Best Practices to Protect Data in the Workplace

With so many people working from home and transitions back to the office, the likelihood of data being compromised is greater than ever. That means it’s important to understand how to protect data from hackers and prying eyes. Although there is some data protection in the cloud, knowing the best practices for keeping things confidential and properly disposing of data makes a difference.

How does data get stolen in the workplace?
Cyber thieves are very creative when it comes to stealing data. Companies can be very lax on their policies, including breached passwords; faulty networks; servers that are neglected; no email security; disgruntled employees and more. More often than not, data breaches start within the company because there are no safety protocols in place.

Additionally, you’ll find that most of the time, employees leaving the company are huge culprits in helping secure data become vulnerable to hacks, threats and identity theft. Having the right systems in place will not only protect data but will keep the company from liability and regulatory infractions. There are certain laws that require compliance at all times:

• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

This law requires patient information to be securely disposed of in a matter that will not compromise privacy or confidentiality.

• The Fair and accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA)

This law helps in the reduction of identity theft by requiring shredding of any customer information.

• The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)

This law requires financial institutions to protect consumer data and privacy.

How can you prevent data from being stolen?
You can keep data safe and secure by implementing online invoicing systems; training employees on best practices to avoid data theft; using secure apps and CRMs; using data breach prevention measures; and shredding all documents.

Mobile Shredding Services

When considering data protection solutions, the right shredding services are very important. Knowing the types of shredding needed for data privacy is the first step in ensuring the right protocols are used. There are two different levels of shredding that should be considered. Level P-1 shreds documents into 12mm wide strips of any length, and Level P-7 shreds documents into 5mm sq particles. The most important aspect is to use quality data protection services to ensure the integrity of sensitive documents being destroyed.

Mobile Shredding Cost

Let’s face it – effective privacy and data protection is not cheap. Every year, companies add shredding and document disposal to their annual budgets to ensure they are making every effort to comply with regulations and protect the security of customer data. Costs vary depending on the type of shredding services needed, frequency, and location. Industrial shredding services usually offer the following options:

• One-time shredding

• Scheduled shredding

• On-site shredding

• Off-site shredding

• Drop-off shredding

• Shred events

Contact Savannah Shred

Make sure your company and consumer data is safe at all times by implementing strong and effective security measures. For more information on our personal data protection services and our shredding and residential shredding services, contact an associate at Savannah Shredding today.