Why Data Management and Document Destruction Go Hand-in-Hand

Businesses today are handling more data than ever before. Even businesses outside of the finance or healthcare industries still regularly handle documents with sensitive information. Data management can be a challenge, but it does need to be taken very seriously.

Document destruction should be a part of every business’s data management process. There are several reasons why data management and document destruction go hand-in-hand.

Data Management Extends Through the Life of the Document

Being a good steward of data and documents means taking accountability for the entire cycle of the document. Businesses need to have good data management practices from the time they collect the data, all the way until the document is destroyed and beyond.

Data management does not end when a document leaves a business’s door. In fact, a business’s liability often increases when a document leaves its facility if it is not disposed of in the correct way. Businesses still have a responsibility to ensure that that document does not end up in the wrong hands.

Having proper document destruction processes in place is the only way to ensure the safety of customer and employee information after the document leaves the business.

Document Destruction Makes Data Management Easier

Any scale of data management can be a challenge for businesses. There are laws and regulations that complicate the process, and employee training can be an uphill battle. The last thing businesses need is an excess of records that are no longer necessary to keep.

Businesses should make it a priority to dispose of documents in order to stay organized and minimize the number of records they are preserving. With fewer documents being stored, document organization becomes more manageable. Don’t make things harder than they need to be by keeping documents that you should no longer have.

Scheduling regular shredding services is the easiest way to filter out these documents for better organization.

Destruction Is a Key Part of the Data Cycle

While every piece of data and every document is different, generally, documents should eventually reach the end of their life cycle. There are exceptions that businesses need to be aware of, but those are few and far between.

Every good data management program should have five key elements: capture, organize, utilize, manage, and destroy. If your document management program does not include the last step, it is not a complete program.

Failing to incorporate the destruction step in a data management program can open businesses up to liability and can make it more difficult to manage documents that need to be preserved or utilized.

Trust SEAM for Your Document Destruction Needs

SEAM provides reliable document destruction services in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Whether you are new to a data management program or have been handling documents for decades, we can help keep your business compliant and organized.

Our consultants are standing by to answer any questions you have and determine the best course of action for your business. Call us today to get started.