Choosing the Best Small Office Safe for Your Home or Office

Whether you're a freelancer working from home or a small business owner, a secure place to store sensitive items is crucial. Differentiating between small office safes (or home office safes) can be confusing, so we compiled a few key items to consider during the decision-making process.

1. Size and capacity:

• Measure your space: Before purchasing a safe, carefully measure the area where you plan to place the office safe. Ensure it fits comfortably without obstructing pathways or creating a tripping hazard. Do not forget to leave room to open the door.
• Prepare to anchor your safe: Although a good office safe can be quite secure unanchored, to maximize the security and fire protection of your safe, it should be anchored into a concrete foundation or other stable surface. When choosing a location for your safe, consider what it will sit on and if you will be able to anchor it.
• Determine your needs: Consider the size and quantity of items you need to secure. Do you need a small office safe for laptops, important documents, client files, and petty cash, or a medium size safe for electronics or to leave room for expansion? We find that once people have a safe, they rarely wish it were smaller.

2. Security features:

• Fire resistance: Protecting sensitive data from fire is paramount. A fireproof office safe is essential for safeguarding digital files, important documents, and irreplaceable records. Understanding the heat sensitivity of the items going into your safe and your likelihood of fire will help you determine what the right safe is for you.
• Burglar resistance: Consider the level of security you require. Some office safes offer basic protection, while others are designed to withstand more serious burglary attempts. Look for features like heavy-duty construction, bolts in multiple directions, alarms, reinforced doors, and tamper-resistant locks.
• Locking mechanisms: Explore different locking options, such as key locks, electronic keypads, biometric locks (fingerprint or retinal scans), or combination locks. Choose a locking mechanism that suits your preferences and security needs.

3. Ease of use:

• Accessibility: Ensure your office safe is easy to access when needed. Consider the height and weight of the safe, and who will have the codes.
• Usability: Choose an office safe with a user-friendly locking mechanism that is easy to operate and remember. Think about interior organization to keep business paperwork or electronics easy to find when you need them.

4. Types of safes to consider:

• Small office safes: For small businesses that largely store cash in a bank, a small office or home safe will provide substantial security and fire protection without taking up significant floor space. Small office safes typically come at a more approachable price point than higher security safes. It is important to note the features of small office safes when choosing one – not all safes in this category are created equal.
• Depository safes: Depository safes have slots or doors for immediate protection of cash deposits. Depository safes are best for businesses that have frequent cash influx – such as cash-only restaurants.
• TL rated safes: TL rated safes come with specific certifications regarding burglary protection, and are appropriate for businesses that require significant security investment: casinos, pharmaceutical companies, and jewelers.
• Specialty safes: In some situations, specialty safes are the best solution. Specialty safes include hidden wall safes (that can be covered by a painting or mirror) and floor safes (which can be hidden by a rug).

5. What to store in an office safe:

• Important documents: Contracts, client files, financial records, insurance policies, other sensitive paperwork
• Electronics: Laptops, tablets, external hard drives, camera equipment
• Company data: Customer information, intellectual property
• Keys: Spare keys for business premises, vehicles, external storage
• Cash and small valuables: If you handle cash transactions, a small office safe can provide a secure place to store funds.

When working in small offices and home offices it is critical to be able to easily lock up documents, electronics, and other sensitive items. We recommend the Cocono 40 medium size safe for offices. With a 90 minute fire rating, tamper alarm system, convenient biometric and passcode lock, and customizable interior, this medium size safe particularly well-suited for small offices and home offices. Learn more about the Cocono 40 medium size safe here.