Best Security Practices for Garden Offices
Garden offices have gained considerable traction as more workers opt to avoid the commute to their workplaces. But the serenity of outdoor home offices may pose unique security concerns.
Sheds, mancaves, garage conversions and log cabin garden offices all pose as tempting targets to burglars passing by. However, there are numerous physical and digital security measures you can implement to make sure that your garden office remains secure.
1. Secure the Entry Points
Garden offices have become more prevalent since the COVID19 pandemic due to changes in working practices and commuting patterns, providing a peaceful space away from home that encourages productivity and provides a sense of purpose while simultaneously being secure from security threats; understanding basic and advanced security measures will help deter burglars or any potential threats to garden offices.
Securing all entrance points to a garden office is of utmost importance, including installing a secure lock on the door and making sure all windows are securely fitted and fitted properly. Furthermore, installing a peephole or doorbell camera may allow visitors to see who may come before opening the door, or be used by delivery drivers to leave packages/letters elsewhere safely rather than dropping off at your office.
Upgrade all doors with high-quality, anti-snap 5 lever mortice locks certified as BSI Kitemarked to significantly increase security in your garden office and prevent unwanted access. These anti-snap locks offer significantly greater protection than standard latch-style locks and will help ensure its integrity is not compromised by unwanted visitors.
Effective lighting is a proven burglary deterrent. Motion-activated security lights with adjustable light timer switches can startle potential intruders while alerting you of any movement outside your office building.
Security measures combined with surveillance cameras can form a comprehensive solution that deters would-be burglars while simultaneously recording any suspicious activities for evidence in case of security breach. Integrating access control can further increase coverage while creating multilayered defence against physical and digital threats.
2. Upgrade Your Locks
Garden office doors must be constructed from robust materials like wood or uPVC in order to ward off intruders, such as robust locks tested and approved by BSI kitemarking – even more advanced security measures include installing access control systems with key cards, pin codes, or biometric scanners allowing access only when necessary.
Burglars often scout properties before breaking in, so it’s essential that your garden office obstruct their view and prevent them from seeing what you have inside. You can do this using tall, spiky plants as a fence around it or trees/bushes as cover, especially near windows.
Your garden office should also use exterior lighting to deter intruders when you are not present. Motion-sensor lights, for instance, can serve as an effective deterrent by activating when movement is detected and scaring off potential intruders. Timer switches can help give the impression that someone is at your office when nobody really is there – another effective deterrent!
Installing CCTV cameras in your garden office is another effective deterrent. Not only are these useful for monitoring purposes, but they can help identify criminals after their crime has taken place. Modern models often feature Smart Infra-Red night vision and remote viewing capability for iPhone or Android devices – while they can detect motion, sound, record digitally archive images for later review – plus even connect directly to alarm systems so you’re alerted whenever there is any type of intrusion attempt.
3. Install Security Lighting
Garden office spaces have grown increasingly popular since the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly among workers who telecommute (WFH). Many homeowners are turning sheds, garages or other outbuildings into garden offices such as log cabin offices, summerhouses or garden rooms in order to provide work space separate from family life and provide privacy, calmness and productivity in these new workspaces – offering peace of mind but burglaries may still pose an issue as these offices often contain expensive technology equipment as well as sensitive documents that should remain within your main home – making garden offices essential in protecting yourself both personally and professionally.
Garden offices may be seen as potential targets for burglary due to their remoteness from the main house, yet these outdoor working structures should be treated just like any other part of a property and secured accordingly.
First and foremost, any structure should be equipped with multi-point doors and windows designed to withstand attacks from intruders, constructed from materials capable of withstanding significant force without cracking under pressure, including doors that open inward rather than outward and window hinges that cannot be attacked or lifted off by intruders.
Garden offices should also be fitted with security lighting. Specifically, passive infrared sensors that only activate when heat from humans or vehicles is detected should be utilized, along with timers that automatically turn them off after a set amount of time to obscure view and make it more difficult for burglars to know whether the office is unoccupied or occupied.
If your office is linked to your alarm system, these sensors will activate the alarm when activated – this alarm may be linked to either your phone or a monitoring centre which notifies police if there is any sort of break-in; alternatively, it can notify your phone or tablet so you can easily check whether someone was trying to break in, or whether someone accidentally set off the alarm system.
4. Install Surveillance Cameras
Garden offices are becoming more prevalent as people move toward home working due to pandemic and commuting restrictions and as more people adopt home working as part of their lifestyle change. These standalone timber buildings offer an ideal way to separate work life from family life without family distractions or pets getting in the way. Unfortunately, however, garden offices can also become targets for burglars; should someone break in, they could potentially steal high ticket items such as computers and printers as well as confidential documents and personal data which could cause irreparable damage for both their owner as well as business partner(s).
Install trellises or fences containing thorny plants like Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Dog Rose, Holly and Red Pyracantha to obstruct intruders’ views of your garden office from passing intruders and prevent their entry. Not only can this add privacy and security but can also act as visual deterrents against potential criminals.
Security lighting should also be included as an integral element in your garden office. Motion sensors can be set to activate these lights only when movement is detected – meaning they won’t get activated by small rabbits and cats exploring your yard! Furthermore, their sensitivity can be easily customized according to your individual requirements for movement detection.
These lights can be combined with a smart security alarm to send notifications via phone, email or text when they are activated. They can also self-monitor themselves – an ideal feature for garden offices as this will enable you to identify if someone has entered and could potentially help prevent theft and data loss.
5. Consult With Security Professionals
Leaving expensive equipment or high-ticket items visible in a garden office will tempt burglars to target your property. Either move these items overnight to the main house, or invest in a security safe to secure them – which will also protect against theft, fire and flooding.
Sheds and garden offices tend to be more vulnerable than the main home, making them attractive targets for intruders. Furthermore, many contain tools which could be used by thieves to break in. That’s why it is imperative that when building or refurbishing an existing shed as part of your garden office project or redesign project you ensure it adheres to robust construction techniques similar to what exists throughout your property.
Install security lighting and CCTV cameras to deter intruders. Motion-sensor lights and cameras that detect movement are excellent ways of scaring off intruders while alerting you of their presence. Use timer switches to turn lights on/off at different times throughout the day to give the impression that your office is always occupied.
One effective way of warding off burglars from breaking into your garden office is to ensure the IT equipment is well protected. Use locks that require two-factor authentication for unlocking, as well as strong passwords on laptops. Use security marking kits or paint kits to mark all IT equipment with its unique property number or other identifier.
Consult security professionals when installing and upgrading security measures at your garden office. They can advise you on the best security solutions, monitor performance, and offer maintenance services so your system operates optimally.