With more and more people working from home or at least handing their own business from a home office, it makes sense to consider separate security measures for that particular area of the house. For one thing, that is where the paperwork that can lead to identity theft is often kept, and today's tech-savvy burglars understand that stealing the right papers can often be a lot more worthwhile than just trying to make off with your stereo system. Likewise, those who are new to the whole home office thing might not have the necessary backup drives, and could find one robbery a seriously devastating occasion not just for possessions, but for priceless hours of time and effort.
Extending home security to include one's home office is simple and straightforward. All it takes is a minimal investment in money, some time to arrange things, and the desire to learn the best methods for protecting sensitive information. Here are five simple tips for keeping your home office safe and secure, even if there happens to be a break-in.
Tip #1: Always have you data backed up. This is a huge problem with home offices for a number of reasons, and robberies are definitely one of them. If you do not have another source for all of your precious data, then you can lose it so much easier. Whether it is your computer crashing or someone stealing it, make sure that you have an external hard drive on which you back up the contents of your computer or computers. Depending on how often you put new material on your computer, it should be backed up every couple of months or so.
Tip #2: Invest in a shredder. When you think of home security, you might think of double-bolting your doors or setting an alarm before going to bed. But you should also be thinking of things like important papers. Identity theft can be accomplished with only a few key elements of your personal data, and these elements can often be found on bank statements and bills. Once you are done with your papers and they do not need to be saved for tax purposes, shred them. This makes stealing your identity a whole lot more difficult.
Tip #3: Get a safe. If you have a safe, you have a place to put that external hard drive, any paperwork that must be around the house but should be kept safe, and other important pieces of technology. You might also consider a safe deposit box at a bank, where you can store bonds, birth certificates, and even that same external hard drive.
Tip #4: Make sure your home alarm system has ample coverage in your office. Get an alarm panel installed by the doorway so that you remember to set the alarm before going to bed. Talk to the technician and make sure that there are enough sensors that the alarm will go off if someone breaks in specifically to case your home office. This will make it easier to sleep at night.
Tip #5: Lock all of the doors and windows leading from the outside to your office. This might sound obvious, but if you make it difficult for a robber to break into that particular part of your house, it can do wonders to prevent any sort of robbery from taking place. Likewise, keep things like expensive computers and other equipment out of sight for anyone who might just be walking by. You never know who might be casing your house, after all.
Extending home security to include one's home office is simple and straightforward. All it takes is a minimal investment in money, some time to arrange things, and the desire to learn the best methods for protecting sensitive information. Here are five simple tips for keeping your home office safe and secure, even if there happens to be a break-in.
Tip #1: Always have you data backed up. This is a huge problem with home offices for a number of reasons, and robberies are definitely one of them. If you do not have another source for all of your precious data, then you can lose it so much easier. Whether it is your computer crashing or someone stealing it, make sure that you have an external hard drive on which you back up the contents of your computer or computers. Depending on how often you put new material on your computer, it should be backed up every couple of months or so.
Tip #2: Invest in a shredder. When you think of home security, you might think of double-bolting your doors or setting an alarm before going to bed. But you should also be thinking of things like important papers. Identity theft can be accomplished with only a few key elements of your personal data, and these elements can often be found on bank statements and bills. Once you are done with your papers and they do not need to be saved for tax purposes, shred them. This makes stealing your identity a whole lot more difficult.
Tip #3: Get a safe. If you have a safe, you have a place to put that external hard drive, any paperwork that must be around the house but should be kept safe, and other important pieces of technology. You might also consider a safe deposit box at a bank, where you can store bonds, birth certificates, and even that same external hard drive.
Tip #4: Make sure your home alarm system has ample coverage in your office. Get an alarm panel installed by the doorway so that you remember to set the alarm before going to bed. Talk to the technician and make sure that there are enough sensors that the alarm will go off if someone breaks in specifically to case your home office. This will make it easier to sleep at night.
Tip #5: Lock all of the doors and windows leading from the outside to your office. This might sound obvious, but if you make it difficult for a robber to break into that particular part of your house, it can do wonders to prevent any sort of robbery from taking place. Likewise, keep things like expensive computers and other equipment out of sight for anyone who might just be walking by. You never know who might be casing your house, after all.
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