Barron McCann becomes first CESG CTM-approved provider of on-site data destruction services for information up to Top Secret (IL6).
Information security and data destruction specialist Barron McCann has become the first company in the UK to gain CESG CTM certification to provide fully-managed on-site destruction services for protectively marked data up to and including HM Government 'Top Secret' (IL6) level.
The accreditation means that Government departments no longer have to go through the complex, restrictive and inherently insecure process of arranging for highly-sensitive data and storage media up to IL6 to be taken off site for disposal/destruction at approved reception facilities.
Part of GCHQ in Cheltenham, CESG is the UK Government's information assurance (IA) technical authority, responsible for enabling secure and trusted knowledge-sharing. CESG's 'Claims Tested Mark' (CTM) means that Barron McCann can now deliver safe, secure, guaranteed on or off-site data and electronic equipment disposal services for any organisation or business dealing in critical or sensitive information, including Government agencies and departments, local authorities, financial institutions and NHS trusts.
"Being accredited as the first business able to provide on-site destruction services for highly classified data is a testament to the team at Barron McCann and offers a significant benefit for any organisation working with classified information," commented Barron McCann Business Manager, Chris Avis. "Losses of sensitive data continue to generate headlines and Central Government, local authorities or other organisations can no longer afford to leave their data destruction to un-certified third parties or suppliers. This essential certification provides our customers with the complete confidence that any equipment or data entrusted to us will be completely destroyed at their site, with no risk whatsoever," he added.
Data is destroyed using CESG approved lower and higher level degaussers and IT equipment is then sent for recycling in accordance with the WEEE directive (2007). Although the WEEE Directive calls for a 65% reduction in land fill, Barron McCann believes that reselling IT equipment presents a high risk of residual data being accessed and distributed. Consequently, with a target of 90% recycle, devices are processed down to their original material levels, for re-introduction into the manufacturing chain.
Critically, Barron McCann provides a complete audit trail for every stage of its data disposal service from collection to destruction. Every disk is scanned to provide a real-time audit of time, date, serial number and operator details, if required. For legal and auditing purposes an itemised Data Destruction Certificate is issued, along with a Certificate of Recycling in accordance with the WEEE Directive.
For further information contact Chris Avis at the Secure Data Destruction team.
White Paper - Best Practice Data Handling (Handle with care, Dispose of with care)