Secure Self-Storage: Selecting the Right Lock
Self-storage units can provide access to valuable document storage space for small businesses and start-up companies. The information found on business documents is often sensitive in nature and should be protected properly.
Identity theft and other crimes related to the stealing of sensitive information is rampant in modern society. If you are planning to house your company's documents in a storage facility, security should be at the forefront of your list of requirements.
Many storage facilities offer video surveillance and fenced perimeters, but a secure storage unit begins with the type of lock used. Read on to learn about three locks that will secure your storage unit.
Close-Shackle Padlock
Padlocks are popular options for locking storage units because these types of locks are abundantly available and quite affordable. Modern padlocks come in two varieties, the open shackle and the close shackle.
You should always select a close-shackle lock when securing your storage unit with a padlock. The close-shackle padlock has protective shoulders that extend up and around the shanks of the locking mechanism. These protective shoulders limit the amount of shackle that is exposed.
Thieves will have a hard time getting bolt cutters around the shanks of your close-shackle padlock, preventing them from cutting off your lock and accessing your storage unit.
Mortise Lock
You may not have heard of a mortise lock before, but you may have used one in the past. A mortise lock is a type of lock that features a recessed cylinder, much like the locks found on residential and commercial doors. These locks are built directly into the frame of a storage unit's door.
The locking mechanism is completely hidden within the door, and no part of the lock extends out from the door frame. By placing all of the lock components out of view, a mortise lock does not provide a would-be thief with access to any components that can be cut to access your storage unit.
Mortise locks must be opened with a key, so you should check with your storage unit facility to ensure that the mortise lock on your storage unit has been rekeyed for maximum security.
Disc Lock
A disc lock is a heavy-duty lock that gets its name from its disc-like shape. The rounded design of a disc lock poses a challenge to anyone trying to break the lock free from your storage unit's door.
A thief would have to use a power grinder over a long period of time to wear away the locking mechanism of a disc lock. This significant time and effort would attract the attention of a storage facility's security staff, so thieves rarely try to infiltrate units with disc locks.
If you opt to invest in a disc lock, look for a product that is reinforced with hardened steel. These fortified locks have additional layers of protection that make cutting or grinding virtually impossible. A disc lock with anti-pick and anti-drill mechanisms can also provide your storage unit with maximum protection against unauthorized entry.
The type of lock that secures your storage unit's door will act as the first line of defense in deterring information theft. Business documents that contain sensitive information should be secured inside a storage unit with a quality lock. Choose from a close-shank padlock, a mortise lock, or a disc lock when securing your storage unit to ensure your business documents remain safe from would-be thieves.
Tysons Self Storage has a wide range of self-storage units to choose from. Contact us by phone, email, or this request form to discuss the secure storage of your business documents in the future.
