A Clean Desk Policy Means Better Security
A Clean Desk Policy Means Better Security
Following a clean desk policy can help your business reduce the risk of information theft, fraud, or a security breach caused by sensitive information being left unattended and visible in plain view.
“It’s pointless to have a nice clean desk, because it means you’re not doing anything.”
While Michio Kaku’s statement is inspiring for the busy person, maintaining a clean desk is actually a good rule of thumb in a busy office. In this instance, a clean desk doesn’t mean a place for everything and everything in its place, although that’s just good practice. It means businesses should implement what’s known as a clean desk policy — that employees must clear their desks at the end of each work day.
This doesn’t pertain to hiding all of your pencils and your favorite calculator. A clean desk policy refers to documents and notes — any Post-It notes, businesses cards, and removable media, like USB and memory sticks — so that nothing is left behind for the taking.
Following a clean desk policy can help your business reduce the risk of information theft, fraud, or a security breach caused by sensitive information being left unattended and visible in plain view.
Other benefits for a clean desk policy:
It discourages wandering eyes.
Scribbled notes and memos are usually the worst culprit, containing names, phone numbers, and even usernames and passwords visible in plain view. These habits encourage dishonest employees, cleaning crews, and maintenance staff to view information they should not have access to.
It keeps documents secure.
A clean desk policy ensures that all important documents, confidential letters, binders, and books are removed from a desk and locked away when the items are not in use or an employee leaves his/her workstation. It is one of the top strategies to utilize when trying to reduce the risk of security breaches.
Speaking of locking away documents, in addition to a clean desk policy, it’s good to include sensitive information that needs to be destroyed. Encourage employees to discard sensitive paperwork, even scribbled notes that are no longer useful, in a locked storage bin designated for papers to shred.
Identity theft cases across the U.S. are on the rise, which is why it’s important for businesses to take the proper precautions to protect and secure sensitive information, and that includes in and around the desks of employees.
Legal Shred offers a variety of choices to store sensitive documents prior to destruction to include in your clean desk policy. Document destruction remains an important tool in the fight against identity protection, but with criminals becoming even more sophisticated, how you store files prior to shredding is just as important as destroying the information itself.
Contact Legal Shred today to learn about all of our available locked storage options to keep you and your company secure.
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