Shredding With A Smile: Why All Shredders Are Not The Same
July 8, 2010 No Comments
All shredders aren't the same. Make sure yours is well-trained, fast and friendly.
Strict Federal and State legislation have created an acute awareness to the management of security procedures as they pertain to information theft and corporate proprietary records. HIPAA, FACTA, GLB, S-OX and other federal statutes have tightened regulations that govern document retention, storage and disposal, leaving many businesses vulnerable to stiff fines.
Why Shredding Matters
A simple solution to avoiding liability is to periodically shred sensitive information. Many companies specialize in commercial shredding, but the method and quality of product and paper destruction can vary widely from shredding company to shredding company.
Industry leaders in document and data destruction management offer full-service, on-site, mobile shredding service that assures secure destruction of all your confidential files, reports, receipts and recorded materials of any type. Secure shredding from a locally-owned and operated provider is convenient, economical and environmentally sound.
Shred Local
While national chains may offer deep discounts, oftentimes the price break you get comes at a substantial risk to the quality of your shredding job. That’s because most national providers are franchised — meaning the quality of the job and the customer service you receive isn’t consistent.
Since the owner of your local “big name” shredding company isn’t the company itself, the handling of your sensitive information isn’t guaranteed to comply to NAID (National Association of Information Destruction) standards, nor BBB (Better Business Bureau) ethical guidelines.
What to Look For in a Shredding Company
When evaluating and selecting a shredding company, make sure the business you’re considering offers mobile, on-site shredding of paper and non-paper files , as well as documented security procedures that adhere to strict standards set by corporations, government agencies and individuals alike.
Materials shouldn’t matter. If your shredding company charges extra for X-Rays, medical records, video tapes, hard drives or other non-paper material, move on. A quality commercial shredder uses the same equipment regardless of the material you’re destroying. You shouldn’t pay more for it.
Your paper shredder should also be accessible for one-time service. If you clean up, consolidate or take on spring cleaning projects, your shredding company should provide the same quality service for single jobs as it would for regular service. If you inquire with a company that requires a regular service contract to visit your home or office, you should consider another vendor.
Insist on a Certificate of Destruction, which is required by state and federal records management agencies and attorneys to verify that your documents are no longer in your custody.
Shredding with a Smile
Last, but certainly not least, you should make sure your shredding partner employs a friendly, knowledgeable staff of bonded and well-trained staff that allows customers to witness the shredding of paper documents, film, X-Rays, computer tapes, hard drives, and more via the on-board video monitor. When you see the materials shredded for yourself, you know your documents and electronic materials won’t fall into the wrong hands.
(*image on license (c) 2010 via Flikr) shredding companies
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