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1
Use cloud storage
2
Backup your files
3
Set permissions
4
Use version control
5
Name your files
6
Lock your files
7
Here’s what else to consider
Sharing files is a common and essential practice in office administration, but it also comes with risks of accidental deletion or modification by yourself or others. To avoid losing important data or compromising the quality of your work, you need to implement some preventive measures and best practices when sharing files. In this article, we will cover six ways to prevent accidental file deletion or modification when sharing files, such as using cloud storage, backup systems, permissions, version control, file naming, and locking.
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1 Use cloud storage
One of the easiest and most convenient ways to prevent accidental file deletion or modification is to use cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. Cloud storage allows you to access your files from any device, sync them across multiple platforms, and restore them from the trash or previous versions if needed. Cloud storage also offers collaborative features, such as sharing links, commenting, and editing in real time, which can enhance your productivity and communication.
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Cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox safeguard against accidental file changes. Versioning allows users to revert to previous file states after unintentional modifications, and automatic syncing ensures consistent backups across devices. Access controls limit permissions, reducing the risk of unauthorized alterations. For example, Google Drive's varying access levels provide flexibility. Deleted files are stored temporarily in a recycle bin, facilitating easy recovery. These features collectively exemplify how cloud storage mitigates the impact of inadvertent file modifications, enhancing data security and reliability.
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- Unwana Gloria Executive Assistant || Virtual Assistant || Financial Advisory || Cookpreneur ||
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File naming and locking while saving on cloud storages like Google, Dropbox. With cloud storage files can be shared, edited and accessed real time anywhere everywhere
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- Melissa H. Molina-Trinidad, MBA, LSSGB, C-TAGME Leader | Healthcare | Innovator | Board Member | Presenter | Mentor
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There are a lot of advantages in working in real time. But as quickly as one works collaboratively and efficiently, one can mess up at the blink of an eye. The importance of file naming is critical because it gives the viewer knowledge of what’s in the file. An important feature is giving specific access to team members (editing, viewing) to not give some unnecessary access to a document they are not working on.
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- Vilma Mantilla 🌷 Executive Secretary/Assistant🔹Office Administrator🔹Communications Coordinator at FIREPOWER TALENT PARTNERS🔹Market Research🔹Sales and Marketing🔹Real Estate🔹Social Media Manager/Marketing🔹Amazon FBA
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One thing I've found helpful is training individuals on proper file management practices. Stress the importance of caution when handling files and make sure everyone understands the potential consequences of accidental deletions or modifications and regularly review file activity logs. This allows you to track who accessed a file and what changes were made, making it easier to identify and rectify accidental modifications.
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- Olufunmilayo ARE-JODA ☑️ Professor of Positivity, Joy and Happiness 😊Open to Collaborations
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Ever since I discovered cloud storage I hardly experience loss or deletion of files.They have proved to be reliable, accessible and efficient means of storage for future retrieval.
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2 Backup your files
Another way to prevent accidental file deletion or modification is to backup your files regularly, either manually or automatically. Backup systems can help you recover your files in case of hardware failure, malware attack, or human error. You can backup your files to an external hard drive, a USB flash drive, or another cloud service. You can also use software tools, such as Windows Backup and Restore, Mac Time Machine, or third-party applications, to schedule and manage your backups.
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Backup Files:Regularly back up important files. In the event of accidental deletion or modification, having a recent backup can help restore the original version
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- Sue E. Visual Enthusiast || Graphic Designer | Illustrator | Photographer | Artist
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Zur Datensicherung ist eine mehrstufige Backup-Strategie, bekannt als 3-2-1-Regel, empfehlenswert. Sie sollten drei Kopien Ihrer Daten haben: eine Hauptversion und zwei Backups. Die Daten sollten auf zwei unterschiedlichen Medien gespeichert und eine Kopie extern aufbewahrt werden, um Schutz vor lokalen Katastrophen zu bieten. Diese Methode ergänzt regelmäßige Backups und bietet umfassenden Schutz gegen Datenverlust durch versehentliches Löschen, Hardwareausfälle oder Malware-Angriffe.
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- Ediwayne KANZIE ♐️ Entrepreneure indépendante |Assistante Personnelle | Social Media Manager | Rédactrice info
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Sauvegarder régulièrement les fichiers importants en ligne est une belle astuce mais pensez également à avoir une clé usb afin d’avoir ces fichiers avec vous en cas de besoin et surtout pour éviter d’être pénalisé en cas de problème technique.
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- Muhammad Sulaman Saleem
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This LinkedIn review request has freshened an old wound of mine. I operated Al-Qahhar Academy, meticulously storing test papers, result cards, and documents since its inception. Unfortunately, a window corruption issue during data transfer led to the omission or deletion of a critical folder. A valuable lesson emerged: avoid cut-and-paste in data transfers; copy, then paste for data integrity. Post-incident, I lost interest in the academy, leading to its discontinuation. Yet, this setback was a blessing, marking the start of my professional journey in my field. So now I and always more than careful about backups of important files.
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- Meghana Jadhav Graphic designer /Prepress technician
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Taking backup after every 15 days on your server as well as drive with a screenshot of what you have taken in the backup along with the customer name and date, helps my data to be secure. As if any changes are done on the Mac file and copying that data with the same name should ask for permission.
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3 Set permissions
A third way to prevent accidental file deletion or modification is to set permissions for your files, especially when sharing them with others. Permissions can control who can access, view, edit, or delete your files, and prevent unauthorized or unwanted changes. You can set permissions for your files using the settings of your cloud service, your operating system, or your software application. For example, you can share a file with a specific person or group, and grant them either view-only or edit access.
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Permissions and Access Controls:Set appropriate file and directory permissions to restrict access. Use read-only permissions for files that should not be modified and consider limiting write access only to authorized users.
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- Susan Patrick Office and Accounts Administrator at MVP Ventures Group Services
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One thing that I have found to ensure that my files are not deleted in error, is to password protect and set as a read only when sharing.
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Employ access control lists (ACLs) to designate authorized individuals for file access and modifications. Regularly adjust access controls in response to organizational changes. Institute a protocol necessitating approval from specified personnel for file modifications or deletions. This process prevents unauthorized changes and ensures accountability. For example, an administrative assistant using ACLs in Google Drive can grant view or edit access to team members. Regular reviews, particularly during organizational transitions, maintain data integrity and align file access with evolving organizational needs, promoting a secure and accountable file management environment.
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- Boitumelo Rammekwa Motivated Analyst with Competitive and Extensive Corporate Experience.
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Use Permissions and Access Controls:Assign appropriate permissions to users based on their roles and responsibilities.Limit access to critical files to only those who need it.Regularly review and update access controls.
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- Makori V. LEGAL COUNSEL
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Agreeably, collaboration is inevitable. Setting parameters is one sure way to ensure that deletion is averted or otherwise curtailed. Also, such parameters can touch on edits and tracking of any changes.
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4 Use version control
A fourth way to prevent accidental file deletion or modification is to use version control for your files, especially when working on complex or collaborative projects. Version control can help you track the changes made to your files, compare different versions, and revert to a previous version if needed. You can use version control for your files using the features of your cloud service, your software application, or a dedicated tool, such as Git, Subversion, or Mercurial.
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Version Control:Implement version control systems, such as Git, for collaborative work. This allows you to track changes over time, roll back to previous versions, and identify who made specific modifications.
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Implementing version control systems is essential to monitor changes and preserve a file modification history. This feature enables the ability to revert to prior versions in case of accidental alterations, ensuring data integrity. Encrypting sensitive files adds an additional layer of security, particularly crucial when sharing files externally. For example, an administrative assistant utilizing version control in Microsoft SharePoint can track changes in shared documents. Establishing a process mandating approval from designated individuals for file modifications or deletions ensures accountability and safeguards against unauthorized changes, contributing to a robust document management system.
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- jodie nsaman IT technician/administrator /front-end developer
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Ensure file integrity by employing version control, crucial for complex or collaborative projects. Track changes, compare versions, and easily revert if necessary. Utilize your cloud service, software, or dedicated tools like Git, Subversion, or Mercurial for effective version control.
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- Natalia Petrone Pintos Secretaria de Dirección en Godó Strategies
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Utilizo mucho esta herramienta para realizar un control de los cambios realizados sobre todo cuando se realiza un seguimiento de proyectos que necesiten ser modificados por varias personas y así lo requieran.
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- Sergio Alexander Del Carpio Flores M.M / Production Planner / Project and operations Administrator
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Versipn control is perfect to track changes done in every version as the project advance.Sometime one have to reprocess parts of a project and being able to check whats was changes or added and what reemplaces an element gives you leads to prevent reworks.
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5 Name your files
A fifth way to prevent accidental file deletion or modification is to name your files clearly and consistently, using a logical and descriptive system. Naming your files can help you organize, identify, and locate your files easily, and avoid confusion or duplication. You can name your files using a combination of keywords, dates, versions, categories, or other criteria that make sense for your project. For example, you can name a file as report_2021-06-30_v2_draft.docx.
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Strategic file naming is integral for administrative assistants to prevent accidental file modifications. Clear names like "Sales_Report_Final_V1.2" aid in swift content identification, while version numbers, such as "V1.2," distinguish between iterations to avoid unintended changes to outdated files. User-specific identifiers, like "Marketing_Team," enhance accountability. Consistent naming conventions, exemplified in files like "Monthly_Business_Review_2023," promote clarity and minimize accidental changes. This approach contributes to a secure and efficient file management system, vital for seamless collaboration and data integrity.
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- Melissa H. Molina-Trinidad, MBA, LSSGB, C-TAGME Leader | Healthcare | Innovator | Board Member | Presenter | Mentor
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Naming your files and the versions are important to save time, as well as to be clear what is in them. Besides naming your files, creating folders for its specific content keeps everything organized.
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- Natalia Petrone Pintos Secretaria de Dirección en Godó Strategies
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Es fundamental nombrar los archivos para tener un resumen de lo que se trata. Tiene que ser intuitivo para poder localizarlo fácilmente en las carpetas.
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- Nomthandazo Florence Madonsela Human Resources Administrator
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Clear and concise naming conventions.It is imperative to clearly and concisely name files for administrative purposes. This also limits the time spent looking for a specific file in a specific folder. Another great way to naming files is to add a date in that way you're able to not only access the most recent file but modify it too.
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Standardized nomenclature is so important. Ensuring that your naming of files is clear, relevant to the content and consistent helps avoid accidental deleting.
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6 Lock your files
A sixth way to prevent accidental file deletion or modification is to lock your files when you are not working on them, or when you want to protect them from changes. Locking your files can prevent you or others from opening, editing, or deleting your files accidentally or intentionally. You can lock your files using the features of your cloud service, your operating system, or your software application. For example, you can lock a file by making it read-only, password-protected, or encrypted.
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Use File Locking:Some collaboration tools and document management systems provide file locking mechanisms. This prevents multiple users from editing the same file simultaneously and reduces the risk of conflicting changes.
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- Ihor Semko, MBA Human Resource Manager at Two Plus Four Management
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Utilizing File Locking for Enhanced Data Security"*Different methods to lock files (read-only, password protection, encryption).*Provide step-by-step guides for file locking on various platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux).Maximizing Cloud Services: File Security Measures*Focus on how cloud services offer file locking features for data protection.*Use locking mechanisms across popular cloud platforms (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.). also do not forget the utilization of two-factor authentication, access controls. Enhancing File Management Efficiency with Operating System Tools*File locking options available within operating systems (Windows Explorer, Finder, etc.).
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- Lovevilla Gumilac Virtual Assistant I Accounts Receivable | Payroll Associate I Medical Biller | Admin Support | Aspiring Bookkeeper l Looking for new opportunities.
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I love file locking. Specially if you are sharing a very important file. You can customize your shared files and gives you the option on how the other end user can view your files.
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7 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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Setting a strong password and ensuring only the authorized personnel can access the files as and when required. This should only apply to very delicate files
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One thing I've found helpful when sharing files with other teams is sending a copy of the files as opposed to sharing the link to the file. This prevents accidental changes to the information on the report shared.
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- Nana Adwoa Adutwumwaah Bugyei Finance Officer at Trustee Services Ltd | 8+ yrs experience in Accounting | SAP | Taxation | Finance
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Regularly auditing file access logs helps monitor and detect any unauthorized activities, minimizing the risk of accidental changes.
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- Tracy Edwards Accounts Manager
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Having experienced a similar situation, I found the use of a data recovery software installed on your system works wonders. Data recovery software restores lost or deleted files, which is necessary when resolving such human error.
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- Frayssignes Audrey Agent d’accueil chez MSA - Mutualité Sociale Agricole
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Il est certain qu’avec les cyber attaques en tout genre nos fichiers importants doivent être protégés. Certaines informations ne nécessitent pas une protection particulière mais si le logiciel le permet pourquoi ne pas le faire automatiquement ?
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