Different Types Of Safes For Your Business

It takes a lot of time and effort to establish a business, and to make sure it remains safe and protected from threats, you need to take the necessary security measures.

One such threat that is rampant in almost all organisations is commercial burglary, where criminals target businesses to steal money, important files and documents, and valuables.

These setbacks have a serious impact on the business and its operations and can result in huge financial losses that, at times, are very difficult to recover from.

Therefore, if you’re a person smart enough to run a business, we assume you are smart enough to also understand the importance of keeping it safe from security and safety risks.

Business safes play a big part in protecting your valuables against theft. They are designed to open only with a key or a combination code, or various other authentication methods, to prevent unauthorised access of your guarded assets.

To make sure there are no security risks, you must invest in a high-quality safe with a strong locking mechanism, and give only a selected few within the business access to it.

Read on to find out more about the different types of safes for your business, how to choose the best one for your needs, and what makes them so important:

TYPES OF SAFES FOR YOUR BUSINESS

A safe also referred to as a strongbox, is basically a lockable box used to secure items of value from safety and security threats.

In simple words, any box with a lock could be described as a safe, and that is exactly what the earliest safes looked like. They were wooden boxes reinforced with iron and big, heavy locks to keep their contents secure from unwanted access.

Now, safes have evolved and come equipped with state-of-the-art technology that provides the maximum level of security and peace of mind.

Some of the different types of safes for your business are:

Office safes

Office safes are commonly found in offices as well as retail stores and restaurants. They can either be freestanding or bolted to the wall or floor.

They generally have high impact resistance and are tested to make sure that they are not accessible through repeated dropping.

Used to store a variety of business valuables such as money and confidential files, office safes are constructed with high-quality steel and use a higher security lock to prevent unauthorised access.

Data or media safes

All businesses deal with lots of data on a daily basis and use various forms of media to store it. This data can be confidential and may include trade and business secrets that must be kept protected at all costs.

Believe it or not, many businesses are targeted to steal such valuable information as part of dirty competition since it gives the other party an edge in the market. As wrong and immoral as that is, it is pretty common and must be dealt with very seriously.

Data or media safes are made specifically for storing electronic devices such as hard drives and USBs, and to keep important papers and documents safe from not just theft but also damages in terms of fire and water.

Deposit or drop safes

They are different from other types of commercial safes in that they have a slot, either on the top or front or a drawer, depending on the size of the safe, that allows employees to make deposits into them without having to open the safe door.

This not only helps keep the deposits private and safe from outside threats but also restricts employees from being able to see or steal whatever’s inside. Once the deposits are made, they can only be accessed by authorised individuals and no one else.

Commercial drop safes are also used to temporarily store items until they can be transferred to a bigger, more secure safe, and are mostly found in businesses such as retail stores, supermarkets, banks, and restaurants, where deposits are made at regular intervals.

Fire-rated safes

Safes are not only used to protect items of value from theft but also from disasters such as fires that can easily burn away money, documents, electronic media, and other items of value.

These safes are not 100% fire-proof but are surely fire-resistant. The extent of protection against fire is determined by the rating of the safe and the period of time it can withstand the high temperature without damaging its contents,

Gun safes

Most business owners keep a gun with them for safety purposes, and although it is okay to possess a licensed firearm, it is very important to keep it safe and away from the wrong hands.

Gun safes are not mandated by law, but gun owners do have a legal obligation to ensure their firearms remain safe from theft and misuse.

To do that, businesses need to invest in a gun safe that meets the British Standard BS7558 ensuring that the safe will be able to withstand a 5-minute-long attack using common burglary tools.

LOCKING MECHANISMS FOR YOUR BUSINESS SAFE

The quality and strength of a business safe are determined by the material it is built with and the type of locking mechanism it uses. Both are equally important and if either one is compromised, it can easily put the entire safe and its contents at risk.

When choosing the locking mechanism for your safe, you need to ensure it serves its purpose in preventing unauthorised access. Some of the most common locking mechanisms for business safes are:

Key locks

Key locks are manual locks that are very commonly seen on most doors, with all of you probably using them regularly.

They are incredibly easy to use and rely on a physical key to open the safe to access the contents inside it. While they are very simple and easily get the job done, there is always the risk of losing or misplacing them, making the safe and its contents vulnerable to threats.

Combination locks

Combination locks use a secret code that only authorised individuals know, and which is entered using a dial on the safe to gain access.

They are very secure but require the users to remember the code. The downside with combination safes is that whoever has access to the codes has access to the safe and its contents.

They usually come with a code already saved before the safe is purchased, making it difficult to change it later.

Electronic locks

Electronic locks, also known as digital locks, are advanced systems that come with a keypad for entering a code or password to gain access.

They allow you to easily change the code to revoke access permissions and are ideal for situations where temporary access is given.

These systems are user friendly and provide a better and safer experience as compared to key locks and combination codes. They also allow multiple users and let you set unique codes for each so that you can track their activity to see who accessed the safe and when.

Biometric locks

Biometric locks use your unique identifiers such as fingerprints, retina scans, and voice recognition to allow only authorised individuals to gain access.

They provide a high level of protection and take away all the fear of compromised keys, combinations, and codes, eliminating the chances of unauthorised individuals gaining access.

Dual locks

Dual locks, as the name suggests, use two different locking mechanisms in one to provide double protection. The two most common lock types found on dual locks are key and combination locks.

They require both forms of authentication to gain access and are ideal in situations where one authorisation method has been compromised.

The downside is that, although it prevents unauthorised individuals from accessing the contents of the safe, if an authorised user misplaces their key or forgets the code, they won’t be able to get into the safe either since both authentication methods will be required.

However, if you ask us, this must not be considered a drawback since the security benefits of dual authentication methods are unmatched and simply too great.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A SAFE FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

Investing in a safe could be one of the most rewarding investments for your business since it goes a long way in ensuring that your money and important assets remain safe and protected.

To help you choose the best safe for your business, we have compiled a list of factors to consider when making the decision:

Type of safe

One of the first things that you need to determine is the type of safe you need, and to do that, you need to ask yourself what you need the safe for.

As discussed above, there are different types of safes used to keep various types of items. Some are used for electronics, while some are perfect for keeping flammable items such as money and paper.

You also need to determine the locking mechanism best suited to your needs. You can decide this by determining the level of protection needed, the level of risk, and the number of users.

Picking the right type of lock is a crucial element, which is why you must choose very carefully and consult with a professional who would be able to guide you better.

Size of safe

After you figure out the type of safe and locking mechanism you require, you need to consider the size of the safe you need.

Safes can be large, heavy objects similar to furniture, therefore it is necessary to take into account the size of the place you intend to keep it in.

This goes for whether it is a freestanding safe or one bolted to the floor or wall since space and size will always be a huge factor to consider.

You will also have to keep in mind the items you wish to store in the safe. You wouldn’t want to end up with a small safe that can’t even accommodate some of the important items that need safeguarding.

As a general rule, it is best to future-proof yourself and get a slightly bigger safe to factor in any miscalculations, mistakes, or confusion.

Cash rating

Probably one of the most important things to consider when buying a safe for your business is its cash rating for insurance purposes.

All security safes come with a cash rating that is used by insurance companies to evaluate the terms of the insurance plan.

In simple words, cash rating refers to the amount of money or valuables the insurance company will cover in case of a burglary.

For instance, if you have a safe with a cash rating of £10,000 and the cash is stored in it, and you had around £1,000 of cash stolen from your business, you will be covered for the cash rating amount of the safe instead.

Cost

The cost of the safe and your budget are two things that you need to consider, because obviously, nothing comes free of cost and needs to fit in your budget as well.

There are a lot of options available and in varying budgets, and as is obvious, the more you pay, the more you get. A lower price may sometimes mean the absence of some great and necessary features.

However, when allocating a budget for safety and security measures such as a business safe, you must always look at it as an investment that won’t just keep your business and its assets safe but also be good for a long time.

Required accreditations

Safes are not some random piece of office furniture that you can pick out at random. They are important safety and security features for your business and must be treated as so.

Safes need to meet certain requirements when it comes to security and effective protection to support any insurance claims that you make in the future.

They need to hold the necessary certifications and must be approved by the Association of Insurance Surveyors (AIS), which is usually indicated by a purple “AIS approved” logo.

Professional consultation

Buying a safe for your business is not as straightforward as it may seem and should, under no circumstances, be taken lightly.

Even if your requirements seem simple, it is always recommended to consult with a professional security company before moving forward.

A consultation with the right people will ensure that you will not end up with the wrong safe and that all your insurance requirements and concerns will be handled.

After the initial decision of choosing the perfect safe for your business, you shouldn’t attempt to install it yourself and hire a professional service to do it for you. A faulty installation may not only put your valuables at risk but also render your insurance coverage void.

To avoid that from happening, always have a professional security company install your business safe. Call Calder Security to have yours installed now.

Holistic approach

While a safe is a very effective security solution for your business, you must take on a more holistic approach and have a combination of burglar alarms, CCTV cameras, access control systems, fire alarms, and quality door locks to reinforce your business security.

CONTACT CALDER SECURITY

If you are unsure about choosing the best type of safe for your business and are getting overwhelmed with the plethora of choices, contact Calder Security to help you make the best decision and keep you, your business, and your valuable assets safe and sound.

We are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA) and are familiar with a wide variety of safes, cash boxes, and strong boxes.

Our experienced engineers not only assess your requirements and suggest the most suitable safe for your needs, but can also install, repair, remove, relocate, and open a wide range of business safes.

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash