Predictable is Preventable

If it can happen to the government. It can happen to you.

As illustrated in today’s CBC news here: “…anti-terror unit blueprints found…” the government of Canada is embarking on a probe to determine how sensitive information was found in a pile of trash in Ottawa. The article went on to say that a passer-by discovered the plans in a garbage bag in the city’s downtown core. Reportedly, the blue prints appeared to be for a new building for the construction of the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit, better know as the Ant-Terrorist unit.

For further information here is the video (Copyright 2008 CBC) of the story: http://www.cbc.ca/clips/mov/jvd-garbage-day080320.mov

If issues like these are not disturbing enough to business owners, what steps have you taken to ensure sensitive business records are securely destroyed or maintained? For example, are your employee records maintained in accordance with the Federal Government Privacy Act? How are your documents disposed of and in what manner? Who has access to disposed documents?

Vulnerabilities such as those focused in the CBC news coverage outline some of the issues that lend themselves to opportunities for corporate espionage. Obviously, it appears that key personnel also require the support of business owners to ensure company protocols are followed. Simple examples of proactive management can include:

• Locked waste paper storage bins relocated to secure rooms, where access is limited to specified employees’ only.
• Ensuring that corporate documents are cross shredded so that they can not be reproduced.
• Audit trails for those who have access to the secured document storage room, be implemented in case of a breach of security.

From the Star newspaper: “…There is some speculation by security experts that the documents were tossed into the garbage by a private contractor…”. Needless to say, are you following up on your security related policies and with the accountable individuals?

We believe it’s prudent and common sense for any business organization to conduct a yearly review of their disposal protocols, which would limit the potential for civil and/or criminal litigation, corporate loss, and corporate espionage.

Your security specialists can provide you with the essential tools to mitigate such concerns.

Categories: Security
Tags: act, anti-terrorist, corporate, document, espionage, litigation, loss, plans, Privacy, records, Security, shredding