How to protect your digital signage
If you've just invested in some top-of-the-range displays to show off your company's wares, you need to know how to protect your digital signage. Sadly, when you put high-tech investment into public spaces, it's likely that thieves and vandals will be drawn to it, so it's crucial to protect your screens from damage, attack and theft.
You may think that having your displays in a public place like a shop or café would prevent people from attempting to steal computers and displays, but the resale cost of the equipment can make it worth the risk for the more tenacious thief. Others, like vandals and mischief makers, may not want to make off with the equipment, just break or damage it, so investing in ways to prevent or reduce the chance of that happening is a very sensible idea.
Fortunately, there are a lot of vendors out there who can provide you with discrete security solutions, so you can spend your time just worrying about the advertising and product and service messages you are sending to your customers. Here are a few to consider.
How to protect your digital signage - Securing the compute power
If you are managing your digital displays using Wi-Fi, ensure that the computer running it is behind closed and locked doors in your office or store room. Half of theft is opportunism, so off-site computers dramatically reduce the theft.
If you are running a display from a PC or laptop located beneath or nearby that display, it's worth investing in a robust cabinet to store it in. Lockable metal mesh cabinets can look unobtrusive and stylish, and can be bought as part of a display set-up. A little strong industrial glue on the screws that hold the cabinet together will prevent it from being dismantled by people who have realised there is more than one way into a locked cabinet.
How to protect your digital signage - Protecting the screen
The display part of digital signage is obviously the most important thing to protect from theft, graffiti or smears. A tempered glass or Perspex screen protector in a frame around your monitor is a cheap and easy way to ensure that your technology is protected from casual theft, while still being easy to see. Manufacturers understand that with display advertising looks are important, so there are some stylish designs out there to ensure your protection doesn't detract from your brand's image.
If you are using touchscreen technology, it's also worth looking at screen films. These are totally transparent but will help stop scratching, marring, fingerprints and other damage. They also can be cut to fit and can act as shock absorbers, to help reduce damage from the more heavy-handed customers.
How to protect your digital signage - Proximity alarms
As well as actually securing your devices, it is possible to add proximity alarm technology to your computers and their displays, where you will be warned if your devices move a certain distance from where they should be. These can usually provide tracking too, so this is an unobtrusive way of knowing when your devices are leaving your premises, and provide an easy way of finding them if they do.
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If you are running your displays from a mini PC, it's worth investing in a Vesa-Mount harness so you can attach it securely to the back of the monitor, out of the public eye. ASUS makes a Vesa mount for its mini PCs. Although there are specialised USB sticks for display signage available, which allow you to secure them with a cable lock, often just hiding the USB stick behind the monitor reduces the scope for theft. Especially if you secure the monitor as described below.
How to protect your digital signage - Protecting the screen
The display part of digital signage is obviously the most important thing to protect from theft, graffiti or smears. A tempered glass or Perspex screen protector in a frame around your monitor is a cheap and easy way to ensure that your technology is protected from casual theft, while still being easy to see. Manufacturers understand that with display advertising looks are important, so there are some stylish designs out there to ensure your protection doesn't detract from your brand's image.
If you are using touchscreen technology, it's also worth looking at screen films. These are totally transparent but will help stop scratching, marring, fingerprints and other damage. They also can be cut to fit and can act as shock absorbers, to help reduce damage from the more heavy-handed customers.
How to protect your digital signage - Proximity alarms
As well as actually securing your devices, it is possible to add proximity alarm technology to your computers and their displays, where you will be warned if your devices move a certain distance from where they should be. These can usually provide tracking too, so this is an unobtrusive way of knowing when your devices are leaving your premises, and provide an easy way of finding them if they do.
Keep up-to-date with the latest business insights on Twitter, @abusinesshub
