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Achieve data security today with a reliable data protection safe

data protection safe

Achieve data security today with a reliable data protection safe.

Despite the recent shift to electronic record-keeping systems, the amount of paperwork required to be kept on-site by schools is greater than ever. Schools keep confidential records on a wide range of topics, from student behavioural files to staff payroll information. Many schools make do with a set of binders sitting in the principal’s office, but as legislative provisions and Department of Education policies mandate ever stricter security requirements, this may no longer be sufficient.

A data protection safe, or secure document cabinet, is an inexpensive and efficient way to maintain the security of important documents. Here are three reasons why your school should invest in one.

Access Control

Keeping your school’s records in a data protection safe means that access to files can be restricted to only those staff who require it as part of their job. Without protections, other people may gain access. Cleaners, for example, may have unrestricted access to the office after hours, and older students who find themselves in the principal’s office for disciplinary reasons may be left alone on occasion.

Consider personnel files, for example. These are sensitive documents that could cause considerable damage to the individuals concerned if placed into the wrong hands. Although keeping these files in locked room, such as the principal’s office, is a good first step, there is still a risk that these documents could fall victim to prying eyes. Keeping paper-based records in a data protection safe means that nobody can access the files without a key or passcode.

Legal Requirements

Schools are subject to a multiplicity of state and federal legislation on a variety of topics, and recordkeeping is no exception.

Schools are subject to the Privacy Act 1988 and are required to take reasonable steps to maintain the security of the personal information they collect. This may include student records, staff personnel files, and financial information collected from parents. Fines may apply to both the school and the individual for non-compliance.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner recommends that paper files are appropriately secured when not in use, and even goes so far as to suggest that failing to have measures in place to prevent break-ins may be a breach of the Act. Therefore, a data protection safe is an investment worth considering to ensure your school does not fall foul of the law.

School Continuity and Disaster Preparedness

Like any other organisation, schools are vulnerable to natural disasters and other events that may cause the destruction of paper records.

Bush fires, for example, are a feature of the Australian natural environment. Around 150 schools are currently listed on the Department of Education’s Bushfire Zone Register, meaning they are at a high degree of risk when the statewide fire danger rating is high. In addition, virtually all schools are vulnerable to man-made causes of destruction, such as arson.

Imagine if all of your school’s records were destroyed due to a fire or other disaster event. How would you pay your staff, and what would this mean for your students’ education? Many data protection safes are now fire- and heat-resistant, meaning they have been built to withstand the scorching temperatures that result from flames. By investing in a fire-proof secure document cabinet, your school will be able to bounce back from any kind of disaster.

Records management is probably the last thing on any principal or school administrator’s mind. However, keeping your records safe is not only a school’s legal responsibility, but also crucial for ensuring its smooth operation. Although those binders on your bookshelf may have served you well over the years, you never know when prying eyes or disasters might strike. Get in touch with the Askwith Company today for a quote on a new data protection safe.

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Choosing the Ideal Key Cabinet for Your Business

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What is the right key cabinet for your business and do you really need one?

Most people are content to stick all their keys on the same ring and leave them on the kitchen benchtop, but if your business involves handling a large number of keys (especially keys allowing access to sensitive or expensive areas) you’ll want a more robust way of protecting them from thieves and other troublemakers.

Key cabinets are a great solution to the problem of securing multiple keys, and can commonly be found in rental agencies, car dealerships and hotels around the world — these simple, safe-like cabinets provide extensive key storage space and durable security in a surprisingly compact package.

However, not every key cabinet is perfect for your business, and you should make sure that the key cabinet you choose is suitable for the needs of your business and its employees. Be sure you look through a number of key cabinets to give yourself options, and asking yourself the following two questions can help you choose the right one.

How Large Should My Key Cabinet Be?

Naturally, you will want your key cabinet to be able to hold all the sensitive keys your company uses, so you should try to match the capacity of your key cabinet to the number of keys that need securing as closely as possible. Purchasing an overly large key cabinet for a few keys isn’t just a waste of money—it can also disrupt proper key organisation and can make keeping an accurate count of how many keys are in the cabinet more challenging.

You should also bear in mind that a larger key cabinet is much heavier than smaller options, especially when considering the steel and other durable materials these cabinets are made from. Key cabinets need to be securely mounted to a wall to provide effective security, otherwise an opportunistic thief can simply pick up the cabinet and steal all your keys at once.

A relatively fragile plasterboard wall, like the interior walls found in many pre-fabricated office spaces, may not be able to hold up a fully laden 200-key cabinet. As such, it’s important to mark out a suitable space for your new cabinet in advance to determine what cabinets your wall can support.

Should I Choose a Key or Combination Lock?

Modern, electronic combination locks may be all the rage in the world of safes, but there is still a lot to be said for a traditional key-and-keyhole lock on your new key cabinet.

Using a traditional keyed lock necessarily limits the amount of people who can access the cabinet—based on the number of keys you have made for it—and prevents any particularly lucky thieves from stealing or guessing the combination to your cabinet. Keyed locks also cost much less to make than electronic combination locks, so you can expect to find them on cheaper cabinet models.

On the other hand, electronic combination locks are often worth the extra price tag for the additional security they provide against picking. Lacking any physical keys also sidesteps the headaches of losing your cabinet keys, which can often mean having your cabinet expensively opened and re-locked by a professional locksmith or safe engineer.

The greatest advantage of an electronic combination lock, however, is that it allows you to easily and frequently change the passcode that grants access to the cabinet—many key cabinet operating businesses change their passcodes on a daily or weekly basis, providing an excellent extra layer of protection, particularly against disgruntled ex-employees.

If you are having trouble deciding which type of lock is best for your business, one of the easiest ways to choose is by totting up how many employees will need access to the cabinet. If large numbers of employees need access to business keys, such as at a large hotel complex, a combination lock is much easier to operate with no risk of employees losing keys.

On the other hand, if only you or a select number of employees are permitted access to the cabinet, such as at a luxury car dealership, a keyed cabinet can be entirely fit for use.

Use the information in this blog to determine which key cabinet is right for your business. However, if you have any more questions or concerns about key cabinets, get in touch with an experienced safe company.

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Common Types of Security Safes

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Do we really need a security safe at home or at the office?

One of our basic needs is to safeguard our valuables and prized possessions. The number of times we have wondered if it is really necessary: is it safe to keep my jewellery, passports or money at home? Will my kids be in danger of accidentally shooting themselves if I purchase myself a licensed gun as a hobby or for work? Will I get bankrupt if a fire starts by any chance at home or in my office?

The requirement for a secure safe appeared quickly ever since humans discovered silver, gold and other valuable possessions. Up until 1820 they were a deterrent against theft, however beginning in the 1840s they were designed, by using so-called Wilder technology, to protect against fire. The theft-proof safe was first patented in 1835 by Chubb Safes (they are currently producing safes for nearly 200 years).

There is a well-established industry behind safes. They are generally made of metal, are created to be fire resistant and are using high tech electronic devices, laser-cut doors and memory encryption capabilities. Among the world’s reliable security companies is Askwith Safes. They offer high quality at competitive rates and in more than 20 years of being on the market they have stayed devoted to the founder’s beliefs: cost, development and quality.

Types of Security Safes

Safes generally have two main categories – these are known as Homes Safes or Commercial safes – and can be categorized in 3 main types:

1) Burglar Proof Safes

They offer security versus theft, however really little versus fire. Generally, they have solid metal walls and a heavy door resistant to a drilling, cutting or prying attack. Hardened resistant metals are frequently used to decrease attempts to break into this safe.

2) Fire Proof Safes

Generally they are made of a thin metal double wall and have a fire-resistant insulating material between the walls. They have a minimum level of security since they are designed to safeguard (particularly papers) against fire. They need to preserve an internal temperature of below 200 degrees C (the point at which documents will be ruined). The safes supply the fire security for either 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes. There are “Data Safes” which maintain less than 52 degrees C (the point at which information media is ruined) and also secure against high humidity, electromagnetic contamination, and so on

3) Fire/ Burglar Proof Safes

They are normally multi-purpose safes and provide great protection both versus thefts and fire. They are developed like a burglary safe but have a secondary wall inside, which includes insulation (the product that assists in keeping a low-temperature level).

Normally home safes are used to deter theft or in the case of an accidental property fire. We tend to store many personal belongings, wills, property deeds, contracts, insurance policies and other important documents in your home. In this instance, a fire or a burglar proof safe are needed and will be located in the floor or in the walls.

The wall safes require a special framing and it is better to place them as low as possible due to the fact that, in the event of a fire, the temperature is lower at ground level. They are very practical for those people who value their possessions but do not want to keep them in a bank or safety deposit box. These types of safes are simple to install and easy for access. They do not require any unique adjustments of the interior or the style of the house when installing.

When you are on a budget to buy a high-end safe it is much better to keep in mind about burglar proof safes! They do not look like the common steel safe and, although they have no protection versus fire, they can discourage a prospective robber, who hasn’t got the time to search the entire home.

Likewise, let us not forget the gun safe which is the most reliable way of preventing a tragic accident at home! Although it will cost extra in comparison to any normal budget safe, it’s much better to keep in mind that we ought to prevent the dangers by keeping the guns secure and safe.

When buying a safe we need to think of the location and accessibility of the unit. The range and kind of safe you can get for your budget and how it is ranked in terms of cash rating. Work with one of our consultants at Askwith safes today to discuss the best solution that suits your lifestyle and can safeguard your house/office from damage or other external threats. When all these are at stake, safes are the next finest alternative.

Fire Safes are usually made out of a special fire-resistant solid barrier material: 50mm body and 66mm door thicknesses and have a fireproof insulating product in between the walls. The safes offer a good fire defence for either 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes.

For a more in-depth look at our product specifications, contact us at Askwith Safe and our experience safe consultants will be there to strategise and guide you through every step of the way.

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Where to Find The Most Reliable Gun Safes in Perth

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Find The Most Reliable Gun Safes in Perth

In today’s world, a great deal of people wishes to have a gun, not for hunting, however for the protection of their household/farms and their houses/offices.

As soon as you have purchased a gun, you have to be mindful of the obligation that comes with it. Often the absence of a weapon safe can cost you a great deal especially if you have curious kids. You need to take the time and the investment to assure yourself that your weapon is safe! (Related Article: Four Reasons Why Gun Safes are a Must-Have for Owners)

Quality Gun Safes

Some of the guns are supplied with a lock. For instance, Winchester guns are offered together with a cable-type lock or a trigger lock, depending upon the gun. The Askwith Safe company uses a wide range of commercial safes and home safes in Perth. These are not only extremely practical with a level of reliability but likewise has a high fire and cash rating, that can sit well in your house or office. When buying a safe from Askwith you will also buy the guarantee that it comes with among the best market warranties. Depending on the security level of the safe, Askwith company safes offers a range of safes that have burglary resistant protection build in with electronic or digital lock (LCD Models) which is simple to operate and can be programmed with any combination of 3-8 digits.

Branded Quality Chubb Safes

Chubb safes is a brand of safes and vaults with its origins in the UK. It specialises in products which offer certified burglary protection and/or fire protection. The brand is widely sold and marketed in the UK, South Africa, India and Malaysia as well as parts of northern Europe and east Asia.

Although a safe gun is a great and sensible investment, it will cost you additional money. That’s why it is not unreasonable to consider a discount weapon safe!

The cost of the safe depends on its size, on its alternatives if it is fire-resistant (normally the fireproof safes cost more, however, if you have a pricey weapon collection it’s worth selecting the safe to be fireproof). But you can still get Askwith refurbished cheap home safes at a bargain rate if you drop by to our office branches now to have a chat with one of our certified safe specialist.

If the safe are bigger in size (for 10 to 25 weapons), you can increase its security by bolting it to the floor (floor safes). Askwith secure safes complies with police regulations and is bolted with 40mm washers and as per Police guidelines.


And remember that a great safe will keep the children safe and deter any other unauthorized intruders away from access to your weapon! It will safeguard your gun not just from thefts, water and fire but likewise from dust and humidity. Call Askwith Safe today and see our range of safes for sale in Perth and Adelaide.

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Should You Protect Your Personal Belongings with Floor Safes

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Are floor safes considered secure safes?

With a disconcerting increase on criminal activity rates these days, a growing number of people are getting worried about their personal belongings and how they can secure them against invasion and home/office security breach. Hence, safe experts and specialists developed an idea on how to protect important things and homes through a device that can endure the test of time. Therefore, floor safes entered into the spotlight. Essentially, a safe has 3 main classifications or configurations. They are the wall or wall-mounted safes, the freestanding safes, and the in-floor safes. Without elaborating and expanding into the classification of the other two safes, let us discuss the structures of flooring safes.

The Nature Of Floor Safes

Essentially, floor safes, like its 2 equivalents, are specially developed to provide protection and security to prized possessions and other important documents. As it name suggests, these safes are solely made to be mounted into the concrete piece on the ground. Since of its position, makers of these kind of  safes highly suggest that the position of the safe should be thoroughly evaluated and thought about so as to maximize its potential. If mounted and bolted correctly end extensively, a good security safe can be the best defense against theft and even disasters like flood and fire.

Setup

Secure Safe setups are in fact more complicated and more expensive compared to wall safes. When installing Askwith safes, you have to cut a slab out of the ground or be drilled down by secure thick 4mm bolts.

About Floor Safes

Floor safes are under the classification of composites safes. That means that they have a mix of 2 functions, to fight flod, fire and robbery. In its totality, these kind of safes used commercially and at home has been tested against all forms of burglary. The ratings that floor safes acquire will also identify the cash rate of the product.

One drawback that customers discover on flooring safes is that it has a tick wall covering, which, by practicality, flooring safes render smaller sized space as compared to the typical metal vaults or the ordinary filing cabinets. People should understand that the primary factor why flooring safes are developed this way is because of its function, and that is to secure the valuables and not simply be a mere storage product.

The other feature of flooring safes is its electronic lock. Since they no longer have to rotate on a counting basis so as to open the safe, it offers convenience to the user. Plus, because it is electronic, the floor safe’s combination can be altered as often as you like.

The paradoxical disadvantage of floor safes is that, during a robbery, the intruder will have no option to attempt and take the safe with him, which might instigate him to be more violent and hostile with nearby captives in hopes of obtaining the contents in the safe. Thus, the flooring safe must be planned and thought carefully in terms of location and installation about the outright perfect safe for coverage in the evening and when no one is present.

They are the wall or wall-mounted safes, the freestanding safes, and the in-floor or just floor safes. As it name suggests, floor safes are exclusively made to be installed into the concrete slab of the flooring. Due to the fact that of its position, makers of flooring safes strongly recommend that the position of the safe must be thoroughly evaluated and thought about so as to optimize its capacity. Flooring safe setups are in fact more complex and more costly compared to wall safes. Flooring safes are under the category of composites safes.

Contact the Askwith safe company today and speak to one of our certified safe experts or drop by to our branches in Perth or Adelaide and view our range of security safes we have for sale. Askwith specialised the best home safe and commercial safes in Australia.