The range of available cabinet locks is not great, because they all perform a similar function in a similar way. Certainly the designs and styles of cabinet locks available on the market shows little variation at all, however, the number of tumbler pins in the cylinder assembly, and the quality of the workmanship and engineering are both important factors that are different between brands.
Filing cabinet locks - also known as file cabinet locks - make up the bulk of locks in this area. They all feature a fairly simple keyed lock assembly intended for mounting in the draw part itself, that when operated, rotate a small catch between 90 and 270 degrees to catch the cabinet and stop the drawer from opening.
Because of the potential value and importance of the contents of a locked filing cabinet in an office, and due to the nature of the surroundings, it is possible that filing cabinet locks are among those most likely to be targeted for lock-picking. This is unfortunate, because due to the small size and cost of these locks, they are among the easiest to pick. Typically, the level of quality of the pins, and the finesse - or lack thereof - in the engineering of these locks allows even amateur lock-breakers to thwart them. An inexperienced lock-picker can readily obtain the information needed to use simple but highly effective lock-breaking exploits, such as saw-tooth raking, and "bumping", neither of which require a great deal of skill to produce results. With fairly basic tools, which are easily concealed, a novice lock-breaker can circumvent most cabinet locks in seconds.
A slightly different design involves a saw-tooth striker sliding into a ratcheted locking dog behind the cylinder assembly, suitable for cabinets with sliding doors. You usually find these on glass display cabinets. These are marginally more effective than the alternatives, but the lock itself is still vulnerable to picking, in addition to the cabinet being easily broken.
Filing cabinets do not, unfortunately, make for very secure storage. Valuable data and goods are better stored in some sort of safe, in a high security area than a filing cabinet. If circumstances do not allow this, your security personel might consider installing a biometric or a good mechanical combination lock on the room where the filing cabinets are kept. Either of these can be circumvented also, and the same considerations of quality need to be made.
Simplex cabinet locks are an example of a high-end product that do not withstand the practical tests, despite their wide use. They are easily defeated, with every default combination being widely available on the web. Master padlocks are a second example of a popular combination lock that is grossly ineffective. They require very little skill to crack. Corbin cabinet locks are another type of common combination lock, and the engineering and design choices made with these locks makes them significantly more secure. However, no lock is ever 100% safe, and these are no exception. Picking a Corbin cabinet lock will take time, but it can be done.
So, taking all that into consideration:
1. Cabinets are not secure. Sensitive and valuable assets should be stored in a high-security area.
2. Combination locks are only as good as the quality of their engineering, not the number of possible combinations.
3. Cabinets are easily broken and they mostly use simple, small locks, which are likewise susceptible to brute-force attacks.
4. Read product reviews before making any purchasing decisions on matters of crucial security.
