Asset Protection & Asset Management

Chemical etching for asset security marking is without doubt a highly effective low cost deterrent against theft and can be applied to most business and IT equipment such as computers, laptops, monitors, overhead projectors, CCTV, telephones, fax machines, photocopiers etc.

Chemical etching is recognised by police allowing items to be reunited with their rightful owner in the event of theft and burglary.

Typical ways to get your office and factory equipment chemical etched for security purposes; range from a DIY project but this should only be carried out by a very experienced etcher. You can easily buy ferric chloride etching fluid or crystals. You will need stencils, brushers, applicators etc...and really know what you are doing!

The very nature of chemical etching is that the acid burns into the property. Ferric chloride etching fluid is a Harmful and highly corrosive substance, which should be used only for etching purposes. Eye/Face protection and gloves should be worn whilst using the chemical. The chemical does stain clothes; so protective clothing should be worn whilst in use.

The other low cost alternative is to simply buy a security chemical etching kit. Although they will come with just about everything you need for property marking, you will need to confirm the quantities each kit will etch against the quantity of property to be marked. For health and safety ensure you have protective eyewear.

Then there are chemical etching suppliers who offer the actual etching service too. Ranges of chemical etching services vary from basic property etching to complete inventory ledgers and asset registers.

With the latest technology it is possible to identify and security mark your property from a choice of stencils including custom made for corporate image. Check to see if these permanent IT security-marking stencils conform to the Home Office security recommendations. If they don't there is no law about not using them and they still provide an excellent visible deterrent to thieves and burglars but insurance discounts may apply if your security marking meets certain criteria.

Asset Protection increases the difficulty of re-selling stolen equipment and equally increases the ease with which the police or a member of the public can establish an asset's rightful owner, thus enabling the return of lost and stolen property.

Chemical etching protects valuable property such as: Computers, IT equipment and other business assets because are permanently marked with an instantly visible, tamper-proof, unique code or even the 24/7 contact telephone number.

Should this be carried out by a service for marking and registration, they will record details of each and every item of property on a secure and confidential database such as Immobilise, a secure online property register. If it is then lost or stolen, use Immobilise to tell police, your insurer, and the second-hand trade to assist in recovering your property and catch the thief. An alternative is the International Security Register. The ISR contact line is physically manned 24 hours, 7 days per week. No answer machines or recorded messages.

Asset Management is another important aspect of property marketing. In addition to acting as a major theft deterrent, it also acts as a simple but effective asset management tool. With the right administration you can control asset movement and disposal. Outside services or Asset management software can supply customised reports detailing such information as the location and value of all registered property.

By using professional asset management services the ISR is kept up to date and reduces the risk of theft still further - companies with a reputation of maintaining strict control of their property are less likely to fall victim to theft.
Computer theft is as easy as you allow it, even more so with the evolution from desktop PCs to laptops and notebooks, as well as the movement of high cost IT equipment from office to home-office, this type of mobility has brought with it a greater risk of items being stolen from vehicles, hotels, airport lounges, coffee shops and bars..
A massive proportion of losses relating to computers is through negligence and if proven insurance companies may not pay out. The first proof of negligence is the fact that no efforts were made to secure or mark the property.

Theft of computers can be disastrous. Not just the hardware being stolen but the hours and hours of irretrievable work and even confidential or sensitive material that hits the streets. Owners can leave themselves susceptible to blackmail and other threats, this can be a fatal blow not just to a persons private family life but to an organisations very existence.

As the threat of theft of IT equipment grows insurance companies are increasingly demanding visible marking of computers and other equipment as a condition of continued cover.
What are visible markings? Forget self-adhesive labels unless they are tamperproof or indestructible labels or ultra destruct labels. Acid etching is good as well as UV marking, better still UV Mark your property with a DNA Print-Kit, this combines all three crime-fighting elements, Fingerprints, DNA and UV Marking.