Using Shredding services to protect sensitive data
Data is a key business asset today and the more sensitive it is the greater the need to protect it. Using a professional shredding service to destroy sensitive data not only provides the peace of mind of a certified process but also ensures that your business is meeting compliance requirements and doing everything it can to keep that data safe. If you’re not currently using shredding services for your business then there are some very good reasons why it’s worth considering this for the future.
Compliance and trust
Working with external shredding services means you’ll get a certificate of destruction that provides proof of the way that sensitive data has been handled. This is something that you can use to help build trust – whether that’s with clients or employees – in the systems your organisation has in place and also a simple way to demonstrate a chain of custody for the purposes of compliance. Poor data handling can generate huge fines under regulations such as the GDPR and being able to demonstrate safe destruction of sensitive data in this way can help to avoid that.
Protecting your business
Shredding is the simplest way to ensure that your business is completely protected from sensitive data falling into the wrong hands. Whether that is bank statements or employee records, this kind of data can give those with malicious intent opportunities to breach your business’ security and cause a range of issues. From identity theft that leads to denied lending applications to leak of customer information that does significant damage to your business reputation, there are many pitfalls to not putting your shredding into professional hands.
The issue of identity theft
There are more than 80,000 identity theft cases in the UK every year and each one potentially ruins a life. From relatively little information it’s possible for an identity thief to piece together enough information to take over someone else’s financial interests and these situations can take a long time to resolve. As a result there is now a huge spotlight on identity theft and, in particular, what businesses are doing to help prevent it when it comes to sensitive data. Working with external shredding services provides a way to schedule your shredding so that it never builds up and becomes a vulnerability. Materials for shredding are kept in lockable consoles until destruction time comes to avoid the potential for theft to arise.
A more cost-effective approach
Handling shredding in-house can be time consuming and expensive. Upfront investment is required for shredding equipment – which will need to be replaced and maintained over time – and employee time must be dedicated to processing shredding. Shredding services take this out of the hands of your internal team, freeing them up to focus on their actual roles. Plus, professional shredding services can process much higher volumes in shorter time periods and shred to a much more exacting standard.
Using shredding services to protect sensitive data is a smart move for any business looking to streamline internal processes and ensure security and compliance.
To enquire about any of our shredding services, no matter how big or small, get in touch by either calling us on 0800 181 4106, or you can use our online quoting tool
