Raising awareness of information security in the context of increasing cybercrime
1. Old Records – A Hidden Threat in Modern Businesses
In the digital age, where information is one of the most valuable assets, protecting it — even in physical paper form — is more important than ever.
Outdated records such as contracts, invoices, accounting documents… may seem obsolete, but if not properly disposed of after their retention period, they can lead to data leaks, internal information exposure, or unauthorized misuse.
According to a report by Cybersecurity Ventures, 60% of small businesses are unable to recover after a data breach.
The cause isn’t just cyberattacks — it can also stem from mistakes in destroying paper records.
2. Record Destruction Is Not Only a Responsibility — It’s a Legal Requirement
In Vietnam, the storage and destruction of business documents are strictly regulated by various legal frameworks, including:
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The Accounting Law 2015: requires retaining certain types of documents for a minimum of 5 to 10 years, depending on the category.
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The Archives Law 2011 and related circulars: clearly define the retention periods, as well as the classification, evaluation, and disposal procedures for expired records.
Businesses can face administrative penalties or lawsuits if they destroy records improperly, destroy them too early, or accidentally leak confidential information related to customers, partners, or employees.
3. When Should Records Be Destroyed? A Guide to Proper – Timely – Compliant Disposal
✅ Proper Disposal
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- Classify documents according to their retention period.
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Only destroy records that have expired and are no longer required for legal or operational purposes.
⏰ Timely Disposal
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- Avoid keeping records for too long, which can lead to storage overload, loss, or data breaches.
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Don’t destroy records too early — ensure they’re kept long enough to serve as legal evidence during audits or inspections.
Proper Method
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Use a licensed professional service provider.
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Ensure there is a handover record, full video documentation of the process, and a certificate of destruction.
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Guarantee information security, environmental standards compliance, and traceability when needed.
4. Solution from Minh Thành Paper – Safe, Secure, and Legal Document Destruction
As a trusted company with over 10 years of experience in collecting – sorting – destroying documents, Minh Thành Paper is committed to:
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Picking up documents on-site, with a professional handling team
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Transparent destruction process with video recording and on-site document inspection
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Providing complete certificates of destruction
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Ensuring absolute information confidentiality
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Guaranteeing proper recycling processes to protect the environment
5. Conclusion
Periodic document destruction is not just an accounting procedure, but a crucial part of modern businesses’ security and risk management strategies.
In a world where information can become a “vulnerability” if not properly controlled, destroying documents correctly – at the right time – and in the right way is an essential step to protect businesses from legal, financial, and reputational risks.
