Security Hardware for Remote Workers

The pick for iPhone users who want a physical key without an adapter. One end is USB-C for your laptop, the other is Lightning for your iPhone. Same full protocol support as the 5C NFC — FIDO2, WebAuthn, TOTP, PIV. If you're on iPhone and don't want to rely on NFC, this is your key.

The USB-A version — same capability as the 5C NFC, better for older laptops or if you use a USB-A hub. Also good as a cheap backup key to keep off-site.

Magnetic attachment means no adhesive residue and easy on/off — useful if you alternate between desk and travel. Good viewing angle, doesn't noticeably dim the screen. Available for most laptop sizes. Get the right model for your exact screen dimensions.

Thin enough to close your laptop lid over. Adhesive doesn't damage the screen. At 50 for $5.99 you'll want one on every device — laptops, monitors, desktop webcams. This is a 5-minute zero-regret purchase.

The category standard — PortaPow physically removes the data pins so nothing can pass except power. Works with any USB-A port: airports, hotels, rental cars, conference rooms. Grab a 2-pack and keep one in your laptop bag permanently. This is a $10 decision you make once.

The privacy pick: eufy stores video locally on the device — no cloud subscription, no footage on a third-party server. Two cameras cover the package at your feet and the person at eye level. AI-based human detection runs on-device. If your threat model includes the camera company itself, this is the doorbell for you.

The premium option with the best image quality in the category — 4K HDR, color night vision, and a wide 180° field of view. Excellent app and smart-home integration. The catch: meaningful features require an Arlo Secure subscription, and footage goes to Arlo's cloud. Best for people who want top image quality and don't mind the subscription model.

The best value starter system. Professional monitoring is optional (from $20/mo) — the system works great self-monitored with phone alerts. Expandable with door/window sensors, cameras, and smoke detectors. Simple setup, no wiring, and the app is genuinely good. The 8-piece kit covers a typical apartment or small office; larger homes want the 14-piece.

The other big DIY name — known for excellent 24/7 professional monitoring without long contracts, and a genuinely fast police/emergency response reputation. Slightly pricier sensors than Ring, but the monitoring quality is the differentiator. Strong choice if you want real professional monitoring without a multi-year commitment.

The pick for Apple users: built-in Home Key support means your iPhone or Apple Watch unlocks the door with a tap — no app needed, even works with NFC. Built-in Wi-Fi (no hub required), and Schlage's hardware quality is top-tier. Slightly pricier, but the Apple integration and build quality justify it for iPhone households.

The open-source pick — the entire hardware and firmware design is public, which matters if you want maximum auditability. Color touchscreen for entering your PIN and verifying transactions, support for 1,800+ assets. Slightly clunkier than the Ledger, but the open-source ethos and strong track record make it the choice of security purists.

The open-source power move. Netgate appliances run pfSense — the same firewall software that powers countless enterprise deployments — on dedicated hardware. Maximum control, VLANs, VPN server, deep packet inspection. Steeper learning curve than Firewalla, but for the technically comfortable who want full control, nothing on this page matches pfSense's capability.

The document safe — fire-rated (up to 1 hour at 1700°F) and water-resistant, which matters more than you think for passports, birth certificates, and contract originals. Electronic lock plus backup key. Not the choice for quick access — this is the archive, not the everyday safe. Pair it with a quick-access biometric model and you've covered both use cases.

When you need both speed and encryption. 2GB/s transfers make it ideal for video editors and anyone moving big files, and hardware AES-256 encryption protects the contents if the drive walks away. Software-based unlock (SanDisk SecureAccess) rather than a PIN pad, so it's less tamper-proof than the Apricorn — but for everyday client-file portability, the speed plus encryption is a strong combo.

Most residential doors can be kicked in in under 10 seconds — the deadbolt is held by thin screws in soft wood. Door Armor replaces the strike plate with a heavy-duty steel plate and long screws that anchor into the wall stud. It converts a 10-second kick-in into a sustained, noisy, multi-minute assault. One of the highest protection-per-dollar upgrades on this entire page.

The practical layer for gates, sheds, and storage: hardened steel padlocks and reinforced hasps that resist bolt cutters and pry bars. Not glamorous, but the gate to your backyard is the second-most-likely entry point after the front door — and most are secured with a $5 lock that opens with a firm twist. Upgrade the perimeter hardware and the opportunistic burglar moves on.