The NSA affair, PRISM, the cloud, illegal marketing of data, industrial espionage and Wikileaks: the recent discussions about all these subjects have not only made data protection officers and the public in general more aware of the problems of data security but have unnerved them, too. In order to protect and strengthen the right of a person to determine what happens to their data, the DIN 32757 standard, which was no longer up to date, was replaced by the new DIN 66399 standard. Rhenus Data Office, one of REMONDIS’ sister companies, has implemented this new standard into its company – including its new branch in Braunschweig.
Besides the problem of data being stolen via the Internet, the physical destruction of data storage devices also plays an important role in data security. Highly sensitive documents, such as patient files or strategic business papers, are often carelessly thrown away into paper recycling bins without them having been properly destroyed first.
Data security was a matter for concern both for companies and private individuals long before the NSA affair
It could be extremely damaging for companies and private individuals if this data should get into the hands of the wrong people, e.g. as a result of so-called ‘bin raiding’. The author of these documents is responsible for ensuring they are destroyed correctly. The new DIN 66399 standard is now being used to prevent such damage occurring. It gives clear and unambiguous instructions for each individual stage of the process all the way through to the final and irreversible destruction of the data.
Rhenus has set out to explain this new standard to its customers and to give them an outline of the legal framework involved. The range of topics that it advises its customers on has, therefore, been extended to include detailed information on subjects such as IT law, general data protection regulations and information security. These data security experts help their customers so that they fulfil the requirements of data protection laws at all times. In addition, Rhenus can act on behalf of its customers as an external data security officer. Together with their clients, they draw up data protection concepts covering a whole range of aspects from general company organisation, to CCTV and archiving, to the destruction of data storage devices and the processing of order data. At the same time, Rhenus offers a secure destruction process for highly sensitive documents, such as patient files, via its mobile shredder. This process has been awarded the data protection seal of quality by the ULD in Schleswig Holstein (an independent data protection institute).
In order for Rhenus to be able to offer its services more efficiently and further strengthen its national network of branches, it bought the data destruction division owned by the company, Döring, and opened a new branch in Braunschweig. By being even closer to its customers, Rhenus is able to react more quickly to their needs. Both the plant and the processes acquired by Rhenus are of a very high standard and fulfil the new regulations. The current and future customers will be able to benefit from the services and know-how of one of the long-standing leaders in document logistics systems. Moreover, the new extended portfolio of services on offer will add value to their businesses.
”Without security there can be no liberty.“
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander von Humboldt
REMONDIS’ sister company, Rhenus Data Office GmbH, has customers both at home and abroad and provides both stationary and mobile destruction systems for files and data storage devices. Moreover, it provides advice on data security, destroys hard drives, provides office waste management services and rescues files damaged by water.