Paper puts private information at risk

A survey conducted by information management company Iron Mountain and professional services provider PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has found that 66% of firms regard the handling of paper as a serious security risk, yet only 31% monitor the policies in place to guide employees in the storage and disposal of confidential documents. A mere 39% adhere to access restrictions to filing areas.

Further to this, more than three quarters (85%) of firms rely on one person or a small team to manage both paper and digital information risk, while top performers have distinct groups in charge. Most organisations (73%) believe the IT department should be responsible for security and only 3% think there should be a dedicated records manager.

Perhaps more shocking is the result of a study conducted by paper shredder manufacturer Fellowes, which has found that 27% of employees admit to leaving confidential documents on office printers. Another 15% have forgotten information on scanners, while 12% have left them in plain view of colleagues in the staff canteen.

Away from the workplace, almost a quarter (23%) of those surveyed have misplaced confidential documents on a train or bus, while 15% recall leaving papers in a pub and 12% in a café or restaurant for a random stranger to see.

To combat security threats, Iron Mountain recommends educating employees on how to handle information, thinking about which documents can be scanned and destroyed and conducting an annual clean-up day to properly dispose of out-dated records.