Paper shredders: indispensable for AVG legislation

It’s no secret that paper shredders bring order and discretion to the office. You shred heaps of paperwork and confidential documents so easily. With the new General Data Protection Regulation (AVG) legislation on the way, such a device is a must in every workplace. As you may know, according to this new legislation, confidential documents cannot be kept longer than strictly necessary. To destroy them correctly, quickly and securely afterwards, it is best to use a paper shredder.

1. How are paper shredders helping you with AVG?

In case you are still not fully aware of the AVG or GDPR legislation, we are happy to briefly list everything for you.¹ On 25 May 2018, the AVG or General Data Protection Regulation will come into force across Europe. This renewed privacy law also known as GDPR promises better management and security of personal data. In short, from that date, every company must be able to demonstrate what personal data is collected and how it is used and secured.

The AVG / GDPR applies in all businesses, large and small, that process personal data of EU citizens. The new European privacy law and our Dutch privacy law have a lot in common. Nevertheless, there are some novelties that you should definitely not forget. These revolve around the following 4 lines of force:

► Transparency: companies must inform their customers about how data is collected and processed.

► Data transfer: customers should be able to have their data transferred from one service provider to another.

► Data breach reporting: companies are obliged to report a data breach within 72 hours, unless they can prove that the leak does not pose a threat to privacy.

► Right to be forgotten: personal data must be erased if the person in question requests it and no valid counterargument can be given.

That last point is also where paper shredders come in. You should not keep offline documents longer than legally necessary or required for the provision of services. Paper shredders make your sensitive documents immediately unusable and prevent any risk of personal data of yourself or your clients ending up in the hands of the wrong people.

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2. What are the benefits of a paper shredder?

► Quickly destroys all your sensitive documents (in accordance with AVG legislation). Paper shredders effortlessly cut or shred several sheets of paper simultaneously. Afterwards, it is virtually impossible to reconstruct the original document. So with a paper shredder in the house, you sleep on both ears: your sensitive documents are guaranteed to be unusable by third parties.

► Shreds cardboard, CDs, pin cards and small metal in addition to paper. Shredders are true multitaskers that destroy other materials besides paper with ease. So you no longer have to worry about paper clips or staples left in your paper bundle, for example. By the way, the automatic reverse or return button in the machines ensures that you quickly release jammed paper or this problem is simply avoided.

► Is energy-efficient and silent. The shredders or shredders are also energy-efficient. Their on-off function means they switch to sleep mode when not in use. Some paper shredders are also extra noiseless and therefore do not distract attention in the office.

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3. Which paper shredder should I choose?

Using a paper shredder is a piece of cake. You slide the paper through the slot at the top and the machine does the work for you. The machine shreds your documents into long strips or shreds. It is then impossible for even the best puzzlers to decipher your documents. Shreds are like confetti and incidentally guarantee the highest level of security – also within the framework of the AVG legislation. With confetti shredders from the devices listed below, you meet security level P-4 of the DIN standards.

It is best to choose the right shredder based on the number of sheets of paper you want to destroy daily. Our packaging experts recommend the following three machines.

Buy your paper shredder here

Source:
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