What action should you take with sensitive information no longer needed?

The appropriate action to take with sensitive information that is no longer needed is to shred the documents. Shredding ensures that the information is irretrievable and cannot be accessed by unauthorized individuals. This method of destruction significantly reduces the risk of data breaches, identity theft, or exposure of private information.

By physically destroying the data, you maintain compliance with data protection regulations and demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding sensitive information. Shredding is particularly important for documents that contain personal identifiable information (PII), confidential business information, or any data that could be harmful if disclosed.

Other methods, such as storing the information in a shared folder, keeping it in a locked drawer, or archiving it on an external hard drive, do not provide the same level of security. Storing or archiving may leave the sensitive information accessible to those who should not have access, while merely keeping it locked does not eliminate the risk if the information is inadvertently accessed or retrieved.