Is your company GDPR-shreddy?

You’ve probably already heard a lot about GDPR, but you’ll soon be hearing a lot more. In April, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will launch a campaign to inform consumers about the new regulations and how they will affect them. This means your customers and clients will be aware of the new rules and expect you to comply.

The new regulations will shake up how our personal data is kept and used. Companies will not only be expected to get clear and unambiguous consent for collecting and holding data, but will also have to delete personal data when someone requests it.

ICO has published a 12-step guide on how businesses can prepare for GDPR, and has also set up a dedicated helpline for small businesses wanting to ensure they are compliant.

There has been a lot of talk in the press about the large fines that could potentially be levied on companies that are not compliant, but companies trying to comply with the regulations need not worry. The Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, reassured the FSB that they would rather help companies than punish them: “We do have the power to impose larger fines under GDPR, but we have access to lots of other tools that are well-suited to the task at hand, such as guiding, advising and educating organisations, and these are just as effective.”

Data audit

Companies are being urged to do a thorough data audit in advance of GDPR which will come into law on 25 May this year. Historical data will need to be expunged, whether it’s in digital or paper format. With paper files, it’s imperative that they are disposed of safely in order to prevent loss or theft of personal information.
Shredding papers before disposing of them is the most obvious and safest way of dealing with confidential waste. But the amount of shredding you’ll need to do is potentially huge. If this is the case, speak to us about our secure document disposal service for one-off or regular jobs. Or if you just need to replace your old model, we stock a wide range of office shredders and accessories – so talk to us about the best model for your needs.