General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
What Is the GDPR?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) replaces the Data Protection Directive of 1995, which came into play barely four years after the advent of the internet, back when massive, online data breaches were not possible. The purpose of the GDPR is to act as the new, overarching legislation regarding the way companies around the world manage and protect personal data belonging to citizens of the European Union. It is a much-needed update to privacy legislation –one that takes into account the shape of society in a connected world.
Complying with GDPR is about more than just avoiding fines. Keeping the goodwill of clients and partners is key to the competitiveness of a business. However, organizations that are impacted by a breach can be fined up to 20 Million Euros or 4% of annual revenue.
More Than Just Online
While most of the factors that affect GDPR compliance are related to online activities, there is an important offline component that businesses need to account for: the necessity to diligently destroy hard drives and schedule document shredding. If left to your staff, these two activities can create considerable risk for your business.
Impact of the GDPR on Your Business
To answer this question accurately for your organization and understand the specific processes and implementations that you need to carry out, you will need to conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). This assessment will let you evaluate areas where your business is at risk of noncompliance, so you can remediate them. However, read on an find out about three key topics that apply to all businesses, and can help you grasp the scope of the GDPR:
- What personal data is?
- How long you can keep personal data?
- What to do in case of a data breach?
What Entails Personal Data Under the GDPR?
Any information that can on its own be used to identify a living individual is personal data. If the information on its own can’t identify the person, but in conjunction with other pieces of information it can do so, then it is also considered personal data. Additionally, if personal data has been processed –for example, encrypted– but this processing is potentially reversible, it still falls within the scope of the GDPR.
For How Long Can Data Be Kept?
The answer is both simple and complex: get rid of it as soon as you don’t need it anymore, by scheduling hard drive shredding and document shredding. Understand the real need for the data you store and establish a process to destroy it or review it after a certain amount of time. Let this time not be shorter than the one specified by legal obligations to keep that data.
What Should I Do in Case of a Data Breach?
When the personal data you are responsible for is exposed, you have 72 hours to notify the corresponding authorities. If the breach poses considerable risk for the individuals whose data was exposed, you need to notify the affected individuals as well. Data breach reporting is key for compliance, whether you depend on in-house experts or third-party vendors.
PROSHRED® Security Is Your Trusted Shredding Partner
When the time comes to get rid of sensitive documents and old hard drives, you can depend on PROSHRED® Security. Our certified professional shredding services are fully compliant with current privacy regulations and are carried out at your convenience on your premises. The process is irreversible, and you can watch it as it unfolds inside the truck through a live camera feed. You will receive a certificate of destruction to prove that you have done your part.
What Are People Saying About PROSHRED®
An very easy solution to keeping your documents properly destroyed.
Jaime3/05/2014Great friendly service. Nice knowing my confidential document info was completely destroyed.
Angela3/05/2015A great operation. Very efficient and reasonably priced. I am in a business that requires a lot of record retention for several years, after which... read moreA great operation. Very efficient and reasonably priced. I am in a business that requires a lot of record retention for several years, after which the records need to be destroyed. Proshred does a great job. Darcy is the best. Very professional. I highly recommend them. read less
Willie6/14/2014ProShred just came to my house and shredded every document I've been collecting since 1994. Extremely friendly, efficient, and reasonably priced! I will definitely be... read moreProShred just came to my house and shredded every document I've been collecting since 1994. Extremely friendly, efficient, and reasonably priced! I will definitely be using this service again. Highly recommend! read less
Natalie10/17/2018We just had Adam shredding our documents at Lambert & Pryor Insurance in Feeding Hills, MA. Very nice, professional, and hard working. A++... read moreWe just had Adam shredding our documents at Lambert & Pryor Insurance in Feeding Hills, MA. Very nice, professional, and hard working. A++ to you and your firm. Thank you. read less
Mark7/21/2017Thank you for taking care of my client's documents on site. Easy to schedule, on time and courteous!
Gabrielle2/08/2017-
Pro Shred always goes beyond the call of duty to keep everyone happy. Their service is excellent!
Vincent1/28/2019 -
PROSHRED’S service was great! I should have used them a long time ago. The driver was on time, courteous, and professional.
I highly recommend... read morePROSHRED’S service was great! I should have used them a long time ago. The driver was on time, courteous, and professional.
I highly recommend PROSHRED if you have a lot of stuff to purge. They came to the house, which was very convenient for me.
Thanks!!! read lessRussell2/08/2019 These are the guys to use! Very professional and what a pleasure to do business with. I would only use Proshred for #shredding in Minnesota!
Brock12/01/2016We feel very safe in using ProShred to destroy private business documents. This comfort level comes with seeing same employee come each month to... read moreWe feel very safe in using ProShred to destroy private business documents. This comfort level comes with seeing same employee come each month to service our account since signing on years ago. He is always courteous, knowledgable, professional and happy! Tracy Curran, President J. J. Curran & Son, Inc. read less
Tracy4/27/2017Yeah! Bravo! Great!
excellent company; excellent work; excellent employer!Robin1/03/2015This company is fantastic! Simple and easy to get a quote over the phone, quick turnaround for an appointment and the technician they sent out... read moreThis company is fantastic! Simple and easy to get a quote over the phone, quick turnaround for an appointment and the technician they sent out was wonderful! It turned out to be a bigger job than originally anticipated and he worked extra fast to still get it all done in time. Money well spent! read less
Jenny11/23/2016Pleasant, Great Company, Trust Worthy, enjoy the peace of mind knowing that our sensitive materials are in good hands!
Eddie7/07/2017The greatest company very pleasant customer service. Made my appointment,received a follow-up call with delivery time. I was given a 2 hour window and they... read moreThe greatest company very pleasant customer service. Made my appointment,received a follow-up call with delivery time. I was given a 2 hour window and they arrived very early within that window. The two men who came were incredibly kind and very fast. I will recommend Proshred Security to everyone one. Thanks for putting my mind at ease when getting rid of my personal documents. read less
Carol11/28/2016Proshred is a fantastic company to work with. They’re reliable, efficient, affordable, and so personable. We were so happy with them and I would like... read moreProshred is a fantastic company to work with. They’re reliable, efficient, affordable, and so personable. We were so happy with them and I would like to recommend their services. Thank you Proshred! read less
Patty4/21/2018
