The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has published guidelines for compliance with the new British Standard 8470.
The standard covers security issues around management and control of collection, transportation and destruction of confidential material.
BSIA Information Destruction Section Chairman, Anthony Pearlgood says: "The new guidelines highlight key areas in the information destruction process and the precautions necessary to protect the integrity of sensitive data. By disposing of confidential information using an information destruction company which is inspected to BS 8470, businesses can rest assured that their confidential material will not fall into the wrong hands. Sourcing an information destruction company which is inspected to BS 8470 is particularly important in the current economic climate, given that identity theft costs the UK £1.7 billion annually. Therefore, businesses are running the risk of significant losses if they are not taking preventative measures to protect their confidential information."
Areas covered in the guide include: security of premises where information is held; personnel, such as staff vetting; securing the collection and retention of confidential material; and environmental issues such as recycling.
Manchester show
The importance of shredding sensitive information is a talk by John Watson of Shred Easy at Security 2007, the annual spring conference and show in Manchester run on Tuesday, March 27 by the BSIA and crime reduction man at Greater Manchester Police, Stuart Pizzey.
Doors open at The New Century Hall, Corporation Street, from 9am with the official opening by GMP Assistant Chief Constable Ian Seabridge at 10am. There’s a business continuity theme to the morning, titled ‘Whatever the disruption’ that ends with a buffet lunch courtesy of the exhibitors.
Free seminars are by Ian Griffiths, business continuity risk manager at Co-operative Financial Services, about the Manchester business continuity forum; Supt Mark Robinson, of GMP, on the force’s business continuity model; and Mike Reardon, director of neighbourhood services at Manchester City Council, on emergency planning nd business continuity at the council.
Ahead of the day, inviting security people to the event, ACC Seabridge stresses both the need to protect against property crime, to make businesses resilient to attack, and to ensure that we can operate despite such incidents – whether fire, extreme weather or natural disaster. He adds: "Our own experience in Mancehster and in other parts of the country, graphically demonstrated the imapct that issues as diverse as terrorist activity to dramatic weather conditions can have, not only on a business, but also an entire city."
For details about the day ring Stuart Pizzey on 0161 856 3046 or Elaine Hercombe at the BSIA on 0845 389 0747.
The BSIA adds that member companies incorporate BS 8470 into their ISO9001:2000 and are inspected annually by a UKAS accredited certification body. For details of BSIA information destruction members, visit the BSIA website at www.bsia.co.uk/shredding
The BSIA’s guide to BS 8470 is available to download:
