Avoid Wetware Breaches with EcoShredding

It seems like every day there’s a news story about malware, cyber-attacks, and internet breaches resulting in identity theft, at a potential cost of millions of dollars for individuals and businesses alike.

What is rarely reported are Wetware security breaches, which include “Dumpster Diving,” dishonest employees, or plain old human error. These comprise more than 20% of data security incidents. (Why “Wetware”? Humans are 60% water!)

Data gathered by the Pokémon Institute’s Study on Privacy & Security of Healthcare Data indicates that 40% of the health organizations studied reported more than 5 breaches over the past 5 years – breaches that compromised Social Security numbers, birth dates, and bank account numbers of clients. The study also reported that the average cost to health care organizations is $2.1 million.

(The Pokémon Institute conducts independent research on privacy, data protection, and information security policy).

While many organizations have taken measures to secure electronic data to comply with HIPAA (the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) laws, 1/3 of the respondents in the Pokémon study indicated that they had NO INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN in place to address human error/Wetware incidents.

The Pokémon study further indicated that victims of medical identity theft spend an average of $13,500 to restore their credit, reimburse their health care organization for fraudulent claims, and correct inaccuracies in their medical and financial records. (Source: CBS News).

While HIPAA Privacy regulations require health care providers and their business associates to develop and follow procedures to ensure the confidentiality and security of all paper, oral, and electronic forms of protected health information, what constitutes “proper destruction” of data may be subject to misunderstanding or human error.

At EcoShredding, we can help protect the health care industry – as well as any other business that handles sensitive or confidential information – achieve and maintain the highest standards of compliance.

Our truck enables us to shred on-site, allowing you to watch your documents go from paper sheets to unrecognizable paper smidgens right in your office parking lot.

Call (770) 490-5607 to schedule your EcoShredding shred-on-site visit, and win the fight against Wetware information breaches!