As any business owner knows, protecting sensitive information is essential to success. Whether it’s customer data, financial records, or internal communications, keeping this information safe is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge. One of the easiest ways for hackers to gain access to this type of information is through document destruction. By simply throwing away old documents, businesses are putting themselves at risk of a breach.
While it may seem like a hassle, having a secure document destruction plan in place is essential to protecting sensitive information. There are plenty of options available, from hiring a professional service to investing in a shredder. The most important thing is that businesses take the time to assess their needs and choose a solution that best fits their specific situation. With the stakes so high, there’s simply no excuse for not taking document destruction seriously. To illustrate this, here are five examples from real life:
5 Examples Of Why You Should Shred
1. In 2012, healthcare giant Kaiser Permanente was fined $1.5 million by the Department of Health and Human Services for failing to properly dispose of patient records. The records were found in a public dumpster, and Kaiser Permanente was cited for violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
2. In 2015, a University of Colorado Boulder employee disposed of confidential student information in a public trash can. The information included names, Social Security numbers, and birthdates.
3. In 2016, a former employee of the City of Providence, Rhode Island was sentenced to three years in prison for selling confidential information he had access to through his job. The information included names, addresses, birthdates, and Social Security numbers.
4. In 2017, a federal contractor was fined $100,000 for improperly disposing of confidential information. The information included names, Social Security numbers, and birthdates.
5. In 2018, a woman in Massachusetts was sentenced to two years in prison for stealing personal information from her employer and selling it on the dark web. The information included names, addresses, birthdates, and Social Security numbers.
As the examples above illustrate, data breaches can have serious consequences for both individuals and organizations. A secure document destruction plan is essential to protect against unauthorized access to confidential information.
By hiring a secure document destruction service, you can help to prevent identity theft, fraud, and other crimes. In addition, properly disposing of confidential documents helps to protect the environment by reducing the amount of paper waste that ends up in landfills.
Safeguard Your Data Today!
To protect sensitive company information, you need a secure document destruction plan. At Assured Document Destruction, we understand the importance of data security and have the experience and expertise to help you protect your confidential documents. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us show you how we can help keep your business safe and sound.
