Never
Carelessly Discard Anything!
If confidential
information falls into the wrong hands, the result can cost you big
from public relations embarrassments to lawsuits, fines, and
huge loses of revenue. But document security isnt just good business
its the law. Recent Federal and State legislation holds
businesses to higher standards of confidentiality. Failure to comply
means fines and litigation:
GLB, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, requires companies
engaged in financial activities to provide secure handling of client
records and information especially banks, mortgage and finance
companies, brokers and underwriters, securities and investment firms,
and non-bank financial service firms.
HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability &
Accountability Act, protects security and privacy of private health
information at human resources benefits administration and medical offices,
not to mention service providers at hospitals, pharmacies, clinics and
labs.
State and local legislation is being proposed
and passed throughout the nation in response to constituent alarm over
privacy protection and identity theft all laws supported by fines
and the right to sue for damages.
Trash as Treasure
Going through your trash isnt illegal. The Supreme Court ruled
in 1988 that once trash is left for pickup, its public domain
with no expectation of privacy or ownership. Armed with bits
of info from company trash, hackers invade networks, competitors gain
an edge, and criminals rip off millions.
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