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Make Your Home Office Secure
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Article 1: Conduct A Security Audit
The first step to securing your home office is conducting a safety and vulnerability audit, says Jeff Zbar, who’s known as the ChiefHomeOfficer.com and is the author of “Safe@Home: Seven Keys to Home Office Security.”
You can use the findings from this audit to create a security action plan for your home office. “Your security action plan will guide you in the steps necessary to protect your home, home office, its contents, equipment — and yourself,” says Zbar.
Start by playing the Bad Guy. How would a burglar look at your home? Would he see it as an easy mark, with unimpeded ground level windows, plenty of hiding spaces and no outdoor lighting?
Zbar suggests that you ask yourself these nine questions. The more you answer yes, the better your protection:
Are doors equipped with deadbolt locks and peepholes? Are windows and sliding glass doors locked and secure against simple intrusion by a burglar (for example, by simply using a screwdriver or crowbar to pry them open)? Can passersby peer easily into your home office? And is your computer hidden from view in a tower enclosure? Does thorny foliage protect windows and other access points? Do exterior light fixtures illuminate your home adequately to dissuade burglars at night? Is there a sign in front of the house announcing that you have a home security alarm system? Is your computer’s Internet connection protected with a firewall and regularly updated anti-virus software? Does your home office furniture meet suggested guidelines for ergonomics? Is a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, flashlight and portable or cell phone located near your workstation?
“The idea is to layer your defenses on top of each other,” says Zbar. “Layering creates a blanket of protection that helps you thwart would-be burglars and gives you peace of mind.”
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