The Insurance Information Institute reports that in 2019 losses due to natural catastrophes totaled $39.6 billion dollars.1 Natural catastrophes include severe thunderstorms, winter storms and cold waves, tropical cyclones, wildfires, heat waves, droughts, floods and earthquakes. Layer on top of that the dollars lost to computer system issues, including cybercrimes, which are estimated to cost $6 trillion per year worldwide by 2021.2
All very compelling facts to prompt business owners to secure documents and computer system back-ups in a good commercial safe.
Protecting your valuable business assets against fire, theft or water damage is easier than you might think. The first step is to determine what types of documents and items you need to store in the safe. This will provide you with an idea of the size of the safe you will need.
Some common items that businesses typically store in their safes include the following:
- Current business insurance policies and agent contact information
- Computer back-up media (CDs or hard drives)
- Sensitive employee information such as social security numbers, dates of birth, salary information and performance reviews
- Duplicate sets of keys to property, vehicles, safe deposit boxes, etc.
- Purchase or lease documents for property, automobiles, etc.
- Documents related to investments (e.g. stock certificates) and bank accounts (including the company checkbook)
- Paperwork related to the company retirement plan(s)
- Information on outstanding debts, due dates and contact information
- Contracts
- Licenses, Permits and Raised Seal Documents: regulations often require you to keep paper copies of these items3
- Emergency Plans: Keep a physical copy of any information (e.g. emergency contacts) or procedure (e.g. fire safety procedure, business continuity plan) that will be needed if you can’t access your business computer system4
- Passwords and pin numbers
- Emergency cash and/or petty cash
- Files crucial to your operations (e.g. intellectual property documents, company policy and procedure handbooks, company history documents such as photos, etc.)
- Tax returns
Once you have figured out what you wish to store in your safe contact a reputable locksmith to help you determine the size and type of safe that will best meet your needs. A locksmith can also install your new safe so that it is secure from vandalism and theft, providing your business with the security it needs now and for years to come. While it may be difficult to find the time to address your business security and continuity needs today, if a fire, theft or other disaster occurs you will be glad you took action to keep your business operational.
As a trusted Michigan Locksmith, Action Locksmith has been keeping businesses safe and up to date in security for over 30 years. We are committed to providing commercial solutions with vast experience in all facets of commercial locksmithing including camera systems, door entry systems, door repair, curtain gates, exit devices and much more.
Call and speak to an experienced locksmith today!
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1 Facts + Statistics: U.S. Catastrophes
Link: https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-us-catastrophes#:~:text=Insured%20losses%20due%20to%20natural%20disasters%20in%20the,34%20percent%20of%20U.S.%20insured%20losses%20in%202018.
2 2020 Disaster Recovery Statistics That Will Shock Business Owners, 12/2019, by Bojana Dobran
Link: https://phoenixnap.com/blog/disaster-recovery-statistics
3, 4 11 Examples of Small Business Documents to Keep in Printed Form, 7/23/2018
Link: https://smallbiztrends.com/2018/07/business-documents-you-should-always-print.html#:~:text=Licenses%2C%20Permits%20and%20%E2%80%98Raised%20Seal%E2%80%99%20Documents%20%E2%80%9CYou%20should,seal%20should%20be%20kept%20and%20placed%20somewhere%20safe.