Document shredding and GDPR

Jun 15, 2022

Shredding documents can be a great way to ensure all unwanted, unnecessary data is disposed of properly. However, you also need to take into account the GDPR requirements. Knowing how to dispose of documents via shredding while also making sure you follow the GDPR guidelines is very important. Here are some of the things to keep in mind.

What data needs to be destroyed according to GDPR?

The GDPR guidelines state that you don’t have to destroy all hard copies off documents. GDPR comes into play when there’s any document which contains personal data. Anything that has personal data referring to a person needs to be disposed of properly. Making sure that the data is shredded and not thrown in the bin is extremely important. That’s why using shredding services is extremely important. It helps you stay GDPR compliant, while also disposing of the documents in an appropriate manner.

What document shredders are GDPR compliant?

Generally, a GDPR compliant document shredder will meet specific security levels. You will know if the document shredder is GDPR compliant if the security level is at least P-4. Another thing you need to consider is how much data needs to be destroyed and other personal criteria. If you have high sensitivity data, you will need shredders that have high security levels, according to the ISO/IEC 21964.

Is it mandatory to shred documents with personal data?

If they are not in use anymore and you want to dispose of them, then document shredding is the way to go. Personal data is very sensitive and you need to comply with the GDPR requirements. That’s why shredding is the only, secure way to ensure all personal data is removed properly. It helps eliminate concerns and it also makes the process easier and more convenient. All you have to do is to avoid any rush, and you will be impressed with the speed and efficiency of this system.

Conclusion

Document shredding is the ideal way to comply with the GDPR requirements while also shredding documents containing lots of personal data. Ideally, you want to have a shredder with a security level of P-4 or higher, or you can just hire a document shredding company that already has the best, GDPR compliant hardware. It helps you eliminate concerns, while making sure that all your documents are disposed of the right way and without any issues.