Cubicle Security For Laptops, Electronics? 532
kamikasee writes "I recently found out that I'm going to be moved from an office to a cubicle. The cubicle area is not very secure, and I'm worried about things wandering off. My boss has offered to buy some equipment to help me secure things, but so far I haven't found anything that fits my requirements. Google and Amazon searches are overwhelmed by lockable key cabinets and larger pieces of furniture. Here are some of the requirements: The main issue with traditional solutions (e.g. locking things in a drawer) is convenience. I use a laptop with a second LCD monitor. There's also an external keyboard and mouse and a USB hard drive. I leave my laptop on at night so I can remote-desktop into it, so I'm not really happy about putting it in a drawer (no ventilation), plus I don't like the idea of having to 'unharness' everything every time I want to put it away. I don't trust cable locks. Besides, cable locks won't help me secure my the USB drive and other electronics that might wander off. The solution I imagine is a lockable, ventilated metal box that would sit under the monitor and house most of the electronics. If it was big enough, I could stick my laptop into it at night (while leaving it running) and feel confident that it would still be there in the morning. I'd be open to other types of solutions. Surely someone else must have dealt with this problem."
Never dealt with that sort of problem (Score:4, Insightful)
YMMV.
Don't Have stealable stuff (Score:5, Insightful)
Simple solution (Score:5, Insightful)
A box could easily be stolen (Score:5, Insightful)
No kidding! (Score:5, Insightful)
Where do you work that people are stealing stuff all the time?
Or are you just mega-paranoid?
Re:2 words (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:One word... (Score:2, Insightful)
so.. why have a laptop? (Score:4, Insightful)
If you just use a regular tower you can user a large internal drive, or a few larger internal drives, removing the need for the extra drive. Then your problem becomes securing a tower. There are many desks and enclosers for securing towers.
As for a keyboard and mouse, if you're worried about your keyboard and mouse being stolen I'd recommend you find another job.
Re:Never dealt with that sort of problem (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Simple solution (Score:5, Insightful)
Quoted for great justice.
Company gear, company premises, company's obligation to secure it. if I came in to work tomorrow morning and my desktop computer and monitor were gone, I'd inform our IT manager and tell him to call me when they have been found or replaced.
Seriously, if you're not working for yourself, why on earth would you take your OWN laptop into a place of business? That's retarded.
Suck it up, princess. (Score:5, Insightful)
Your laptop and associated paraphernalia are the property of your company. If they happen to find legs then that's an issue for your company to deal with, not you. Hopefully you back up your data, so if your laptop does grow legs it's just a day or two to get up and running with a new lappy.
Besides, your co-workers are in the same position, so if they're not reporting thefts then you probably won't be either. And if there is a problem of theft in your office then perhaps you should be pushing your manager to make your workplace more secure, rather just just your workspace.
Is a solution really what he wants (Score:5, Insightful)
My suspicion is that the poster really kinda wants his office back and is making excuses. If this is the case it is natural that no solution is going to work.
Re:A box could easily be stolen (Score:3, Insightful)
The submitter doesn't explicitly say that it's his fellow employees that he's worried about. There are plenty of workplace settings that are easily accessible to anyone who just wanders in off of the street.
For example, I work for a university. Typically, graduate students don't have their own offices, but get a cubicle in a large room shared by a dozen or more fellow students. Hundreds of people attend classes in our building every day, and it's not uncommon for computers, textbooks, backpacks, projectors, or anything that is not locked up or chained down to disappear.
In that case, the best solution is to just take anything of value home with you, or lock it up when you leave.
Re:No kidding! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:No kidding! (Score:3, Insightful)
A solution: webcam. But you have other problems... (Score:5, Insightful)
For security, put up a webcam or two in your new cubicle: both overlooking your workspace. Make sure they are visible and have bright or blinking LEDs, so they'll be really noticed. Put up a warning sign saying that this space is remotely monitored and digitally recored. Even if it really isn't, the warning should be enough to keep the basic rif-raff away. Sometimes deterrence is better than physical security...
Now then. Here's the real problem.
You speak as if this notebook is your personal property. It really shouldn't be. Your company should be supplying you with the equipment you need to do your job, and if the company equipment gets stolen when you're not around, that's the company's fucking problem, not yours.
Secondly, you say this notebook has an external monitor, standalone keyboard and separate mouse. That sure sounds like a desktop computer to me. Get one instead of the notebook, and the chances of your computer walking off are slim to none.
Third, what place are you working in where you fear your stuff will be taken? I've done time in cubicles since 1988, in places ranging from digital sweatshops, to NASA-type work with spaceship software support, to fortune-500 joints. Never once have I ever had anything taken from my desk more serious than a stapler. I don't even lock the drawers or file cabinets.
Maybe it's time to look for a new shop, since they don't supply you properly, kicked you out of your office, and they employ co-workers that you fear will steal your shit.
Re:Never dealt with that sort of problem (Score:2, Insightful)
Also, regardless of who steals the stuff, you're unlikely to ever find out who did it. So prevention is best.
Some of my co-workers have personal webcams attached to their PCs that record 24x7. I trust my co-workers completely, but stuff has been stolen in the past, and I think it's because we have such a large number of strangers and visitors constantly coming and going.
It's been said a gazillion times... (Score:4, Insightful)
1. Don't bring your personal property to work. I don't, even though I work in a very professional environment; this is no reflection on the people I have working alongside me, it's a reflection on the clients. I have no idea of house policies regarding contractors' equipment hence I don't take the chance that they'll say "Oh, you're missing the tools of your trade? Well, tough shit." I take what I need to get the job done and I do a head count before and after. And NO WAY IN HELL do I take my eyes off of anything with a screen (notebook, PDA, whatever). Heck, the only cash I take a £10 stash for a meal and a bus. Apart from my keys and the clothes on my back, and a wouldn't-want-to-steal-it Nokia 3410.
2. Find another job. It's obvious you're insecure about your work environment, and who could blame you for making that decision? You're obviously not happy which must severely impact on your productivity.
As to notebook security in and of itself, the two things I would do if I really needed to leave one onsite for remote login are: a. remove the battery. These are expensive to replace, and nobody in their right mind would consider buying a hot laptop with no battery, and b. put a supervisor and a user password on the BIOS (both different and nondictionary words), this renders the unit completely useless to anyone who doesn't have your memory and your battery, as obviously the moment they unplug it it will power off. As a postnote, mark the unit in such a way as to make it screamingly identifiable (such as the inside of the bezel in acid etch or the battery bay by the same method) without too much effort.
Re:Don't Have stealable stuff (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:My workplace is so honest... (Score:3, Insightful)
5:01 in the reception area. But you can also move an existing fight to the reception area.
Sounds like a fun place to work at.
Re:Easy! (Score:5, Insightful)
Then I heard "Can I help you?" And I jumped. I turned around and there was a bearded guy in a sleeping bag. I said ".....uhhhhhh......sorry" and leaped out of there.
I never did find out who it was or why he did that. I wasn't really supposed to be in that area of the building at that time so asking around was a no-go.
If anybody knows, I'd like to hear it. This was about 1990 in DeAnza 3 or 4.
Re:Why would I bring my own laptop? (Score:3, Insightful)
Pity you have no idea what you are talking about. Its also a pity everyone wastes mod points constantly when they could save them for obvious flamebait like yours. You should really provide an example or two--and do your research too before you carelessly throw out misinformation, so you don't continue to appear so ignorant. The same goes for similar digs on linux.
$30 webcam (Score:3, Insightful)
Sure, it'll still get stolen. Assuming your office has even basic security to ensure only known people enter, you'll also have a nice and recognizable picture of the thief on a machine they can't access. The next morning, you walk in, grab the image, have them pulled in front of their manager, demand the return of the laptop, have them fired and press charges.
Honestly, the vast majority of cases where people have been convinced someone's stolen their stuff, everywhere I've worked, have turned out to be their misplacing things. Most likely, the theft rate is nowhere near what you fear it is.
Locking your laptop in a big ol box is an ugly pain in the ass for little gain. Hell, if someone really wants it, a crowbar will get through most of them, bolt cutters will get through most chains. And it does nothing to protect the iPod, digital camera, phone, etc. you left beside it. A simple webcam, backing up externally, does a far better job of protecting everything so long as it's subtly enough hidden so no one has any idea they need to avoid being seen by it.
The biggest problem with physical security measures... If someone's determined, they try forcing it. You may get lucky and not have them manage to get whatever they went for... But it'll likely get trashed in the process. The University of the West of England added those U plates to their PC cases, years back... All that happened was thieves trashed the cases. A few less got stolen but they were pretty much destroyed anyway. Having a picture of the thief with your still 100% intact laptop is way better than their trashing it, trying to get it out of a cage.
the perfect solution (Score:5, Insightful)
This is a common problem and what you're looking for is called a desktop computer. It's a box that sits under the monitor with all the electronics enclosed inside. It even has fans and vents to keep it all working at a proper temperature.
Seriously, the whole point of a laptop is that it's portable and convenient to carry around, which also makes it easy to steal. The desktop can do all the things you need and will probably be more powerful than your laptop and cost about the same as some kind of powered box for locking your laptop in.
Then you can just leave the laptop locked in your drawer for when you need to work away from the desk.
Re:No kidding! (Score:5, Insightful)
I worked in one office where *dozens* of laptops were stolen over a period of *weeks* until the security company convinced the cleaning company to fire the guy with the felony theft record. The theft mysteriously stopped at that point.
Thinking "my coworkers are professional, so I need not fear theft" is naive at best.
Re:No kidding! (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:No kidding! (Score:5, Insightful)
These are occasionally the same people.
Re:Don't Have stealable stuff (Score:5, Insightful)
If my boss was moving me from an office into a cubicle, I'd be looking for another job. That's just insulting.
Re:What condensation? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Never dealt with that sort of problem (Score:3, Insightful)
Translation of OP's question into Accurate English (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Never dealt with that sort of problem (Score:2, Insightful)
I will say, though, that cables do nothing for laptops. I work at a college, and we had laptops and desktops stolen from a room, even with Kensington cables attached. The thief (or thieves) just jerked hard, and the thin metal casing around the "Kensington" port bent and they walked off with all the equipment they wanted. The older-style adhesive pad connectors were just as bad.
But, a Kensington cable will help keep honest people honest. And loss of any of the described equipment is the company's issue, not the author's. (Unless it's the author's personally-purchased equipment.)
Remote-desktop to a laptop? (Score:3, Insightful)
At my work, we had a group that would regularly purchase 2 laptops for every developer: one for them to use at home, and one for them to Remote-desktop into. I think the idea was that developers could take their laptops to meetings, but would be able to Remote into it from home so they wouldn't have to replicate tools, etc. When we started purchasing centrally, we stopped that practice. If you have a laptop, it's because you need to be highly mobile, and you should take the laptop with you.
Laptops tend to disappear, no matter how well protected. During the day, not so great a risk (cable lock is sufficient.) At night, it's a greater risk because you rely on Security to keep an eye on it for you. In a cubicle, that's just a matter of time before it goes away. And all the data that was on it - are you sure none of it was sensitive data, i.e. reportable? Do yourself a favor: if you have a laptop, take it home with you. If you don't want to take it home with you, then get a desktop PC.
Re:Never dealt with that sort of problem (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:A box could easily be stolen (Score:3, Insightful)
This is where you want eyes in the sky. Seriously, I WANT cameras in the ceiling to discourage theft. It's ludicrous to have to be afraid that some asswipe is going to steal anything "that is not locked up or chained down." Get cameras, and then people just won't be able to get away with it. Then if some moronic grad student is stupid enough to throw away tens of thousands of dollars spent on their degree - and possibly tank their career as well - in exchange for $20 selling used textbooks back to the bookstore, then that's just good entertainment material for fark.com and youtube.
Re:One possible solution. (Score:3, Insightful)
Nah, that would just be silly.
I would just covertly hide it under the office carpeting..
Re:Why would I bring my own laptop? (Score:3, Insightful)
So your workplace doesn't provide you with the tools you need to do work?
Sheesh, these stories are variations on a theme of Frog Not Wanting To Get Out Of The Boiling Water.
Re:My workplace is so honest... (Score:3, Insightful)
What the hell is a ground beef sandwich?
You mean a hamburger?
Obscurity good. ONLY obscurity bad. (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:No kidding! (Score:5, Insightful)
[rant]
You know...I'm getting very tired of everyone having to walk on egg shells to avoid the 'racism' card being thrown at them.
At no time, did I, nor many other threads here that said it was often the cleaning service...mention race. Only categories of jobs were mentioned...Rent-a-cops, janitors, etc. Now...if one ethnic group tends to predominate in one of these jobs where you work, and they happen to be stealing stuff, it doesn't make it any less true that it was the cleaning crew.
God...lets face it. Sometimes, black people sell crack. Sometimes hispanic people steal things, some asian drivers are poor drivers, sometimes white people are white trash. These are truths...they happen. Not everyone of a race does these things, but, some do, and I'm getting sick and tired of when someone points out that someone of a certain race has done something wrong, that they are either labeled racist or afraid they'll be thought of as one. Sometimes actions of a person *DO* play into a stereotype...it happens, and if you see it and say it, it does not make you a racist. That is only if you make blanket statements that ALL [insert race here]'s steal things while at work, are you making a racist statement.
Geez, lets all grow some thicker skin, and not be so quick to throw the racist card, and lets not be so scared of having it played, that we're scared to say something that might in some cases, happen to be true.
[/rant]