Your customers rely on you to keep their personal information confidential. Do you manage a financial institution or retail store; you have access to anything from a customer or client Social Security numbers to bank account routing number. The information is entered into the wrong hands can lead to identity theft and financial problems of the victims. If you hold a document with sensitive data, it is important to protect yourself and those you serve.
Should you end up with a stockpile of paperwork that eventually becomes outdated – customers may move or pass away – or if you transfer paper to digital, you need to thoroughly destroy your hard data so it does not accidentally leave your protection. You can buy a simple paper shredder for the office, but does that really solve the problem?
Identity thieves are rather crafty. You can shred a mountain of paperwork, gather the strips in a large garbage bag and set it out for the collection truck, but that doesn’t mean your customers’ information is secure. A thief willing to Dumpster-dive for your bag probably has the time and patience to piece together enough shreds to get some bank routing numbers and other data. The only thing you’ve done here is delay the inevitable. Continue Reading
