Shred on Site

There are many priorities to think about if you’re running a business today - and the way that you dispose of confidential or sensitive data in document waste may not be at the top of your list. However, in the past few years, changes to regulation - as well as an increased sensitivity among the public to data breaches involving their data has made it incredibly important for any enterprise to ensure that they are effectively handling document destruction.

The process of shredding documents is vital for any organisation today. It’s not just about ensuring that your premises aren’t drowning in paper but also that you’re taking steps to help ensure that any data you’re handling is protected. From reputational damage to fines for a lack of compliance, there are many reasons why failing to do this could damage your business. If you don't have regular document shredding already in place, these are the five reasons why secure shredding is important for your business

Today, we live in a world that is data heavy, whether that data relates to your business or customers, to employees or contractors. As the volume of data has grown, so too have the penalties and problems that your organisation may face if it doesn’t have the right mechanisms in place to protect personal and confidential information. Damage to business reputation can be irreparable in the wake of a data breach and regulatory authorities have shown themselves more than willing to prosecute businesses, large and small, for non-compliance.

The way that records are managed is important, not just to ensure that your business is correctly and safely handling data but also when it comes to compliance. Most records will have a specific lifespan and it’s vital that your business deals with them properly. Where records are held for too long, or not long enough, there may be legal penalties and problems can arise with respect to business reputation. So, what do you need to consider when it comes to the right time to destroy records?

The healthcare sector has come under a lot of additional pressure over the past year or so as the COVID pandemic has increased patient numbers and generated a lot of extra paperwork. Effective operational management has been a vital part of the process of ensuring smooth running of patient care and creating the resources to continue to meet demand. Shredding provides the only reliable option for ensuring data destruction for businesses across the healthcare sector, and is a vital part of both compliance and retaining patient trust.

Ever since the start of the pandemic, remote working has become the norm for many businesses. Today, while there has been a return to the workplace at least part-time for many organisations, the hybrid working model is becoming much more widespread. This presents plenty of different challenges, not least when it comes to ensuring that information is kept safe in the course of day-to-day operations.

Shredding has become an operational essential for any business focused on compliance and data protection. It not only ensures against data theft but also provides proof of procedures that have been implemented to demonstrate compliance with the law. However, that’s not where the benefits of secure shredding end, as this vital process also has a lot to contribute to environmental protection too.

Although paperwork is inevitable if you are a school, university, or college, the risk that can arise from not carefully disposing of it isn’t something that you need to expose your institution to. Working with a reliable confidential shredding partner will ensure that you’re not left vulnerable when it comes to sensitive data and confidential information - and that your internal admin is organised and compliant.

Creating a paperless environment has been much talked about in recent years. Whether that’s switching to email receipts in retail or using digital files and documents in the workplace, it’s a theme that has generated a lot of attention. However, what many are now beginning to realise is that paper still has an important role to play across industries and the solution to sustainability and efficiency concerns might be to opt for ‘paper-lite’ rather than ‘paper-less.’

Taking steps to securely destroy data in documents and files is something that we have all become accustomed to doing. From on-site paper recycling to taking your unwanted documents to a recycling centre, it’s easy to understand the benefits of ensuring that files and folders are not left laying around - and the security risks of not doing so. But what about electronic media - why is it just as vital to ensure that you take the same precautions?