You work hard to create a successful home business. You strive for personal and financial gain from your work. Unfortunately, unexpected disaster can wipe out those hard-earned efforts in a flash.
The question of whether you need a safe for your home office is quite simple to answer. Do you have data files and paper documentation that if destroyed could ruin your business? If so, you should invest in a safe to store these invaluable resources.
There are home office safes that protect against theft, fire, impact, water and even explosions. Safes are available that accommodate paper documents, electronic media and tangible valuables. Safes come in styles to integrate right into your office décor. There are wall, floor and cabinet safes.
Safekeeping Is Your Secret To Success
You never know when you will be the victim of theft. Having a safe that is resistant to theft is probably your first concern. You can choose either a combination lock or an electronic lock. Today, there are even safes that are accessed by fingerprint. Combination locks will be the least expensive. However, electronic locks provide a better level of protection. They can be reprogrammed and will deny the user access if too many incorrect codes are entered. They will also lock if tampering is attempted by removing the keypad plate. Look for a safe with an RSC rating, which means that the safe has been tested by a professional locksmith.
Fire protection is very important. When choosing a safe note the fireproof rating. This will tell you how high the interior temperature will become. The rating is given in hours and temperature. For example, a fire rating of 2 hours at 350o F means that the interior temperature will not rise above 350o F for two hours. This will protect your paper documents.
Safes come in all sizes and price ranges. The safes in the video above are the
Honeywell Waterproof Fire-Resistant Security Chest Modeal 2013
Sentry Firesafe Waterproof Chest 40lb
Sentry Firesafe Waterproof Security File 1.29 cu ft
Sentry 0.18 cub Ft Firesafe Chest (not waterproof)
A safe for electronic data will need to have a fire rating of 150o F or lower since electronic data is destroyed above this temperature. There is an entire separate category of data storage safes that are rated for this level. Most fireproof safes are waterproof as well.
Putting a safe out of site or blending it in with the rest of the office is the best deterrent. You can store it out of sight in a closet, install a wall safe or even have one installed in the floor. Hiding a safe behind a painting, although an old trick, may still be a viable option. Some safe companies offer safes that can match your décor. There are composite finishes that resemble wood and even custom finishes of marble or granite.
When considering the options for your home office safe, the most important factors are fire rating, resistance to theft and placement in the office. Make sure the fire rating is sufficient for electronic data as well as paper documents. Select office safes that have been tested for theft and has ample locking mechanisms. Place the safe out of sight or purchase one that blends in with the office décor. Investigate your options and choose wisely. This is your livelihood at risk. Keep it safe to ensure your continued business success.