PURPOSE Redaction permanently removes private or sensitive information before sharing. DO NOT FAKE REDACT Do not cover text with black boxes, highlights, or shapes unless using a proper redaction tool. Hidden text may still be recoverable. STEPS Use an approved redaction feature, apply redactions, save a clean copy, and verify the information cannot be searched or copied. CHECK Search the final document for names, numbers, and keywords that should have been removed. BEST PRACTICE Keep the original restricted and share only the redacted copy.