BS EN 15713 Secure Destruction Of Confidential And Sensitive Material

What is BS EN 15713 Secure Destruction of Confidential and Sensitive Material?

BS EN 15713 is a European Standard that provides businesses with a framework to manage and control the destruction of any confidential and sensitive material, ensuring that it is disposed of securely and safely. It is aimed at service providers responsible for the collection, handling, storing and destruction of confidential and sensitive material, ensuring compliance with security best practices and legal requirements.

BS EN 15713 underwent a significant update in 2023 which aligns the standard with modern security practices and demands on keeping information secure.

Benefits of BS EN 15713 certification

Ensures compliance to regulatory requirements

Enhances your company image and differentiates you from the competition

Promotes sustainability with responsible recycling practices

Increased profit potential and market share

Reduces the likelihood of data breaches and leaks

Boosts employee morale and motivation through a culture of security and responsibility

Demonstrates a commitment to confidentiality, enhancing customer trust

Increases eligibility for tenders

How can BS EN 15713 protect my business?

Implementing BS EN 15713 Secure Destruction of Confidential and Sensitive Material will help you stand out from your competitors, showing your customers that you take the security of their confidential and sensitive material seriously.

The standard provides a framework of conditions to be adhered to at every step of the destruction process: collection, handling, transportation, storage, and destruction, protecting your business from the risk of data breaches and leaks. The standard also aligns with regulatory requirements such as GDPR, enhancing your compliance. Example aspects of the standard include:

Security screening of personnel
Security of your premises
How sensitive information is collected, retained, and transferred
Security measures during the destruction of materials
Management and control of confidential material destruction
Traceability of the destruction process

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What does BS EN 15713 cover?

BS EN 15713 Secure Destruction of Confidential and Sensitive Material outlines the process for securely destroying confidential and sensitive materials. It specifies procedures for collection, handling, transportation, storage, and destruction, ensuring the destruction is done in a secure way that prevents unauthorised access and reproduction of information. Six key areas include:

Contracts and audit trails: establishes clear contracts and maintains audit trails for all transactions between you and your clients.
Protection throughout the collection and destruction process: ensuring protection from unauthorised access at every step of the process.
Categorisation: matching destruction methods with material types to render it unreadable, illegible and unreconstructable.
Product disposal: advocating for the recycling of materials, with the consideration for the environmental impact when recycling isn’t feasible.
Reinforces good business practices: training of staff, equipment maintenance, sub-contractor management, and traceability through comprehensive record keeping.
Confidentiality, integrity and availability: ensuring vital company information and customer information is protected.

Integration with ISO 9001 and ISO 27001

Before its upgrade in 2023, BS EN 15713 was designed to sit within the ISO 9001 Quality Management System, supporting you with providing a quality service. Whilst BS EN 15713 can be implemented independently, we still recommend implementing it alongside ISO 9001 to enhance your processes. This integration supports compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, improves efficiency, and enhances customer satisfaction by demonstrating a commitment to both quality and security.

Alternatively, ISO 27001 Information Security, Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection has also become an increasingly popular standard to integrate with BS EN 15713. This is because both standards focus on safeguarding sensitive information. While BS EN 15713 covers the secure destruction of confidential material, ISO 27001 establishes a broader framework for information security management, including data protection, risk assessment and cybersecurity measures.

What is the process to get my business certified to BS EN 15713?

We offer a simple and flexible approach to implementing ISO certification that will take you from where you are today, to running an BS EN 15713 Secure Destruction of Confidential and Sensitive Material in as little as eight weeks.

Our support doesn’t stop after you’ve achieved BS EN 15713 certification. In addition to your annual re-certification audit, we also provide a flexible annual support visit which is tailored to your needs, ensuring they always add value to your organisation.

Step 1

Contact us

Speak to our ISO experts to get your bespoke quote.

Step 2

Kick start meeting

Meet with our client care team and get an overview of the next steps and support provided.

Step 3

Initial Assessment

First meeting with your auditor who will identify works to be completed.

Step 4

Documentation preparation

We’ll compile your Overview Document which will act as your ISO manual.

Step 5

Certification audit

Once requirements of BS EN 15713 are met, we’ll present you with your certificate.

Step 6

Maintaining compliance

We’ll visit you twice yearly to support you with your ongoing compliance.

FAQs

Who should implement BS EN 15713?

BS EN 15713 is suitable for organisations of all sizes that handle the secure destruction of confidential and sensitive materials.

How much does it cost to get certified to BS EN 15713?

The costs vary depending on the size of your organisation and the level to which you’re currently operating with regard to your processes and procedures. Due to our proposals being bespoke, we recommend getting in touch with a member of our team to discuss your requirement in more detail so we can provide a free, no-obligation quote.

How long is a BS EN 15713 certificate valid for?

Your BS EN 15713 certificate will be valid for 12 months and subject to an annual re-certification audit throughout your contract.

How can you help us maintain our BS EN 15713 certification?

To support your ongoing compliance with BS EN 15713, we provide flexible annual support visits tailored to your needs. These are in addition to your annual re-certification audit which are a mandatory part of the standard.

The support visit offers an opportunity to focus on key areas that will add value to your business whether it’s assisting with your internal audits, chairing a Management Review Meeting (MRM) or discussing leadership buy-in. Prior to your support meeting our client care team will talk to you about an agenda for the day. Following this visit, you will receive an audit report and recommendations log, ensuring you stay on track and continually improve your management system.

Additionally, you will have access to our exclusive client portal. The portal provides access to our standard documents and knowledge base, giving you valuable resources to support your compliance and certification journey.

Do we need a copy of the BS EN 15713 standard?

With our level of support, purchasing a copy of BS EN 15713 isn’t mandatory, although we do recommend it. Having a copy gives your team direct access to the full requirements for implementing, maintaining, and continually improving your management system, helping ensure that compliance measures are interpreted accurately. A copy provides in-depth information on policies, and frameworks necessary for certification, preparing for an audit and maintaining compliance.

You can purchase a copy of BS EN 15713 for a discounted rate here.

Can we get UKAS Accredited Certification for BS EN 15713?

No, UKAS accreditation for BS EN 15713 isn’t currently available.

How much time is needed to achieve and maintain BS EN 15713 certification?

The time required to implement BS EN 15713 varies depending on factors such as your organisation’s size and complexity and existing management system practices.

During the initial implementation phase, organisations generally dedicate more time to building their management system. Once established, maintain the system often requires only a few hours per week, although this can vary based on how fully the system is integrated into daily operations. A well established and embedded system will naturally become more efficient over time, reducing ongoing maintenance needs.

Can BS EN 15713 be implemented with other ISO standards?

Absolutely. Most of our clients have implemented ISO 9001 Quality Management and/or ISO 27001 Information Security, Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection Management alongside BS EN 15713 Secure Destruction of Confidential and Sensitive Materials.

Implementing multiple ISO standards simultaneously can save time and reduce costs. However, additional ISO standards can be adopted at a later date if organisations prefer.