Source: Proporta.com

For many of us, our smartphones and PDAs are essential companions, tools that we can’t do without and that we make use of every day. So as soon as you purchase a new device (and before it even arrives) a hugely important task is to figure out how to protect your investment in it.

Since we’re currently running a contest looking for some of your Best Tips, thought this might be a good time to cover this basic, but critical, subject.

This post is intended as just a very brief overview on some general ways to go about protecting your device and the critical applications and data on it – and I hope some of you will join in and expand on this with some of your own useful pointers.

Read on for an initial Shortlist of things to do and think about in keeping your latest, greatest device (and the data and programs you run on it) safe and sound …

* Get a Good Case – Probably the single best thing you can do for your device on Day 1 of owning it. Cases can help your device survive if it’s dropped, and avoid scratches and dents when it has accidental encounters with furniture, car doors etc. A good case can mean very different things to different people – some prefer metal cases, some like more elegant, leather cases, and others prefer various clear plastic options. There are good, effective cases of all these types, and I would say the key factor to keep in mind is to get a case that is practical and comfortable to use – because if it’s not, you’re far less likely to use it all the time.

* Use a Screen Protector – The screen is typically one of the most expensive and troublesome components to replace if it is damaged. And it is shockingly easy to damage your screen through, for example,  just ‘normal’ use of your stylus. I am a heavy note-taker with the stylus and have ruined many a screen through not using the stylus gently enough! Even when using a screen protector, try to be as gentle as possible when writing with the stylus.

* Try To Find Insurance – If possible, get some insurance coverage for loss / damage / theft of your device. This can be tricky to find – especially for some of the latest smartphones, but is well worth doing if you can find it at a reasonable cost.

* Backup Regularly – Just as on a PC, it’s essential to setup a regular backup routine for your device. Again, there are a number of different options in terms of programs to use for this, from freeware and built-in apps to popular published / paid-for solutions. Step 1 in this area is just making sure that you do backup your device – data, applications and PIM information as required. If possible, setup scheduled backup on a daily or weekly basis so that you don’t forget this crucial task. Also, it’s a very good idea to get in the habit of running a backup before installing new applications on your device.

* Store Your Software License Codes Somewhere Safe and Easily Accessible – it’s no fun at all when you switch to a new PDA or smartphone, and start on the process of installing all your favorite programs, only to discover that you can’t find your serial number or license code for one of them. Use a digital wallet application, a paper-based system, email archives to maintain the emails sent from the vendor, or whatever works for you – just try to ensure that all that information is available when you need it.

* Use Applications That Have Security Features When Working with Confidential Data – if you need to store confidential or sensitive data on your device, look for applications that allow you to password-protect and encrypt your data, or even solutions that allow for encryption of entire volumes.

* Have a Dedicated Pocket for Your Device – I’ve never been a fan of belt-clips, so I nearly always carry smartphones and PDAs in a pocket. I try to make sure that nothing else ever goes in that pocket – because I’ve found that coins, USB flash drives, and all sorts of miscellaneous objects are another potential source of nicks, cuts and bruises for my device (depending on what sort of case it’s in at the time).

OK – so there’s a quick and short list of some basic things to look at in order to protect your device. Would love to see some of your ideas and thoughts on this. I’m sure I’ve missed out some important areas and that there are lots of good ideas out there for how to best look after our mobile devices.

Add your device protection tips and tricks here by October 15th, and we’ll count them for consideration in the current ‘Best Tips’ contest with 5 free copies of Astraware Sudoku for the 5 best tips we receive!