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Security safes are indispensable storage solutions that help keep your valuables safe from theft and damage. They are incredibly useful in offices since they provide a secure storage space for confidential documents, sensitive information, digital and electronic media, and items of value.
Keeping these things out in the open, such as on your office desk, can never be a good idea since they can very easily get into the wrong hands. You may keep them locked in a drawer or cabinet, but that isn’t the most secure option either. Investing in an office safe is an excellent way to keep your things safe from unauthorised individuals and to ensure they stay protected from damage due to environmental factors.
As a business owner, it is your responsibility to implement effective security measures to keep your valuables and assets safe. Offices are usually the target of information theft, which is why office safes have become somewhat of a necessity in keeping a business and its confidential information secure.
When choosing the right safe for your office, you must consider several factors such as the items you wish to store in it, the size and capacity of the safe, and the level of security it offers. Here is a comprehensive guide to help you make the right decision for your office safety and security:
WHAT ARE OFFICE SAFES AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
Commercial security comprises several different types of solutions such as security alarms, motion sensors, surveillance systems, secure locking mechanisms, and security lighting. All of these play an integral part in keeping a property secure from intrusions, theft, burglaries, and other types of security threats.
When it comes to securing your belongings and valuables, safes are a must-have in every office. By using a safe, even if an intruder makes their way into the premises, they won’t be able to access your things since they’ll be securely locked away.
Office safes are security safes made specifically for use in the office. They can also be found in retail stores, and they come in many shapes and sizes with different features and security levels.
Whether you need to protect your office valuables and data from theft or keep them safe from damage, these secure storage boxes are the perfect solution for it. You can rest assured that your things will be kept safe from the wrong people and your business’s confidential information will always remain protected.
It is important to invest in office safes for the following reasons:
- Protection of valuables – one of the key benefits of office safes is their ability to protect valuables from potential theft as well as damage. Commercial office safes also come with secure locks and anti-tampering features to make unauthorised access even more difficult.
- Protection of data – data and information theft are common issues in the workplace, which makes it extremely important to secure all the business’s confidential information in a secure manner. All documents and digital devices carrying important information must be locked in an office safe so that they stay away from thieves and hackers.
- Protection from fire – along with protection from theft, many office safes also carry a fire rating which means that they are resistant to fire to some extent and can keep your valuables safe if a fire breaks out in the workplace.
- Protection from natural disasters – office safes are a great tool for keeping your valuables safe from damage due to natural disasters such as floods and tornadoes. They are built in a way to be waterproof and prevent water from getting inside the safe and ruining its contents.
HOW TO CHOOSE A SAFE FOR YOUR OFFICE
Office safes can be used to keep different types of items safe from theft and damage. These items may include cash, confidential business information, and other items of value.
To provide the best possible protection and to keep their contents safe from unauthorised access, these safes are made of high-quality, sturdy material. They are resistant to tampering and can also withstand force. In addition to that, the best office safes are also tested for impact resistance to make sure they are not damaged by repeatedly being dropped.
When choosing the best safe for your office, there are a few things you need to consider:
Size, Capacity, and Weight
The size and capacity of a safe are crucial features that indicate what you can store in it. Office safes come in different dimensions and choosing one depends on the items you wish to keep in it and the space available in your office.
To determine the right size and capacity for your office safe, you need to start by assessing your storage needs. Consider the items you want to keep in the safe and measure their dimensions and quantities. By doing this, you can estimate the space required for storage. It is also very important to consider your future storage needs and invest in a safe that allows for additional storage to accommodate more items.
Locking Mechanism
Office safes are available with different locking mechanisms, which is an incredibly important feature to consider. The type of lock on the safe will determine how secure it is and how well-protected the contents of the safe are from unauthorised access.
Some of the most common locking options include key locks, mechanical locks, electronic locks, and biometric locks. Each type comes with its advantages, and they offer varying degrees of security.
Key locks are traditional locking systems that require a physical key to access the safe. It is the simplest type of access system but can be incredibly vulnerable if the keys are lost, stolen, or copied.
Combination locks can be both mechanical and electronic, and they require a combination to access the safe. In mechanical combination locks, there is a dial or wheel that needs to be turned in a specific sequence for the safe to open. Electronic combination locks, on the other hand, come with a keypad for entering the code.
Since there are no keys involved in combination locks, there’s no risk of losing them. They do, however, require the users to remember the access codes. They are ideal for multiple users as they allow different codes for different users. Also, the codes are incredibly easy to change if they get compromised.
Biometric locks are high-security locking systems that use unique physical characteristics such as fingerprints, retinas, and voice for access. They are very secure and are used in many offices to store high-value items and confidential business documents.
Burglary Resistance
Resistance to burglaries is a key feature in office safes, or any security safes for that matter, and is the top reason people invest in safes for their homes and businesses. Depending on the type of safe and the features it has, it may offer varying levels of security and resistance against theft and burglaries.
To determine how secure a safe is against burglaries, you may refer to the burglary rating that comes with it. There are different rating systems, and the higher rated a safe is, the more secure it is from unauthorised access.
In the UK, burglary resistance for safes is determined by burglary ratings which follow European Standards EN 15540 and EN 1143-1.
Safes with an EN 15540 standard go through a series of tests to determine how secure they are against force. Compared to EN 1143-1, which is a higher certification for safes, safes under EN 15540 offer a lower level of protection and are suitable for small office setups. Safes with an EN-1143-1 rating are tested with sophisticated tools and offer more advanced security.
According to the EN-1143 Eurograde security numbering system, certified safes are rated from 0 to 7 based on how well they can withstand an attack. The main criterion is to test a safe against theft, burglary, and force. A Eurograde-approved safe is sure to provide a high level of protection for your cash and valuables.
Cash Rating
A cash rating is another important type of rating for safes that determines the ceiling amount that an insurance company will cover for the safe’s contents. The safe’s construction, the thickness of its walls, and the locking mechanism have a direct impact on its cash rating. Naturally, a good quality, more secure safe will have a higher cash rating.
Other than cash, the cash rating also signifies the value of other items in the safe, and the safe covers other valuables ten times the amount of cash. By this calculation, a safe with a cash rating of ÂŁ1,000 will cover valuables up to ÂŁ10,000.
Cash ratings from ÂŁ1,000 to ÂŁ4,000 are awarded by The Association of Insurance Surveyors (AiS). They also approve Eurograde safes with cash ratings from ÂŁ6,000 to ÂŁ250,000.
Fire and Water Resistance
Fire and water resistance is another very useful feature in office safes, especially if you intend to store in them things that are susceptible to fire or water damage such as sensitive documents and digital media.
The fire resistance of a safe is measured by its fire rating. It indicates the duration a safe can withstand a fire without affecting or damaging its contents due to a high internal temperature. Fire ratings range from 30 minutes to over 2 hours, with a higher fire rating providing increased protection for sensitive items and valuables.
The build quality of a safe also plays a major role in how well it can protect its contents against fire damage. Look for safes made with fire-resistant materials and seals to prevent damage caused by smoke, heat, as well as water.
When getting a safe for your office, invest in high-quality fire safes that are tested according to the UK and European standards for both fire protection as well as security.
Water resistance, although an often-overlooked feature, is incredibly important in situations where a fire is extinguished with sprinklers or in an area prone to flooding and water damage. Choose an office safe with seals to protect against water intrusion and keep it in a place where it stays safe from potential exposure to water and moisture.
Construction and Security
The quality and construction of a safe play a crucial role in how well it can resist force and tampering. Some safes are more secure than others based on the material they are made with and the type of reinforcements they have to keep their contents secure.
When choosing a safe for your office, look for one made with heavy-duty steel and features such as hidden hinges and pry-resistant doors. Thicker steel is better for protecting against both theft and fire.
For added security, some safes use composite materials and have fire-resistant insulation to protect the contents of the safe from fire.
Budget and Brand
Depending on their size, type, features, and security ratings, office safes are available in different price ranges. When investing in one for your office, assess your budget and focus on the must-have features.
It may seem like a lot for some business owners, but keep in mind that getting an office safe is a long-term investment that will keep your valuables and business secure. Do not skimp on purchasing a good office safe because if you do, you’ll be putting your valuables and business at risk.
A good way to set a budget for a safe is to assess the value of the items you wish to secure in the safe and compare it with the cost of the safe. In the end, just keep in mind that this is an investment in your business’s safety and security.
There are several good brands of office safes in the UK known for their quality and reliability. Before choosing one for your office, research and compare the top brands and go for ones that have a good history of customer satisfaction. Read online reviews and consider factors such as customer support, after-sales service, and warranty when deciding.
Advanced Features
Modern office safes come equipped with advanced features such as alarm integration and smart safe technologies to offer an even higher level of security, convenience, and control.
Alarm integration refers to the office safe being connected to the business’s alarm system so that whenever an unauthorised attempt is made, the system detects it and triggers an audible alarm alerting everyone nearby and potentially scaring off the intruders.
Smart safe technology allows users to manage, control, and monitor the office safes remotely through mobile applications and office automation systems. Smart office safes can be locked and unlocked remotely, and the users can check access logs and receive notifications for all access attempts.
WHY CHOOSE CALDER SECURITY?
Choosing a safe for your office is an important decision that requires careful consideration of several factors such as the type of safe, its size and capacity, security features, and ratings for cash, fire, and water.
If you’re unsure about which office safe to choose, it is best to get professional help and seek advice from an expert in the field.
We, at Calder Security, are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA) and are familiar with a wide range of safes, cash boxes, and strong boxes. Our SSAIB-approved contractors can help you assess your office’s security needs and recommend a suitable safe perfect for your requirements.
We offer professional safe installation services to not only prevent theft and fire damage but also ensure that the safe is secured in place properly, cannot be removed, and is not in danger of falling or damaging anything.
We also offer safe opening services since misplacing the keys, forgetting the code, or failure of the safe itself can all lead to the contents of the safe being inaccessible. By design, of course, safes are very difficult to access in these circumstances and you need a professional safe engineer to do it for you. Our Calder specialists can open most safes and restore them to full working order afterward.
When you need to relocate or remove your safe entirely, you can count on us to carry out the job with ease. In addition to that, our professional safe repair and maintenance services ensure that your safes are always in optimal health providing you with the best security.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 9799 to talk to our security professionals for more information on office safes and how to choose the best one for your needs.
Photo by Nastuh Abootalebi on Unsplash