When it comes to records management best practices, following a clear set of document destruction guidelines is essential. It’s all too easy for confidential paper to accumulate around the office, creating a security risk that could have serious consequences for your business.
To achieve a best practice approach that will keep your business’ information safe and secure, follow these four document destruction guidelines.
Conduct regular risk assessments
Conduct regular information security risk assessments to help you identify areas of vulnerability and potential risks in your office. Take time to document the flow of confidential information in your company; where it is created, stored and accessed. Once you’ve reviewed these processes, update your document destruction policy based on your findings and new or updated legislation.
Make sure you train your staff in secure shredding procedures. Lead by example and demonstrate your commitment to your internal document destruction guidelines. This will help your employees understand the importance of protecting your customers’ — and your company’s — confidential information.
Shred before recycling
Loose paper waste is often left unattended before it’s recycled. This presents a potential problem as many dormant documents still contain valuable information. Unguarded paper files that fall into the wrong hands, either through loss or theft, leaves your business vulnerable to potential security breaches.
Shredding your paper files before recycling is a great solution. It enables your business to pursue its environmental commitments, while keeping your business information safe, protecting your company and clients from unwanted exposure. The best way to achieve this, is to outsource document destruction to a reliable service provider with high security standards and a strong environmental record.
Shred using a professional service
Trying to manage your shredding needs in-house can be a huge drain on your resources. When you outsource document destruction, you free up your employees to concentrate on what matters most — your clients and your business’ bottom line.
Most organisations do not have the expertise, human resources or time to ensure total security during the document destruction process. Confidential waste disposal requires industrial strength equipment such as multi-edge, cross-cut shredding machines – not to mention dedicated staff who manage the process from start to finish in line with regulatory requirements.
The most successful document destruction policy is one that includes an outsourced service provider. In doing so, you can benefit from experienced professionals that specialise in destroying paperwork in line with the law and your specific business needs. This way, you significantly reduce the risk of costly and damaging mishaps or security breaches. Keep your business safe by protecting your information – and destroying it safely.
Need to develop a secure document destruction policy for your business records? Contact our team of experts today.