By Dan Ackerman
(March 10, 2006)

Whether it's floodwaters, rolling blackouts, or malicious spyware, it can sometimes feel as if your small- or home-office PC is in constant danger of a catastrophic meltdown. Many of these fears can be chalked up to an overactive imagination (or overprotective upbringing), but there's no sense in leaving your most valuable business asset--your data--vulnerable to forces beyond your control.

Before the unexpected strikes, it's good common sense to prepare your own personal emergency response plan. A few simple steps can help you minimize downtime if your PC gets fried, zapped, smashed, or otherwise incapacitated.

There are plenty of ways to protect your data and hardware, and by employing a full suite of preemptive actions, you can tip the scales in your favor should things get ugly.