If you have a lot of confidential documentation lying around, the last thing you want to do is simply bin it. This could result in confidential data being leaked out into the public sphere which could have a lot of consequences.
So, how do you dispose of confidential documents the right way, we hear you ask? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to answer now.
The Quickest and Easiest Way to Dispose of Confidential Documents
The easiest and most effective way to dispose of confidential documents is through shredding. Paper shredding is an inexpensive way to ensure your documents are destroyed with no trace of the information they contain.
You can shred the paper yourself. However, for effective shredding and disposal of confidential documentation, it is recommended you use a professional service to do it for you.
We’ve written an article that discusses the price of paper shredding – check it out by clicking here!
Use a Shredding Service
If you don’t want to handle this process by yourself, you can hire a third-party company to do it for you (like us!).
A third-party shredding company can shred the documentation for you. They will come out to your office or home, take the documents back to their warehouse to shred, and then recycle the shredded paper.
Shredding companies will shred to Security Level 2 and fully comply with the latest Data Protection Laws. By being fully compliant, you’ll know your confidential information is in safe hands.
Of course, we offer paper shredding services just like this. If you want to get a quote, feel free to get in touch today.
What About Digital Documents?
If you’re dealing with digital documents, then these obviously can’t be shred. Instead, the best way to deal with these, is by permanently deleting them. You also need to make sure there are no backups of the documents or that the document wasn’t just sent to a recycling bin.
Even when you delete something off your computer, there are likely to be traces left on the hardware. Therefore, you’ll often need to make sure it’s overridden or removed entirely from the system.
What Happens if You Don’t Dispose of Confidential Documents Properly?
If you fail to properly dispose of your confidential documents, individuals with malicious intent can sift through your bins and find personal data you don’t want other people to see. They can then sell this data or use it in several other nefarious ways.
If you’re a business, you could be liable for a data breach, which can lead to large fines and other forms of litigation, not to mention damage to your reputation.
Conclusion
Making sure you’re disposing of your confidential documents safely and efficiently is so important. If you get it wrong or take any shortcuts, you could have your data land in the wrong hands, not to mention potential litigation and fines.
If you need a company to manage your shredding for you in a professional and timely manner, we can help. Get in touch today for a no-obligation quote and make sure your documents are disposed of the correct way.