Laptop safes in the workplace - are you protecting employee devices properly?
Whatever sector your business operates in, it is likely to be heavily reliant on technology, and increasingly so. And while laptops are a valuable asset for the business in terms of pure capital expense, they carry huge value also in how the business operates.
In recent years, laptops have become even more valuable to businesses as working practices have changed, and employees are demanding and expecting more flexibility in terms of working patterns. Today, it is perfectly normal to have a flexible workplace and not to be tied to an office. People expect to come and go, spend time on the road, or at home, and essentially like to be able to work anywhere. The laptop is the essential conduit to making that happen, but the business needs to think about laptop security, and that means investing in laptop safes.
Why are laptops valuable to a business?
In addition to the financial value of a laptop, the importance to the business exists in what the laptop contains and how useful it is to the employee using it. So an employee who shares their time between the office and remote working locations needs a laptop as a form of continuity, so they can work on the same projects, with the same information and using the same tool, wherever they are. The laptop may contain software programmes or information that is needed when they visit a job also. There are other forms of information that are valuable to the business also, such as:
- Personal data for GDPR purposes
- Intellectual property information
- Product specifications
- Contracts
- Human resources information relating to disciplinary issues, grievances, appraisals or salaries
- Financial information relating to company performance
There are a whole host of reasons why the business would not want this information to be shared. And these security threats can relate to rival businesses, cyber criminals or internal staff, as well as opportunist thieves wanting some valuable tech devices.
When do business laptops need to be kept safe?
While an employer might encourage and benefit from flexible working, it can be difficult to manage in terms of knowing where people are. In addition to flexible locations, people are also encouraged to work flexible hours, and so may be in the office early and leave early, or in the office late and work late. This means laptops can be left unattended for hours at a time while the office is open. At the same time, employees who take laptops home or out on the road with them, need to protect these devices at home when they are not in use, or when they are on holiday.
So there are lots of occasions in which laptops could be left vulnerable to theft, and it is important to remember that laptops are much smaller and lighter than they used to be. Technology has evolved quickly to ensure that laptops have much more functionality and require much less physical size. The unfortunate by-product of this is that laptops are a popular item for opportunist thieves to steal, as they are quick and easy to pick-up and conceal, and carry very little weight compared to a few years ago. This makes a laptop safe absolutely essential for businesses looking to secure the laptops used by employees.
What is a laptop safe and how does it benefit a business?
A laptop safe is a small and slim type of safe, made from reinforced steel and suitable for storing a laptop. It is a front-loaded safe that uses a hinged door, and can be accessed using a unique code inputted on a digital keypad. This code can be shared between authorised personnel only and can be changed if there is a suspicion of a security breach. As a back-up, many laptop safes are supplied with a physical key also. Most laptop safes are designed to be robust and durable, and will include a soft-lined interior, which will help to protect the laptop if the safe is maintained as being portable. You may also have the option of using the pre-drilled bolt holes, which can be used to secure the safe to a wall or floor, or in a concealed cupboard. This adds a further layer of security.
Laptop safes are a great benefit to a business because they offer flexible security options, and are convenient as they are small, portable and easy to access. They can be issued to employees to use at home, or other remote locations overnight, or they can be used in the office to secure laptops on occasions when they are not being used. The option to secure the laptop in a location permanently, or to make it portable, gives the business plenty of flexibility and makes it a convenient and practical security solution.
Check out our range of laptop safes at MB Direct
You can source laptop safes for your business by ordering online from our range of laptop safes at MB Direct. Our laptop safes are strong and durable and the best way to manage your workplace security and keep your valuable employee laptops safe.