Preventing Business Identity Theft When Moving Offices

It is a business’s responsibility to guard the identity of its employees and customers. Whatever the industry, companies must perform their due diligence to avoid business identity theft at all costs-especially for businesses moving offices. Medical offices have further identity protection obligations. With the pass of HIPAA, medical offices and physicians must protect patient information and identification at all times. Businesses need to keep yourself informed of many potential business identity theft threats and consequences during relocation, especially since they could cause millions of dollars in damages and ultimately result in the destruction of the company itself.

Utilizing a Secure Chain of Custody Procedure

Every business must employ a strict chain of custody protocol during relocation. A protected chain of custody procedure is critical for preventing business identity theft and that of employees and Kontorflytting Oslo. To generate a fruitful procedure, businesses must document, pack, load, and seal all files just before moving. Throughout the moving process, an employee is responsible for monitoring, handling, and checking the seal on document storage units for tampering. A safe chain of custody can cause an additional layer of protection against data breaches and business identity theft, and it’s an important tool for government entities, medical offices, large corporations, and small businesses alike.

Data Storage Options – Protecting the Physical File Too

The electronic age has made storing data electronically easier, but certainly not safer. Private records could be scanned, protected, and stored virtually–seemingly avoiding the danger for business identity theft. That being said, most businesses that use electronic storage still have physical records. These items tend to be stored haphazardly in basements, closets, or unguarded record rooms. Through your office move, these physical records can certainly be acquired and taken out of the establishment by moving personnel with access to all or any regions of the building. Therefore, business owners need to secure these files-either by way of a chain of custody and other secured transfer method-to ensure physical data is protected just like highly as electronic data.

Opening the Door to Business Identity Theft

It is not difficult for someone either within the business or an unscrupulous mover to access private data and personal information. In a sizable office move, a thief can access thousands of identities. Failing to safeguard this sensitive information opens the doorway to lawsuits and other liability issues. Unfortunately, for a business’s customers, finding out about any of it identity theft will take months, or even years. Not only does this produce a nightmare for the customer, nonetheless it can make issues for the company as well. Businesses, especially those working with HIPAA records, can face client lawsuits, fines and charges from government agencies, and bad press which can have lasting harmful effects.