How to choose the right laptop safe

The laptop has become one of our most valuable possessions, not just in terms of its financial value, but also in terms of how and when we use it. From a business point of view, a laptop is a lifeline that enables us to work remotely and on a flexible basis. It means we can work whenever we want and wherever we want, and we can quickly access everything we need if an urgent matter comes up. For the family, a laptop can be used differently by everyone, which is often the reason why each family member has one. But essentially, a laptop allows parents to track finances and do some online shopping, while the kids can play games, talk to their friends or watch a film.

But the unfortunate downside to the valuable nature of a laptop is that they are also easy to steal. Technology has advanced so much that laptops are now small and lightweight, and hence easy for an opportunist thief to take, unless you have security measures in place, and one of the best is to invest in a laptop safe.

What is a laptop safe?

A laptop safe is a small safe specifically designed to house an average-sized laptop. Made from reinforced steel and soft-lined internally, the safe is front-loaded via a hinged door and can only be accessed by people you give authority to. This means a laptop can be kept secure overnight or when not in use, and the safe is also small enough to be concealed in a secret location in a home or office, to maximise the security controls available.

Considerations when choosing the right laptop safe

The key considerations when looking at the right type of laptop safe to buy include size, security and convenience. These three factors can be more fully described as:

Size – Does the laptop fit? Quite simply, is the laptop going to fit inside the safe? You need to consider your future requirements and whether you might wish to store more than one laptop, particularly if you have a family home where more than one child has their own laptop. So you should measure the internal dimensions of the safe and bear in mind also that some safes have a soft lining internally. While this is primarily to protect contents of the safe from damage, it also has the effect of reducing the interior space and capabilities of the safe, which might not be immediately obvious from first glance.

Security – First and foremost the safe has to be strong and robust enough to keep the contents secure. So is it strong enough and is it suitably tamper-proof? The access method for the safe will normally be inputting a unique code on the keypad. This is usually a mechanism that suits the employees of a business, but you should consider whether giving a unique code to children is necessary or the best thing to do, if your laptop safe is for family purposes. Can you trust children to remember the code and to keep it a secret? You can change the code if you suspect there has been any kind of security breach. Sometimes a safe will be supplied with a traditional key as a back-up. There are other extras that come with a laptop safe that you should consider, namely, does it have a spare key? Is it fire and water resistant? And does it have boltholes to secure the safe inside a cupboard, or to a wall or the floor? This could be an essential feature if you are operating in a vulnerable location. An intruder faced by a laptop safe which has been bolted down, won’t be able to simply pick up the safe and run off with it. They will need the tools and equipment to bypass this security feature, which most won’t have, and even if they do, this kind of obstacle and delay could lead to them panicking and leaving the property, hopefully empty handed. A safe that is secured within a cupboard, for example, is also more secure as the safe is concealed and an intruder won’t want to waste important time looking in every cupboard and drawer for valuables.

Convenience – Finally, a laptop safe has to be convenient and practical to satisfy the reasons for investing in one. So is the safe portable once it has been retrieved from its hidden location? Is it quick and easy to access? Is it cash rated to ensure your insurance policy is valid? And have you thought about future requirements? Are you likely to add contents to the safe, in terms of another laptop, or in terms of anything valuable you are likely to acquire in the future? People often buy a specific safe for a specific purpose, but then start to store other valuable items in it also. If this applies to you, invest in a bigger laptop safe just in case.

Check out our range of laptop safes at MB Direct

At MB Direct we can offer expertise and advice relating to choosing the right laptop safe for you, so check out our range of laptop safes and choose the best one for you today.