Yesterday we went to the MacTech Boot Camp in Cambridge, MA. This was a one-day conference for Mac consultants. Here are my top takeaways that even non-IT pros should find useful.

1. Many people are not really fully backed up. (Dragging and dropping files to a flash drive does not count as a backup!) It’s important to test your backups by restoring random documents or files occasionally. And this should scare you into having a backup system in place: “Don’t back up what you can afford to lose.” (From Max Buxton, Call Andy Macintosh Consulting)

2. If you are running Windows on your Mac (in Boot Camp, Parallels, or VMWare Fusion), you must install virus protection software on the Windows OS–and don’t forget to keep it updated. Recommended antivirus software for the PC is MS Security Essentials, which is free. (Josh Turiel, JH Turiel and Associates)

3. If you’re doing tech troubleshooting, focus on oddities and inconsistencies. (Adam Schechter, Precision Consulting)

4. It’s important to prioritize your technical goals (on your own or with your IT consultant), so you can decide where to focus energy, time, and money. (Marc Grubb, Fusion IT)

5. Your IT consultant should never misrepresent his/her skills or experience, nor should he/she take risks which jeopardize client security or data. (Marc Grubb, Fusion IT)

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