The eSafes Buyer’s Guide for Data Safes has been written to give you the lowdown on all of the safes available and the ways to decide on which is right for you. We’ll tell you a little about the types of safe available, including safes for paper or electronic data. We’ll also explain more about sizes, cash ratings and how the safe you choose could protect your sensitive information.
• What types of data safe are available?
• What sizes should I choose?
• What do safe ratings mean?
• Why do I need to store my data in a safe?
• Which locks and accessories do I need?
If you’re asking yourself ‘which data safe should I choose?’ you should first ask ‘what do I need to protect’?
What types of data safe are available?
Data safes won’t simply protect your data and documentation from theft, they are useful when tragedy strikes. Fire protection could ultimately prove more valuable. The majority of data safes offer both burglary resistance and fire resistance. Secure filing cabinets and chests are also available. There are also a number of waterproof data safes available. Think about the surrounding area. What is the greatest risk to your data? Now choose a safe from our listings which will protect your data in the right ways.
What sizes should I choose?
The amount of paper documentation or information you aim to store is going to have a big bearing on the size of the safe you purchase. Sometimes data safes can be smaller than other safes, since a large amount of data can be stored on a single portable hard drive. The simplest solution is to measure your contents and choose the right safe, since all of the safe’s listed have clear sizing information in addition to a host of other info like cash rating or fire rating.
What do safe ratings mean?
Fire ratings are awarded by independent testing organisations to establish the length of time that a safe will protect its contents under the intense heat of a fire. Fire ratings can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours or more. For personal data contained within a home, a fire rating of 30 minutes or 1 hour is usually sufficient, since most fires which begin in urban conurbations are responded to quickly.
Cash ratings are awarded to recognise that a safe is suitable to protect up to a maximum amount of cash or cash value in other items. While cash rating might not be directly relevant where the contents of the safe is data or documentation, cash values are still useful as an indicator of the quality of the safe. For home use a cash rating up to £1,000 or £2,000 is usually suitable, but the higher the cash rating, the greater protection provided.
Why do I need to store my data in a safe?
There are a number of reasons why keeping data in a safe is a good idea, and perhaps the most important one is the risk of identity theft and the fallout if you fall victim. But there are other reasons.
Keeping passports, deeds and other documentation in a safe will simply help you to find these items, whenever you need them and never have to frantically rummage through drawers or struggle to remember where you left them. Nor should you ever underestimate the possibility of a fire. With any luck, you will never be unfortunate enough to experience a home or office fire. But it is important to be ready in case you do.
Which locks and accessories do I need?
There are three kinds of locks available on the home safes available from our online collection: key locks, electronic locks and biometric locks. Many of the safes available offer a choice between key and electronic keypad locks. Keypad codes eliminate the need for keys which could be lost. There is however the risk that you might forget the code or the wrong person may learn it. Biometric locks are amongst the most technologically advanced available. They are designed to read the finger print of the owner and only unlock for this user. If you are storing paper or files, additional shelves or interior safe accessories can be purchased. A number of other small scale safe accessories and security products are also available. This includes decoy safes designed to look like simple household items when really storing cash, important documents and more.
Browse our extensive range of data safes by clicking here.