Secure Data Destruction

Probably the largest single external threat to any organisations trading ability is if its confidential data should fall into the hands of unauthorised third parties.

Most companies have recognised this, and have made adequate provision to protect their data with both hard and soft firewalls to deter computer hackers. Suitable security equipment can protects the building in which the data is stored. The opportunity for staff to remove data can be reduced by e-mail blocking and the removal of floppy/cd-r/dvd-r drives.

However, what happens when it is time to dispose of your old P.C.'s, Hard Disks, old Tape Back-ups, PDA's... in fact anything that may contain confidential data. Under the Data Protection Act Regulations 1998 the responsibilities of organisations relating to confidential data have become more stringent. Organisations must destroy under secure conditions any data containing personal information.

Putting information in bins and hoping that it will be appropriately destroyed at a later date is not enough. An individual who suffers damage because of a contravention by the data controller is entitled to compensation for that damage. Contravention of the Data Protection Act is a criminal offence carrying a maximum £5000 fine. The trend is for prosecutions to be on the increase.

At Midex, we ensure that you never fall foul of the Data Protection Act using our services. Whether you are using our Secure Data Destruction service as part of our WEEE disposal range or have chosen to have redundant data bearing media destroyed using our dedicated SDD service, you can be assured of full compliance at all times.

Using secure carriers, we will collect the media for destruction from you on an agreed date. The shipment will be delivered to our secure plant for destruction, where it will be first checked-in and its content confirmed back to you. The media will remain stored within a secure strong room until you have confirmed the content for destruction is as you shipped to Midex. Upon confirmation, your media is guaranteed to be destroyed beyond all know means of recovery. Finally, you will be provided with full documentation to confirm that you have satisfied all of your disposal obligations under the Data Protection Act.

For further information on this service, please call our Free phone hotline on 0800 731 6646 or Click Here for our dedicated Secure Data Destruction team to contact you.

Please see below examples of records which are covered by the Data Protection Act 1998.

• Correspondence or other documents which reveal the contact details or any financial details of a named living person, unless permission has been given to circulate the details.
• Correspondence or other documents which reveal personal details or pass comments on a named living person.
• Staff personnel records
• Discipline records
• Job applications
• Interview notes
• Redundancy records
• Sick pay records
• Maternity pay records
• Income tax and National Insurance returns
• Wages and salary records
• Accident books and records
• Health records
• Medical records
• Any record which, if made public before a certain period, may breach commercial confidentiality
• Contracts
• Tenders
• Purchasing records
• Maintenance records
• Insurance records
• Unpublished accounting records
• Any record which may breach intellectual property rights