Whether its financial statements, business contracts, customer information, and much more, every business has sensitive information that must be securely discarded. If a business fails to secure their sensitive and confidential documents, the consequences can be devastating. Identity theft, fraud, and corporate espionage are common today and if sensitive information is stolen from a business for such purposes, the business could face lawsuits, bad publicity, a damaged reputation, and loss of business. In some cases, a business may never recover from such a security breach. For this reason, it is important for every Canadian business to implement secure document shredding practices.
Because the importance of privacy and confidential is growing, there is now laws that require businesses to handle confidential documents securely and safely. The Personal Information Protection and Electronics Documents Act outline the fundamentals regarding document retention and destruction. The details in the Act include the mandate that a business must not only secure current confidential and sensitive information, but also secure the disposal of the documents that the business no longer needs. A company must implement security procedures to ensure sensitive information is properly destroyed. Document shredding services have now become a key part of ensuring confidential documents are permanently and securely destroyed.
Because most businesses today do not have the budget to buy a large industrial shredder for in-house shredding, document shredding companies have become an efficient document waste disposal solution. Document shredding services offer secure document destruction services that ensure complete security, confidentiality, and a thorough destruction of the documents. A Canada document shredding service has established a specific security process that protects a business and saves the business time and money.
Whether it is an on-site or off-site shredding service, the confidential documents are protected throughout the entire document destruction process. From the time the a representative picks up the documents to the time the Certificate of Destruction is given to the customer, the customer’s business interests are completely protected. As well, the company will have provided locked bins that are distributed throughout the office where staff will place the sensitive documents that are to be destroyed. The documents are handled by a representative in a sensitive manner and they are never left unattended. The shredding company follows a strict and secure chain of custody. The documents are passed through a powerful industrial shredder that shreds the documents in tiny pieces that are like confetti. The shredded paper remains are then sent to a recycling facility for recycling.
Today, more industry, organization, and businesses are managing a lot of sensitive documents that must be secured at all times. Because of the threat of fraud as well as identity theft, which is the fastest growing white collar crime in the world, document shredding companies have become vital to ensuring that sensitive business information remains out of the hands of criminals. For any Canadian organization that requires an efficient and secure method of destroying confidential document waste, document shredding services are the most effective, secure, and economical solution.
October 28th, 2011
Most Canadian business leaders understand the devastation that can occur to their business if there was a security breach that resulted in the theft of confidential documents. Consequences of an information breach can include: permanently damaged reputation, loss of sales and profits, and costly lawsuits. In Canada, businesses are legally obligated implement measures that will minimize the chance of a security breach. Canadian legislators have established a legal framework to make sure businesses, government agencies, and other organizations, implement the essential security protocols to protect sensitive information from theft, loss, and misuse.
In Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) protect personal information that is in the possession of private sector organizations. This Act provides the guidelines for the collection, use, and disclosure of that information in the course of commercial activity. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act is governed by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, and applies to organizations and businesses located in provinces without substantially similar legislation. “Substantially similar” means that a provincial privacy law incorporates the 10 principles of PIPEDA and provides for effective oversight and redress mechanism and contains a reasonable purpose test.
PIPEDA places the responsibility to protect information on the organization that collects the information. As of 2010, only Alberta, BC, and Quebec have considerably similar legislation. As of January 1, 2004, Canadian organizations engaged in commercial activity are required to comply with the Act’s 10 privacy principles. Principles 5 and 7 (Schedule 1, Section 5 of PIPEDA) relate to document retention and destruction. Personal information that is no longer required to fulfill the identified purposes should be destroyed, erased or made anonymous. Organizations shall develop guidelines and implement procedures to govern the destruction of personal information.
The Act applies to all commercial activities. The Act does not extend to employment unless the organization is a federal work undertaking or business. Provincial laws govern the treatment of employee information.
PIPEDA was developed in response to the need for privacy protection in the private sector. Companies and other organizations have an easy and affordable way to meet government regulations outlined in PIPEDA. Organizations can meet and exceed the Act’s mandates by using the services of a Canada Document Shredding Company. A document has established an efficient security process to ensure all sensitive documents are shredded permanently without the risk of being lost or stolen. Organizations have the option of choosing on-site and off-site shredding. Both are equally secure, however, on-site shredding is chosen due to its convenience and the papers are shredded on location using an industrial shredding the machine that the company has brought on their truck. This shredding method means the documents have shredded the papers permanently. In addition, customers are provided with a Certificate of Document Destruction after the shredding is complete. This certificate is legal verification that the documents were properly destroyed.
To protect your company from expensive lawsuits, personal identity theft, fraud, and corporate espionage, it is essential to use the services of a document shredding company. It will not only provide peace of mind, but your business will meet the guidelines established in the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.
August 20th, 2011
