Securing Your Premises

5. Preventing IT Theft

IT theft often has serious consequences for businesses. The loss of computers can be extremely costly and disruptive.

5.1 There are many ways to secure your physical IT assets, including a wide range of security products.

• Site your IT equipment away from the most visible and accessible places. Consider putting key equipment, such as your network server, in a locked room or a security cage.
• Mark your equipment in a permanent and visible way.
• Use steel cables to anchor your equipment to furniture or the floor.Use special security screws that will prevent any intruder gaining quick access to the components inside your computers.
• Fit computer alarms which detect tampering.
• Theft of laptop computers is common, so lock them away when not in use.

5.2 Secure the data on your computers.

• Back up files regularly. Check that your back-up system is working properly, by re-installing and checking files.
• Keep copies of back-ups off site.
• Use passwords to prevent unauthorised access to computer files.
• Use anti-virus software. Set up procedures to screen all incoming material - and insist they are used.