Planning Physical Security

Once you have given thought to how people will interact with your computer systems, you should also plan for the physical security of your systems. Both hardware and data require protection. The specifics will depend on your actual location, but this section gives you some places to start.

Avoiding Hardware Theft

Very soon, perhaps by the time you read this, the balance between desktop and notebook computer systems will have shifted in favor of the notebook, including Tablet PCs. More and more people, whether for business or personal use, are opting for notebook computers. They are portable, quieter, easier to set up, require less space, and compare well feature for feature with all but the highest-end, multiprocessor desktop systems. But their portability can be a significant liability if your workplace is open to the public—it takes just a moment to steal a notebook computer.