2020 might go down in history as the year we all switched to working from home. Who knew that before a global pandemic, we could have all been sitting in our pyjamas from the comfort of our living rooms, completing the same work we do from an office.

Ok, perhaps that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I think that anyone working from home has realized that it takes a little more concentration to complete assignments than is possible from the living room. That said, many people have gone about setting up home offices.

But, if you’re going to work from a home office, it’s important to ensure that your office is secure. The last thing you need is to be hacked, or for your home to be broken into and your work files to all go missing. To help you get set up with the best and most secure home office possible, we’ve gone ahead and made a brief list of some things you can do to protect your home work space.

A Better Way to Manage Deliveries

Because of the current global situation, going into the office to drop off documents isn’t necessarily possible. You may be leaving documents and packages outside your doorstep for co-workers to come by and pick up. As petty as it sounds, porch piracy, or package snatching, is a common form of theft.

If you’re wary of leaving important documents outside, consider installing an audio or video intercom. When co-workers come by to drop off their work, you can communicate through the intercom or even buzz them in, like at an apartment. These systems can be set up to contact your mobile device so, even if you’re not at home, you’ll still have access to your front door.

Upgrade Your Home Security System

If you are concerned that a thief could make off with your work computer, printer, telephone, and files, don’t even let them get to the point that they’re in your office. Adding surveillance cameras and burglary alarms act as a major deterrent for any thief.

Thieves do not want to be seen, so if you install a visible tamper-proof camera, no thief is even going to approach your home. If they do manage to make it past the security camera, as soon as they break into the house, they will be greeted by the sound of a loud and shocking alarm.

Alarms do more than just startle would-be intruders, though. Alarms also alert you to the situation. It’s uncommon, but break-ins do still occasionally happen while families are home, such as late at night. A primed alarm system will wake you if a burglar opens a window or door.

Also, depending on the service you go with, some alarms will alert the company or the police if the alarm is not reset within a certain amount of time. Look for comprehensive home security systems with cameras, intercoms, broken glass sensors, and door alarms.

More Risks Than Just Theft

If your only concern is a break in, you may be overlooking another potential risk. A home fire is never a good thing, but to lose both your property and your business in one fell swoop would be the coup de grâce that no one needs in this already difficult year.

While homes are required to be built with smoke detectors, when was the last time you actually checked if yours works? If you’re going to be working from home, it’s absolutely crucial that your office is protected from fire. If your fire alarm system is outdated, worn out, or damaged, you need to upgrade as soon as possible.

Be Wary Of Phishy Emails

Since the start of the global pandemic, many governments have provided financial aid to their citizens. While this has benefited many, it’s also created new opportunities for scammers.

Several different scams have been reported, including phishing scams and monetary scams. Some request that targets pay a small sum of money to receive a larger government aid package. Others target people’s personal information by prompting the reader to download “information” about the virus and preventative measure.

If you receive an email that seems “phishy” don’t open it because it could potentially hack your work documents and disrupt the entire company.

Conclusion

Until the global pandemic settles a little, many businesses will continue to be run from the comfort of employees’ home offices. To stay safe, think about securing your office from potential digital and physical theft!