Hi there,
First, there is no real magic solution to being fully protected in a market crash. The best course of action for investors, is to ensure a well-diversified portfolio. History has shown that each crash is slightly different. This year, Tech and Consumer Staples outperformed - will they do so again next time? Maybe - maybe not. That being said, there are some sectors that are considered more 'defensive' than most.
Defensive sectors are those that aren't as impacted by economic volatility and include utilities, consumer staples and healthcare. During this last crash, Tech has proven to be quite resilient and the case can be made that our new world has made technology indispensable - perhaps it is now time to consider it as defensive sector as well. However, only time will tell if this is accurate.
We are also big believers in gold as a hedge. Gold has consistently proven to be a safe haven during recessions and times of volatility. Since the beginning of the year, we've seen first hand how gold can prop up your portfolio when things are tough. The mistake investors make with gold, is they only buy it once its gone up - often, they miss out on the big gains. The key is to always hold gold, and investors should make sure they still have it even in a gold bear market. It may drag the portfolio down in a strong economic cycle, but it will protect against uncertainty.
Another interesting defensive play is emerging - crypto. I am not ready to go out on a limb and declare crypto (Bitcoin in particular) as a defensive asset. However, it has done quite well during times of volatility and during the market crash. Once again, only time will tell, but is is certainly acting like a defensive holding.
Mat