Installation of new equipment must be properly considered and planned to avoid unnecessary disruption and to ensure that the Information Security issues are adequately covered. (See Premises for further detail.)

• The equipment must be located in a suitable environment otherwise it may fail.

• Adhere to the specifications and recommendations of the manufacturer or supplier, e.g. for operational temperature, humidity etc.
• Adequate safeguards against fire, water and electrical failure should be in place. See Premises.

• Any disclosure of your network diagrams, security features, locations, configurations etc. exposes potential vulnerabilities which could be exploited.

• Ensure that all persons on site, whether from your own organisation or not, have completed a Non-Disclosure Agreement.
• Although a Non Disclosure Agreement paves the way for legal redress, it cannot protect you against actual commercial damage.

• Leaving tools, utilities and developer's kits on your new system endangers the confidentiality and integrity of your data.

• All new systems should be configured for maximum practical security by the removal of unnecessary utilities, developers' programs, etc. - a technique known as hardening.

• Without an installation plan for the new equipment, disruption to operational systems is more likely.

• Ensure that all special pre-installation requirements (e.g. air conditioning) have been met.
• Identify the precise location for the equipment and ensure that the power and network cables are ready.
• Agree a detailed installation plan with the vendor. (See Project Plan).
• Anticipate what might go wrong and consider how to minimise the risks.

• Where the installation plan does not include safeguards against the (inevitable) increased security threat resulting from (relatively) 'open access' to the systems area, accidental or malicious damage can result.

• Agree a detailed installation plan and document it. See Project Plan.
• Monitor progress against the plan.
• Only allow authorised persons access to the systems area.
• To protect all parties never allow engineers to work unattended.

• Breaches of Health and Safety regulations endanger the well-being of your staff and your organisation's commercial activities.

• Ensure Health and Safety regulations are followed when locating the equipment, peripherals, and cables.
• A periodic visual inspection is beneficial also.