How a paper shredding service protects your business
Worried about your data integrity?
Whilst you may be primarily conscious of your electronic data being compromised, it’s worth remembering how easy a paper document security breach could be. That’s where a paper shredding service is vital.
Take a look at how a paper shredding service helps protect your business data.
Data security
In the latter end of the 20th century businesses moved towards the use of electronic data as well as paper documentation. Consequently, it became imperative to have a robust strategy regarding data protection. The Data Protection Act and GDPR set out clear guidelines to enable us to safeguard our company and customer information. Businesses now have a plan in terms of their data retention, management and policies for staff to follow.
Paper Records
Whilst GDPR teaches us how to handle electronic data, it’s also contains stringent guidelines for the management of paper records. This helps avoid the risk of a data breach. Managing your paper records not only calls for good admin but is also best practice in relation to GDPR. Training staff in how to handle paper records may seem like common sense but it’s all too easy for lack of thought to result in costly data breach fine. Try simple practices such as filing away personal details after use and at the end of the day, keeping paper records on the premises to avoid loss or theft and locking cabinets at the end of the day. These are all easy steps that can be put into practice.
Avoid the waste paper bin!
One of the most common mistakes is throwing a document containing confidential information away in the waste paper bin. Whilst you wouldn’t to want to accuse your colleagues, it would be all too easy for a simple scrap piece of paper taken from a bin to result a data breach.
When you throw confidential information in the waste paper bin, colleagues, cleaning or security staff also have access to discarded documents during emptying. Most bins use clear plastic bags, which then go into unlocked wheelie bins outside. A bin is a haven for identity theft. By placing all your confidential waste into a locked console or locked wheelie bin which is managed by a paper shredding service provider, the only staff that have access are those employed by the shredding company. Even then, staff are fully trained and vetted to protect your data at all stages of the journey.
A certificate of destruction can even be issued, so you have a paper trail and can prove your confidential waste has been handled responsibly.
Don’t forget electronic data
Protect your data and ensure that any old hard drives are shredded by a professional company. This is the only way to fully protect the data contained on this type of media. Old floppy disks, CD’s DVD’s and USB’s should be treated in the same way. A shredding company will take all these items away for secure shredding. You’ll have peace of mind that a data breach is not possible.
If you need help creating a robust solution for your confidential document disposal then please give us a call. Our flexible and responsive paper shredding service accommodates your exact business needs.