Personal and confidential data is stored across many different formats of electronic media. Hard drives, X-rays, data tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, floppy discs, and USB sticks are just a small sample of the things you should consider for media destruction. These require the same attention to detail that you may currently only be giving your paper documentation, not just to meet legislation requirements but also to protect your business identity and company secrets.
Did you know that you are breaking the law if you do not employ a third-party company to destroy your sensitive data and certify that it has been done? Under the Seventh Principal of the Data Protection Act 1998 it states that, all organisations must employ a data destruction service to destroy all redundant and confidential information that can be in either paper or electronic format.The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is the most significant change in data protection legislation to affect the ITAD industry since the WEEE directive in 2006. This supersedes the DPA (Data Protection Act) of 1998 and provides a greater emphasis on individuals rights as well as the need for companies to justify what data they collect, how they collect it, how they use it, how long they hold it for and how they erase it.
Destroying Your Data Responsibly
The best way to destroy any type of data is by shredding using an industrial mechanical metal shredder. Resulting in small pieces of shredded hard drives. The smaller you can get the shredded hard drive material the more secure it is. There are different guidelines for this depending on what type of business you are in.
Recycling Your IT can manage types of data destruction adhering to all current legislation from paper to electronic. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for data protection (No. PZ2793518) and licensed by the Environment Agency (EA) for data shredding. (No. EPR/ GH0610YU/A001). We destroy the DoD 5220.22-M and HMG IS5 standards. We are fully licensed and insured and service businesses across the whole of the South East.