Pack for a failed login
A remote worker's most fragile moment is often not a lost laptop; it is needing to prove identity, find a booking, contact a client, or restore a credential while the usual cloud account is unreachable. Build for that moment before a flight, border crossing, or network outage.
Use three locations, not one
Keep encrypted working data on the primary device, a separate protected backup, and a minimal offline travel copy. The travel copy should include only documents and contacts necessary for the next leg of the trip. Test access without an internet connection and remove stale files after returning.
Do not confuse redundancy with safety
Multiple copies of an exposed passport scan or recovery code increase risk. Protect each copy with an appropriate key, share emergency access deliberately, and know which service can be recovered with which identity evidence.