe." Digital Guardian, viewed 21 January 2016, https://digitalguardian.com/blog/101-data-protection-tips-how-keep-your-passwords-financial-personal-information-safe.

Botelho, B 2012, "How to protect your company's data", The Business Journals, viewed 20 January 2016, http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/how-to/technology/2012/01/how-to-protect-your-companys-data.html?page=all.

"90% of passwords can be cracked in seconds.", Info Security, 15 January 2013, viewed 20 January 2016, http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/90-of-passwords-can-be-cracked-in-seconds/

DesMarais, C 2013, "11 Simple Ways to Protect Your Privacy.", Time. viewed 20 January 2016, http://techland.time.com/2013/07/24/11-simple-ways-to-protect-your-privacy/.

Ivey, V 2013, "5 Tips to Keep Your Data Secure on the Cloud", CIO, viewed 21 January 2016, http://www.cio.com/article/2380182/cloud-security/5-tips-to-keep-your-data-secure-on-the-cloud.html.

Microsoft, "What is Encryption", viewed 21 January 2016, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/windows/what-is-encryption#1TC=windows-7.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION IN FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

Non verbal communication is a powerful tool that is essentially invoking one's own body language, clothing & adornment, environmental factors and the use of time to communicate to one another that cannot otherwise be done through speech alone (Eunson 2012). People express their own feelings by the subtle ways of non-verbal communication as it allows them to convey their emotions in a less consensual and recognizable method (Mehrabian 1972). When interacting with other people, we often sub-consciously give non-verbal signals (Knapp, Hall, Horgan 2013). These signals can send powerful messages and our ability to comprehend these messages and use them is a powerful tool that enables our expression of feelings, managing impressions, influencing others and forming and defining relationships (Kidwell, Hasford 2014). When people are able to see people talking, we view and evaluate not only what the message is being communicated, but also how the message is being communicated (Lewinski 2015). 

Facial Expressions

Fig.1.1 - An Angry Baby

A face can unveil many different emotional signals towards other people and social and cultural communicative signals are involved in concealing or embodying those emotions (Eunson 2012). Signals in communication need an encoding face to transmit our emotional signal, and a decoding brain to categorize the transmitted signal received (Smith, Cottrell, Gosselin, Schyns 2005). Facial expression thus exert many influences over other people (Knapp, Hall, Horgan 2013). The face can communicate an array of information including personality, interest, responsiveness, emotional states and our presentation towards other people (Knapp, Hall, Horgan 2013).  Facial expressions are an integral part of non-verbal communication and can send all sorts of signals, these facial expressions can mean differently within certain cultures (Eunson 2012). Anger in Australians is expressed by the lips being protruded and eyes widely open (Darwin 1872).  When one might be confronted by a stranger that has lowered brows, flared nostrils and "flashing eyes"(Darwin 1872), one might acknowledge the anger and wisely escape the situation (Porter, Brinke 2008). Our emotional feelings can also be changed by the simple act of changing our facial expressions and so feelings are consequences of our behaviors and actions (Schnall, Laird 2003). That is why when we smile and pretend to be happy, we feel happy (Schnall, Laird 2003). 

References

Darwin, C. 1872, "The expression of the emotions in man and animals." Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Eunson, B 2012, "Communicating in the 21st century", John Wiley & Sons, Milton.

Kidwell, B, & Hasford, J 2014, "Emotional Ability and Nonverbal Communication", Psychology & Marketing, Vol 31, Issue 7, pp. 526-538.

Knapp, M, Hall, J, Horgan, T 2013, "Nonverbal Communication in Human Interaction",Cengage Learning, Belmont, California.

Lewinski, P 2015, "Don't Look Blank, Happy, or Sad: Patterns of Facial Expressions of Speakers in Banks' YouTube Videos Predict Video's Popularity Over Time", Journal Of Neuroscience, Psychology, & Economics, Vol. 8, Issue. 4, pp. 241-249.

Mehrabian, A 1972, "Non-Verbal Communication", Transaction Publishing.

Porter, S, & Brinke, L 2008, "Reading Between the Lies: Identifying Concealed and Falsified Emotions in Universal Facial Expressions", Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell), Vol. 19 Issue. 5, pp. 508-514.

Schnall, S, Laird, JD 2003, "Keep smiling: Enduring effects of facial expressions and postures on emotional experience and memory. Cognition and Emotion, Vol. 17, Issue. 5, pp. 787-797

Smith, ML, Cottrell, GW, Gosselin, F, & Schyns, PG 2005, "Transmitting and Decoding Facial Expressions", Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell), Vol. 16, Issue. 3, pp. 184-189.

WHY SHOULD PLANNING BE LOGICAL?

What is Communication Planning?

Planning is imperative for any type of communication and should always be the logical approach when organizing your information (Eunson 2012). Communication planning is a process that helps achieve the goal of communicating effectively towards your intended audience. (OMAFRA 1995). Communication planning is a step-by-step process that helps clearly and logically summarize what you want to communicate to your audience and is a foundation on which to base decisions and create ideas.

The Logic of Planning for Projects.

In any project, it is imperative that planning is the first activity that is done so you can build in time and resources to carry out the necessary activities in your project (Usability.gov). Project planning is a necessary tool in order to reduce risk and in turn uncertainty in any given project (PMBOK 2008). Having a plan in a project is essential as it defines the scope of the entire project, and allows time to be set for a task to be completed (UTS 2006). It is also essential to plan for projects as it allows to map out project requirements and its project deliverables which include budget, resource, quality and risk planning (PMBOK 2008).

Elements of a Project Plan

Fig.1 Elements of a Project Plan. (PMBOK 2008)

Planning is Logical

Planning is logical in many aspects in life. Planning provides participation, sense of direction and purpose, coordination and control (Weber 2000). Planning can be seen as the most logical direction in our lives as it allows us to control our tasks and ensure we complete them and understand the risks involved. The logicality behind planning is so we can project what we want to do in our future and give us a framework in which we can work behind with. Planning provides us aims, goals and action that can be achieved and a good plan is one that is achievable and maintainable.(Eunson 2012) Without planning, there would be severe detrimental effects such as stress, loss of direction and unwillingness to achieve your task.

References

Eunson, B 2012, "Communicating in the 21st century", John Wiley & Sons, Milton.

Inett, P 1995, "Communication Planning for Organisations", Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Project Management Institute 2008, "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge - Fourth Edition", Project Management Institute.

Usability.gov, Planning a Project Plan, viewed 5/01/2016, http://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/methods/develop-plan.html.

UTS 2006, Project Management, viewed 5/01/2016, http://www.projects.uts.edu.au/stepbystep/planning9.html

Weeber, W 2000, The manager as a Planner and a Strategist, viewed 5/01/2016, http://www.cpp.edu/~wcweber/301/301slide/ch07301/sld011.htm.