Why Secure Shredding Is Critical to Defending Intellectual Property Rights
The year 1996 was a big year for information protection in the United States. Not only was it the year the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) made history as the first US regulation to impose penalties for not protecting personal health information, but it was also the year the Economic Espionage Act (EEA) […]
The Dangers of Accumulating Old Records and Electronics
The accumulation of old records and electronics is a common challenge for most organizations. While owners and managers realize that secure destruction is required at some point, they often put it off to deal with more immediate priorities. Below are reasons the secure disposal of old records and electronics deserves immediate attention. 1. Keeping old […]
Consistency is King When it Comes to Secure Data Disposal
Inconsistencies in secure information destruction policies and procedures have led to virtually every embarrassing data disposal incident. The shame of that fact—and the good news, too—is that, once identified, they are relatively easy to fix. Inconsistency #1: Allowing Employee Discretion No organization in its right mind would contemplate allowing front-line employees to write their own […]
Untethered Risk: Don’t Leave Remote Employees Dangling
Of all the lasting effects of the pandemic, few were as dramatic or have had the staying power of remote working. Some actually moved from the city to the suburbs to get a bigger house with a home office. Many invested in (or were given) new computers and new scanners and printers. We all got […]
Home & Office Shredders: A False Sense of Security
Aware of the unacceptable risks of casually discarding sensitive information, many cautious and cost-conscious individuals believe having a shredder is the solution. Ironically, whether for office or home use, relying on a personal shredder is among the most expensive and least secure options. Of course, what is not at question is why sensitive information has […]
Why Shred Vault Retains a Best-in-Class Data Protection Officer
All privacy and data protection regulations, one way or another, necessitate that data protection service providers designate a qualified professional to be responsible for compliance. So does NAID AAA Certification and the PCI Data Security Standards. Most commonly, that person is known as a Data Protection Officer (DPO). To meet this requirement, most U.S. organizations […]
The Risk of Over-the-Counter Data Destruction
All across the United States, responsible, security-conscious people hand their confidential paper and electronics over to a packaging center or office supply store with the promise of secure destruction. Maybe the sensitive paper or electronics were handed over to a clerk at the counter. Other times those materials are placed in a not-so-secure container somewhere […]
The Secure Destruction Audit Trail Imperative
While all business owners and managers know that personal information must be securely destroyed, many fail to appreciate the need to demonstrate that their information destruction process is consistent and systematic. Why Office Shredders Don’t Cut It In order to meet the legal requirement to protect employees’ and customers’ personal information, many organizations buy a […]
Where Can I Shred Paper for Free?
If you are like most people you understand the importance of destroying sensitive paper documents before you dispose of them. Even so, according to the Federal Trade Commission, roughly 9 million Americans have their identity stolen every year. This statistic means it is likely you or someone you know has been a victim. You may be wondering, is document shredding ever free? The quick answer is sometimes. The […]
To shred or not to shred? A guide to secure document destruction
Despite the wealth of data our computers store, an enormous volume of paper is still produced by consumers and businesses. This paper ends up in desk drawers, filing cabinets, and storage boxes, creating a disorganized workspace. We often want to get rid of excess paper documents but feel compelled to ask the question “What if […]