In today’s digital age, there are many new facets of conducting business that we never had to worry about in the past. A couple of the most important things that both consumers and companies need to worry about are identity theft and fraud. Nowadays, it is easier than ever from criminals to get ahold of sensitive information and then use that data to cause a major headache for the person whose identity has been stolen.
As a business owner, preventing private information from leaking out should be one of you highest priorities. This data could be transaction records, personal data for your clients or even proprietary information regarding your company. By having a solid confidential waste policy in effect, you can ensure that all of your business’ data is safe. Not only does this protect your company from a legal standpoint, but it can also be used as a powerful way to promote your business.
What Exactly Is A Confidential Waste Policy?
Your company’s confidential waste policy is the protocol you have in place to destroy documents and other data sources which contain information that should not be seen by unapproved eyes. There are a number of things which should be kept confidential, including:
- Accounting Records
- Strategic Business Documents
- Client Data
- Customers’ Personal Information
- Credit Card and Bank Account Records
- Medical Records
All of these types of data can be very detrimental to your company and to your clients if they were released into the wrong hands. Because of this, your confidential waste policy should not only include how to safely store and secure this information, but also how to destroy it. Confidential waste can by shredded or disintegrated by document shredding and storage services specializing in making sure that the destroy data is not recoverable.
Many business owners opt to have confidential data destroyed on-site, a method which allows then to witness the destruction with the shredding services bringing their portable equipment to the company’s location. Off-site destruction is also a secure option and provides your company with a certificate of destruction and chain-of-possession of your documents all of the way from your hands to their destruction.
Using Your Confidential Waste Policy To Promote Your Business
With the threat of identity theft and fraud so prevalent, many consumers hold a company’s confidential waste policy in very high regards. If you’re aiming to attract new customers, then promoting your company’s rock-solid policy may be an efficient way to do so. Faced with multiple options, many careful customers will choose the option which is the most secure with their personal information. This is exceptionally important for smaller companies who may not quite have the public support of their larger counterparts.
A few of the things that you need to make sure to mention to clients about your confidential waste policy are:
- How long you keep your client’s data.
- What method you use to destroy it.
- How the data is secured until it is destroyed.
- Your company’s proven track record of data security.
- Secure transport methods for your documents such as an armored car or chain-of-possession documentation.
With the world’s digital, global marketplace, secure information is constantly being transferred around and left in the care of businesses all over the world. By ensuring consumers that their identity is safe with you, your company can use your confidential waste policy to reaffirm customers. The security associated with your confidential documents can not only keep your customers safe, but also act as a source to bring in new clients.
About The Author
Leilah Osher writes for www.ironmountain.co.uk and apart of writing about confidential waste and document storage she works as a business consultant for a wide range of different firms. In addition, she contributes articles to a number of business blogs around the internet, including GetEntrepreneurial.com