Secure disposal is the process of rendering data unreadable by any means whether it's paper or electronic. Even while we are working at home, at the end of the useful life of any type of storage media from paper to computers, it is all of our responsibility to dispose of it properly. Here is some helpful information to ensure you securely dispose of any type of media.

Secure disposal of paper media:

1. Use secure disposal bins. If you do not have a bin, your department manager can order one from the vendor, Shred-it, by contacting their customer service at 1-800-MYSHRED (1-800-697-4733) or [email protected] and creating a requisition in BearBuy.
2. If you do not have access to a secure disposal bin, use a cross-cut shredder. They are available at most office supply stores. You may need to discuss purchasing one for home use with your supervisor while we are working from home.

Secure disposal of electronic media:

1. Contact the IT Service Desk or call 415-514-4100. IT will collect and arrange for the destruction of any electronic media (hard drives, tapes, etc.) that contains restricted data, including PII (personally identifiable information) and PHI (patient health information) free of charge. Yes, this service is free and is still available for people working from home!

Improper disposal of paper and electronic media can have severe consequences. These include:

1. Security breaches.
2. Significant monetary fines.
3. Harm to UCSF's reputation.
4. Personal liability for a security breach.

Here are some additional tips to ensure you securely dispose of media:

1. Never try to destroy your own electronic devices.
2. Never throw away paper with confidential patient information into regular trash or recycle bins.
3. Always use secure disposal bins for paper media that includes sensitive or restricted information.
4. Use the UCSF IT secure disposal service for electronic data and devices.

Take the quiz on this Article. Everyone who passes is entered to win one entry for one of six cross cut paper and credit card shredders, so you can properly dispose of documents from home.

For additional information please visit:

UCSF Drive, Tape & Data Destruction