Anyone who has important documents they can’t afford to lose should keep the documents in a secure location. There are plenty of options to safeguard sensitive information from environmental damage. The most popular methods include physical and digital storage.
The majority of people keep their most important documents in an office filing cabinet or in a container that is secured. A small safe with a lock could provide additional security to the most important documents such as birth and marriage certificates, passports, Social Security cards, house deeds and insurance policies. These safes are designed to withstand extreme temperatures as well as water damage due to fire. These safes are typically equipped with locks of top quality that is able to resist being broken or pulled. Certain safes have a particular design that protects their interior to stop heat from damaging documents.
Many people prefer to go digital and create secure folders in their computer or on an external drive. This can also help to reduce the amount of clutter, make it easier to access and has the added benefit of encryption the file and tracing who has viewed it. Digital storage is more reliable, and less expensive than paper.
For those who want an extra layer of safety It is a good idea to put the documents in protective sleeves or containers made of archives material. These materials are lignin-free, which means they last longer. You can also keep your papers in the refrigerator or freezer to shield them from moisture and heat.