Media safes are specific and specialised devices, different from classic burglar safes. They have a different design, a different application and will require a separate discussion. Today, we will briefly give a hint on how to go about them.
What are data carriers?
Data carriers are devices that allow information to be recorded, stored and read in digital form. They are an indispensable part of information technology and computers and can have different forms and physical properties. They can be divided into internal and external, depending on whether they are built into the device or whether they can be connected to different computers via connectors such as USB or a memory card slot. They vary in capacity, speed and durability, which affects their use and price. Some of the most common types of storage media are a memory stick, an external HDD or SSD, an SD or microSD memory card, a NAS network drive or a Blu-Ray disc, CD or DVD. They are used to store different types of files such as photos, videos, music, documents or backups. They are useful for archiving data, transferring it between devices or sharing it with others.
Who needs a media safe?
In business terms, data media are most often used to store sensitive data for companies and institutions, such as billing data, reports, warehouse or project data and, above all, personal data, both of employees and customers. In light of current legislation on the protection of this data, every company is obliged to ensure that this data is adequately protected. The data media safe was created for precisely this purpose.
What are magnetic media exposed to?
Unlike paper documents, magnetic media are quickly destroyed even during brief exposure to heat. On the other hand, data, even sensitive data, is not the most obvious target for burglary; most thieves are interested in cash or valuables; getting hold of documents may prove worthless to them. Fire resistance is therefore the most important attribute of a safe designed to secure data storage media. Wondering whether it is worth buying a media safe? Take a look at our blog.
How do fireproof media safes work?
Data media safes have two main functions.
Burglary resistance
The burglary resistance class is not mandatory for a media safe and you may not find it in every safe of this type. However, such safes are by their very nature quite heavy and robustly constructed. There are classless safes in this category, but there are also safes in resistance classes I and II in accordance with EN 1143-1. This makes the safes resistant to damage that may occur during a break-in attempt.
Fire resistance
The main threat to magnetic media, tapes, floppy disks or CD-ROMs, is fire. Even at low temperatures, below 100 degrees, such objects are permanently damaged. This is why the fire resistance standards for data carriers are stricter than for paper documents. The fire resistance class certifications are S60 DIS and S120 DIS.
Fire test
In order for a media safe to achieve the restrictive resistance class in accordance with the EN 1047-1 standard, it must be tested. The safes are subjected to resistance tests consisting of several stages:
• burning a closed safe in a metallurgical furnace; conditions during the test are similar to those during a fire,
• an impact test – dropping a heated safe from a height of several metres onto a concrete floor; this test simulates the collapse of a building ceiling, which can occur during a fire,
• cooling of the safe, which takes 24 hours,
During the entire test, the temperature inside the safe must remain at a level that allows the magnetic media inside to be protected. Thanks to these resistance tests and complex procedures, we are confident that the final product will meet the highest requirements.
Fire and burglary tests are carried out periodically when the fire resistance class certificates expire.
Safes with drawer doors
Among this category you will find a fireproof safe, available in a 60-minute fire resistance rating, whose door slides forward like a drawer. The whole is arranged with compartments for various types of magnetic media.
Equipment
The interior of a safe designed for storing data carriers may not differ from a classic one. Depending on your needs and preferences, such a safe may simply have adjustable shelves, but there's nothing to stop it having compartments for tapes, CDs or floppy disk trays instead.
The media safe can be locked with a key lock, mechanical cipher lock, electronic lock or biometric lock, depending on your preference.
Summary
Securing important data stored on its media requires a sound approach and an awareness of the risks that can arise during a fire or break-in. The best choice is a fireproof safe, properly mounted to a structural element of the building, whose construction will provide protection at high temperatures.
Please do not hesitate to contact us, we will help you choose the right product, discuss the conditions on site to select and, at an extra charge or included in the price, bring and install the safe.
Read also: Fireproof cabinets and safes in the workplace
