“Clean desk” habits used to mean putting sensitive papers away, shredding what you no longer needed, and making sure passwords weren’t stuck to your monitor.

Those habits are still important. But today, your desk might be in a home office, a hotel room, a coworking space, or the corner of a coffee shop.

When work leaves the traditional office, physical security needs to go with it. You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to protect company information, and these simple habits can make a big difference.

Lock Before You Walk Away

If you step away from your computer, lock the screen – even if you’ll only be gone for a minute.

An unlocked computer may already have access to your email, company files, customer information, accounting software, and other business systems. Someone who can reach the keyboard may not need your password or an MFA code if you’re already signed in.

Make locking your screen automatic: stand up, lock it. Windows users can press Windows key + L. On a Mac, Control + Command + Q locks the screen.

Pay Attention to What Others Can See

Physical privacy isn’t just about who can touch your computer. It’s also about what people can see.

If possible, choose a seat that makes it hard for someone to look over your shoulder when working in a café, hotel lobby, or shared workspace. Don’t leave confidential information open on-screen when you don’t need it.

At home, take a glance behind you before jumping on a video call. A whiteboard, printed schedule, sticky note, client name, or other information in the background may be more visible than you realize. Using a blurred or virtual background can help prevent exposing that data.

Treat Paper Like Data

Printed information can be just as sensitive as information on your screen.

Don’t leave customer records, employee information, financial documents, passwords, or meeting notes sitting out after you’re finished with them. And don’t automatically drop sensitive paperwork into your general household recycling, where it may remain readable.

Store documents securely if you still need them. If you don’t, shred them according to your company’s policy.

Don’t Forget the Small Stuff

USB drives, external hard drives, notebooks, and even handwritten notes can contain business information. Keep them somewhere secure instead of leaving them in an open bag, on a shared desk, or in a vehicle.

The same goes for your laptop. A quick stop on the way home can become a problem if you leave a work computer visible in a parked car. Take it with you whenever possible and avoid leaving work devices unattended in public places.

Keep Your Work Devices Ready for Work

Security also depends on keeping your devices/software up to date. Make sure you install updates when prompted, restart regularly, and don’t ignore repeated update messages.

If you work from home, your router matters too. If it’s very old, no longer receives updates, or you’re unsure whether it’s still supported, ask your IT team rather than guessing.

Take Five Minutes to Check Your Workspace

A secure workspace doesn’t need to look perfect, but it does need to protect the information you work with.

Take five minutes to look around right now.

Are sensitive papers put away? Is anything confidential visible behind you? Do you lock your screen when you step away from the computer?

Small habits like these help keep company information protected wherever work happens.