3 Mistakes Business Owners Make When Locked Out Of Their Filing Cabinets

Keeping some information secure is all about technical security. However, hard copies of a lot of pertinent information are still kept on site at most places of businesses. In order to secure physical documents instead of data, it means having on-site storage like file cabinets with secure locking mechanisms. Unfortunately, filing cabinets most often have keyed locks, which means keeping up with the keys to the cabinets is part of the equation. If you do lose a key, it is best to call a locksmith to help you out. Here's a look at some of the mistakes business owners make when they get locked out of their filing cabinets:

Mistake: Trying to force or pry the drawer open even though it is locked. 

Why? Many types of filing cabinets are pretty weak when it comes to how the locking mechanism keeps the drawers closed. In most cases, a steel bar turns to prevent the drawer from being able to eject outward. This means that with enough force and heavy trauma, you may be able to force the drawer open even though the lock is still in place. However, doing so can damage the filing cabinet frame severely so the drawers will no longer properly close. 

Mistake: Using a pin or pointed object to open the lock without the key. 

Why? There are a few reasons why this is a bad idea. For one, if employees who should not have access to the locked files see how easy it is to gain access, they may try to open the cabinet on their own unauthorize. Secondly, using pins and foreign objects to open just about any lock can cause damage if you don't know what you are doing. While you may successfully pop the lock open, you may damage the lock internally so that it cannot be properly locked again or it can be easier manipulated if someone wants to get into the files later. 

Mistake: Leaving the filing cabinet unlocked because a key is lost. 

Why? With a lost key floating around, anyone could gain access to the cabinet. If you decide to leave the drawers unlocked because you lost the key, you risk leaving valuable information vulnerable to prying eyes. It is a much better idea to have a locksmith come by and take a look at the lock so they can make you a new set of keys for your cabinet. 

Contact your local emergency lockout services for more information and assistance.