Working from home means your house is rarely empty, but that does not make it any less of a target during the summer months. Deliveries pile up at the door, video calls mean valuable equipment is on show, and a relaxed daytime routine can leave doors and windows unlocked for hours at a time. Here is how to keep your home and your home office secure while you work.
Security Upgrades Worth Considering for WFH
Door Viewers and Video Doorbells
A video doorbell allows you to see and speak to callers without leaving your desk. This is particularly useful when you are on a call and cannot physically answer the door – you can check whether a caller is expected without interrupting work.
Window Restrictors on Upper Floors
If upper-floor windows are being left open for ventilation during the working day, window restrictors that allow ventilation but prevent the window from being opened wide enough to allow entry are a simple and inexpensive upgrade.
Side Gate Security
A side gate that can be reached over, or that is left habitually open during the summer, removes the concealed-access barrier that is one of the most important deterrents for rear-of-property entry. A padlock that cannot be reached over the gate, or a gate bolt engaged from inside, addresses this.
Anti-Snap Cylinders
If your front or back door has a standard euro cylinder that has not been replaced in the past five to ten years, it is almost certainly vulnerable to the snap attack technique – the most common method used to bypass uPVC doors in the UK. An anti-snap cylinder replacement is inexpensive and addresses this directly. Our lock change and repair service covers all door types across Hornchurch and Essex.
The Security Risks of Working From Home in Summer
Summer working from home creates security risks that most people do not consider. Open windows for ventilation, deliveries during working hours, and a relaxed approach to locking doors can all create vulnerabilities. Daytime burglary is more common during school holidays and warmer months when many households are home but distracted – ground floor windows open, back doors unlocked.
Remote workers typically receive a higher volume of deliveries. Parcels left on a doorstep signal that no one answered the door, which undermines the impression of occupancy. A secure parcel box or instruction to leave items with a neighbour is a simple solution.
If you work near a ground floor window with your laptop or other equipment visible from outside, reconsider your workspace position. Visible high-value electronics can make a property a target. Position your desk so it is not directly visible through a front or ground-floor window.
Securing Entry Points During Working Hours
The back door is the most common point of entry during daytime burglaries. If you are working at the front of the house with the back door on the latch for ventilation, you are exposed in a way that is easy to overlook. Always lock the back door when you cannot see it directly, even for short periods.
Patio and French doors represent a particular risk. Standard multi-point locking systems on these doors are often not engaged correctly – many people use only the handle latch rather than lifting and turning to engage all locking points. Fit anti-lift devices and additional security pins as a secondary measure.
Ground floor windows that are open for ventilation can be secured with window restrictors that limit how far they open while still allowing airflow. These are inexpensive and prevent an intruder from gaining access through an apparently open window – particularly useful for windows at the rear or side of the property that are not overlooked from the street.
The Changed Security Risk for Remote Workers
Working from home alters your security profile in ways that are not immediately obvious. The assumption that an occupied home is automatically a safe home is partially correct but incomplete. Remote workers face a distinct set of security risks that differ from those affecting properties left empty during the day.
More people coming and going is one change. Delivery drivers, postal workers, parcel carriers and occasionally tradespeople, repair engineers or utility workers visit during working hours. Each visit involves opening the door and interacting with someone you may not know. The sheer frequency of visits when ordering for home and work purposes increases the number of interactions and the opportunity for someone to observe your routine, your property layout, or what equipment is visible inside.
More valuable equipment is on site. A home office that contains a laptop, one or two monitors, a printer and perhaps other devices represents a substantially higher value of portable electronics than the average household. This is attractive to opportunist burglars, particularly if any of it is visible through a window.
More windows and doors may be open for ventilation. Working at home through the summer months often means windows are open for extended periods. A window left on a ventilation latch on the ground floor, or a back door left propped open while you are working in another room, creates an entry point that would not exist in an empty house.
Understanding these specific risks is the starting point for addressing them effectively. The security measures that matter most for remote workers are not necessarily the same as those appropriate for a household that is empty all day.
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Front Door and Entry Security for Home Workers
Your front door is the most frequently used entry point for both you and your visitors. For remote workers who regularly answer the door during the day, a few additions make a significant difference to both security and convenience.
Video doorbell. A video doorbell allows you to see and speak to anyone at the front door without leaving your desk or opening the door. It also records footage of visitors and can send an alert to your phone if movement is detected at the entrance. For identity checks on unexpected callers claiming to represent an official body, a video doorbell allows you to verify credentials through the speaker before opening the door. If in any doubt, ask them to leave identification through the letterbox and call the organisation on a number you find yourself.
Anti-snap cylinder. Even if you are at home, a front door with a standard euro cylinder is vulnerable to a forced snap attack if an intruder reaches it undetected. An anti-snap TS007 three-star cylinder takes this vulnerability off the table. It is one of the most cost-effective lock upgrades available for composite and uPVC doors and is strongly recommended by MLA-approved locksmiths throughout Essex.
Door chain or restrictor. A door chain or limiter lets you open the door partially to communicate with a caller without fully releasing it. It costs very little and adds a useful layer of control for unexpected visitors. Combine it with the habit of always checking who is at the door before opening it.
Window restrictors on ground floor windows. Open windows for ventilation do not need to be a security liability. Window restrictors limit how far a window can open while still allowing airflow, preventing entry without locking the window completely. Fitting them to all accessible ground-floor windows addresses one of the more common vulnerabilities for properties that are occupied but not locked up tight during the day.
Protecting Your Equipment, Data and Valuables
The equipment in a home office represents a concentration of value that most burglars would find attractive. A few simple measures significantly reduce the risk of loss.
Keep equipment away from visible windows. A laptop or monitor visible through a street-facing or ground-floor window advertises what is inside. Position your desk away from direct lines of sight from outside, or use net curtains or window film that limits the view from outside without reducing the light inside.
Use cable locks for desktops and monitors. Cable locks attach a laptop or desktop computer to a fixed point such as a desk leg or a wall anchor. They are a minor inconvenience to a legitimate user and a meaningful obstacle to a fast opportunist grab-and-go theft.
Record serial numbers and register products. Recording the serial numbers of all your equipment takes ten minutes and significantly increases the chances of recovering stolen property. Some forces maintain a property register; others work with national databases. Store your list somewhere separate from the equipment itself.
Consider a small safe for backup drives and documents. Business documents, contracts, and backup storage devices that hold sensitive data should be secured rather than left on a desk. A wall-mounted or floor-mounted safe rated to Sold Secure Gold standard provides protection against both theft and fire damage.
Maintain regular cloud or off-site backups. If your equipment is taken, the data loss is often more damaging than the value of the hardware. Regular automated backups to cloud storage or an off-site location ensure that a burglary does not also mean the loss of weeks or months of work.
Contact our team for expert advice, a free quote or to book any of our services. We cover Hornchurch and the surrounding Essex area.
Insurance, Liability and Home Working: What You Need to Know
Working from home has implications for your home and contents insurance that are worth checking rather than assuming. Many standard household policies do not automatically cover equipment used for business purposes, and some may include conditions that are affected by you running a business from the property.
Contact your insurer to confirm that your home office equipment is covered under your existing contents policy. Many standard policies cover accidental damage to personal electronics up to a limit, but the definition of “personal” may exclude items that are owned by your employer or used primarily for work. If you own your own equipment for freelance or self-employed work, confirm the cover limit and whether business use affects the claim.
If you receive frequent business visitors at the property, whether clients, couriers or contractors, you may need to check whether your public liability cover applies. A home and contents policy typically covers visitors in a domestic context. Running a business from home may require separate employer or public liability cover depending on the nature of your work.
Informing your insurer that you work from home is a simple step that takes a few minutes and may prevent a claim being disputed later on the grounds of non-disclosure. Most insurers are straightforward about this, and many will not charge an additional premium for standard home working arrangements.
A home security survey from Security Masters can identify specific vulnerabilities relevant to your working-from-home setup and provide a documented assessment that may be useful when reviewing your policy or discussing cover with your insurer. Contact our team in Hornchurch or across Essex for a free survey and professional advice.
A Home Office Security Checklist: Quick Wins Before You Start Work
The following checks take less than five minutes and cover the most common security vulnerabilities for remote workers. Run through them at the start of each working day until they become habit.
Front door locked. It sounds obvious, but many people unlock the door when the first delivery arrives and then leave it on the latch for the rest of the morning. Keep it locked.
Ground-floor windows checked. If you are opening windows for ventilation, confirm that restrictors are fitted on all accessible ground-floor windows. A window with a restrictor can be open for airflow without being a viable entry point.
Equipment not visible from the street. Do a quick check from outside the property or from the pavement if you can. Confirm that your monitors, laptops, or any other high-value equipment are not clearly visible through a window. Adjust the desk position or use window dressing if they are.
Deliveries plan in place. If you are expecting deliveries, set up safe place instructions with couriers in advance. A parcel left on the doorstep is a theft opportunity. A good-quality lockable parcel box at the front of the property solves this permanently.
Video doorbell working. Check that the battery is charged or the mains connection is live and that the app is showing a live feed. An offline video doorbell provides no protection or awareness.
These small habits, combined with the physical security measures described in this guide, create a meaningful and practical security baseline for working from home. If you would like a professional assessment of your property’s security, Security Masters provides free home security surveys across Hornchurch, Romford, Upminster, Emerson Park and the wider Essex area.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is working from home safer than going out to work?
Presence is a deterrent. A property with someone visibly at home is significantly less likely to be targeted than an empty one. However, this deterrence applies when the occupancy is visible or audible – not when the property appears empty despite someone being inside.
How do I secure a home office with valuable equipment?
Position equipment away from windows visible from the street or driveway. Use cable locks for portable equipment. Consider whether your home insurance covers business equipment in the home and at what value.
What areas do Security Masters cover?
Security Masters is based in Hornchurch and covers Havering and surrounding Essex areas including Romford, Upminster, Emerson Park, Rainham and Harold Wood. Call 01708 616 411 to confirm availability in your area.
Are homes safer when someone is working from home?
Generally yes, but remote workers face specific risks including open windows, visible valuable equipment, and more visitor interactions. These require their own precautions.
What are the most important security measures for remote workers?
Strong door and window locks, a video doorbell, window restrictors for ventilation, and clear habits around keeping doors locked unless actively outside.
Should I answer the door if I am not expecting anyone?
A video doorbell lets you check first. For unexpected official visitors, verify identity by calling the organisation directly on a number you find yourself.
How can I prevent parcel theft while working from home?
Use a video doorbell and set up safe place delivery instructions. A lockable parcel box at the front of the property is an effective permanent solution.
Is a video doorbell worth it for home security?
Yes. It combines access control, deterrence, and evidence capture, and lets you manage visitor interactions without leaving your workspace.
How do I secure my home office equipment against theft?
Keep equipment away from visible windows, use cable locks, record serial numbers, and maintain regular cloud backups to protect your data.
Managing Visitors and Contractors During the Workday
Working from home means managing a wider variety of visitors than a typical household receives. Delivery drivers, maintenance contractors and occasional callers all arrive during the day. Establishing a clear routine for answering the door reduces the risk of granting access to unfamiliar people.
Always verify the identity of any contractor before granting access. Legitimate engineers from utility companies or council services carry identification and will not object to you verifying their credentials before you open the door. If you are uncertain, call the company directly using a number from their official website.
If you regularly have contractors working around the property while you are at your desk, avoid giving out house keys unless necessary. A key safe fitted to an external wall allows you to grant temporary, specific access and then change the code afterwards. Security Masters can advise on locks, key safes and CCTV suited to households with regular working-from-home patterns.