When you’re working from a remote office, or even running a business from one, then you have tied your livelihood to a part of your home. This includes tying it to any digital equipment and important assets that you might keep in that space. As such, you need to be extra mindful of the potential risks that face it, especially from criminals. Here are a few steps you can follow to truly secure your home office.
Keep It Locked Down
Having a secure and strong lock put on your office door can benefit you for a number of reasons. For one, a tamper-proof lock adds an extra level of frustration and effort to any would-be criminals that might be attempting to break in. It also makes it easier for you to maintain privacy in your office, and to make sure no one tampers with it when you’re absent, which can be especially important if you have young children who might not follow boundaries. If your office is on the first floor or is easily accessible from the outside, you need to make sure your windows are just as secured.
Be Ready To React
When someone tries to break into your home, it’s important that you’re able to muster a response as quickly as possible. Acting fast can prevent them from getting away with too much. Alarms can help you ensure that no one is able to intrude without drawing attention, but smart alarm systems for home can work even more effectively, offering the ability to monitor even remotely. They can also be connected to other smart systems, like lights and locks, to secure the home automatically.
Ensure Your Goods Have A Safe Place
Depending on the type of work that you do from your home office, you may have pieces of equipment or tech that are particularly valuable. If you run your business from home, then any legal documents necessary for your business’s existence should be treated just as valuable, too. To that end, you should consider getting a safe for the office. Portable safes can be secure, but their portability might make them a little unsuitable unless you can find a good hiding place for them. Installing an inset safe, even a small one, could be the solution you need.
Protect Yourself Digitally, Too
Physical threats might be the foremost on your mind, but you shouldn’t leave yourself digitally vulnerable, either. Make sure that you invest in a secure route, and a firewall, and secure all of your devices and work apps with strong passwords. For online accounts, like your email, use two-factor authentication so that someone can’t log in if they manage to get your password, they also need your phone or access to your backup account. Just as important, keep all of your software updated, especially your operating system, and out-of-date software presents vulnerabilities that are easily exploited by savvy cyber criminals.
Give your home office the protection that it deserves. It can be targeted both physically and virtually, and any savvy professional should take steps to safeguard it from all sides.
