How must written records be maintained according to confidentiality standards?

Maintaining written records according to confidentiality standards is crucial to protect sensitive information regarding clients. Keeping these records in a secure locked cabinet is the best practice, as it ensures that unauthorized individuals do not have access to confidential information. This aligns with confidentiality laws and ethical standards which dictate that client records must be securely stored to prevent breaches of privacy.

The other options compromise confidentiality. For instance, keeping records in open drawers or an unlocked desk exposes them to anyone in the vicinity, significantly increasing the risk of unauthorized access. Additionally, while cloud storage can be convenient, it must meet stringent security standards to be truly secure. If cloud storage does not have adequate security measures such as encryption and proper access controls, it may not be compliant with confidentiality standards. Thus, storing written records in a secure locked cabinet remains the most effective method to uphold confidentiality.