Scandals of leaked sensitive information from companies and government departments have become all too common in today’s world. The question of who the traitor is often arises, but the answer may be closer than one thinks – it could be as simple as going through the trash.
Dumpster diving, the act of searching through garbage for information, has been used for decades to uncover valuable insights. It is a highly effective method for espionage and is completely legal as there is no privacy protection for institutions that fail to secure their own data.
To protect your institutional records, it is important to adopt best practices for document shredding. Here are some guidelines to help you do so:
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Retain records only as long as necessary, especially in regulated industries. Have a policy in place that aligns with local regulations.
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Choose a reliable document shredding company that will keep your information confidential and has the right equipment to destroy all data.
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Know what information needs to be protected and shred all documents produced by the company.
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Implement a schedule for shredding based on data volume, storage capabilities, and the type of document shredding service used.
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Train staff on handling sensitive data and proper disposal methods to prevent information from ending up in the trash.
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Shred information past the retention period, physical information converted to digital data, notes, scrap information, and any documents with addresses, names, and private information of staff or the institution.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that all data is completely destroyed and protect the privacy of your institution, staff, clients, and stakeholders. Hiring a professional document shredding company can also ease the burden of managing sensitive information and give peace of mind knowing that it is disposed of properly.
