Could you be liable for a data breach and loss of confidential data? If you own or work for a company of any size, then you likely know how important it is to shred sensitive and confidential documents. You don’t want them falling into the wrong hands, whether those hands belong to criminals or your competitors.
However, you may not have known that you and your company can be legally liable for sensitive documents that become public. Just putting your confidential documents into the rubbish or recycle bin does not provide much document security, in fact, you are putting yourself and your company at risk. That’s why Shred On Site specialises in mobile shredding. We can give you peace of mind that your confidential documents are properly destroyed by shredding them right at your place of business.
Reforms to Privacy Act Hold Businesses Accountable
As a business owner in Australia, you need to know about the Federal Government’s Privacy Amendment Act, 2012, which was enacted on 12 March 2014. This act updates the Privacy Act, 1988. Part of this new law says that businesses that are APP Entities — agencies or organisations with an annual turnover of more than $3 million — must take steps to destroy personal information if it is no longer needed.
Owners, directors, or senior managers are responsible for this information even after it has left the premises of the business. That is why it’s so important to take care of your confidential document destruction on site. Shred On Site even offers you the chance to see your documents shredded in our mobile shredding vehicle through CCTV. You will rest easy knowing you are fully compliant with the law. There are heavy financial penalties associated with this law; if you do not comply, your organisation could be fined up to $1.7 million. Individuals can be fined as well. In this day and age of identity theft and other fraud, keeping your employees’ and clients’ records safe is vitally important.
Are you a small business owner that is not required to comply with the Privacy Act reforms? You should consider following the new rules anyway. Some small businesses, including some of our current customers, have decided to follow the Privacy Act guidelines, because larger organisations will only work with them if they are able to prove that they also comply. A company covered by the Act is responsible for confidential information from creation to destruction even when it is in the hands of supplier or an associated company.
Shred It All, On Site
It is not just personal information that you need to make sure is properly destroyed. Client data, financial information, new product information, salary levels, board papers, business plans and more all need to be destroyed once you are finished with them. You may not only be legally liable if any of this information becomes public, you may also lose business and lose money.
Have you considered changing your company’s policy on document destruction to a “shred all” policy? That way, you are protected. And, since you can have it all shredded right on site, it is easier than ever to ensure the security of your business. However, keep in mind that there also laws regulating when certain companies and organisations need to keep or destroy documents. Be sure to consult a lawyer to ensure that your organisation is fully complying with the laws that are specifically aimed at your type of business before implementing a shred-it-all policy.
Protect yourself from unwanted lawsuits and bad publicity. Let your clients know their information is safe. Shred on site. Contact us for a free quote today.
