Benefits of Shredding Confidential Documents And Using A Professional Shredding Service
In today’s society, we have become so accustomed to the digitization of data, that sometimes we may forget how much information remains in physical format. Documents stored on a computer may still be printed as a hard copy, and there are also phone messages, quick notes and other items that can all combine to provide an opportunity for the theft of information. Companies that are targeted for economic espionage are particularly vulnerable, as well as their clients and customers, either due to carelessness on their part of that of businesses charged with gathering sensitive information. That is one reason companies, and individuals, have been shredding documents because of the benefits that come with it. It is a process long utilized by government agencies. Document Destruction is usually achieved with shredders in an industrial facility dedicated to that purpose.
If you don’t think you need to change how you shred sensitive documents, or believe you don’t need to bother shredding at all, the following reasons just may change your mind, or your company’s shredding practices:
#1 Compliance With The Law
Businesses must follow the rules of multiple federal laws including HIPAA, FACTA, SOX, and GLBA when safeguarding sensitive information. This means confidential records must be shredded prior to being disposed of to ensure employee date remains confidential. A secure shredding service will ensure your company complies with these laws and help reduce litigation risks by following strict destruction regulations. You will also receive a Certificate of Destruction once it is completed.
#2 Privacy
To protect yourself and your company from identity theft, shredding documents with sensitive information is one of the best measures you can take. Remember that even if a thief finds someone’s name and address, they can use this to apply for a credit card under their name, for example. Most office shredders cut documents in a way that can allow them to still be reconstructed by hand or specialized software. A shredding service does the job differently, to keep your information secure and from falling into the wrong hands.
#3 Employee Trust
Employees and customers entrust companies with their sensitive information. By shredding the documents containing employee and client data, these individuals will have confidence that their data is treated securely and that they are respected.
#4 Avoid Corporate Espionage
To avoid another company potentially getting a hold of and stealing your company’s ideas and future plans to call their own, shredding can prevent a serious financial loss from this ordeal.
#5 Brand Protection
If your company suffers a data breach that is broadcasted to the world due to negligence in secure shredding methods, it will damage your reputation. Using a shredding service can save you and your brand from this.
#6 Peace of Mind
Companies make notes of staff details, sales data, and future business goals that become paper waste, and could get into the wrong hands. Properly shredding your documents will give you and your company peace of mind, knowing this confidential information is being properly destroyed.
#7 Productivity
When you have documents shredded, you won’t have to worry about the time and resources it would take to destroy it by cutting or ripping it up manually. Entrust a document shredding service with this task, so you can focus on your job. An on site shredding service can even bring secure containers to your office to get the job done there.
#8 Cost
In-house document destruction can get expensive, with costs such as the shredder itself, employee labor, electricity, and maintenance. A shredding service can be more cost-effective for your company.
#9 Convenience
To use a shredding service, you can schedule an appointment, specify the volume you need to dispose of, and it can all be taken care of thoroughly and promptly.
#10 Environmentally Friendly
Companies can show their clients and competitors that they value recycling after documents are shredded. Shredding services are designed to ensure that more paper waste is recycled and reused, and our planet needs us to take care of it, as much as it takes care of us.
#11 Save Storage Space
Who doesn’t like to save space? Shredding gets rid of those piles of paper sitting around that you couldn’t get around to disposing of yourself.
#12 Expertise
Trained staff at a data destruction company will know how to tailor the best privacy protection method for you or your company’s needs. You don’t have to concern yourself with the best way to dispose of confidential information when you’re not performing it in-house. Instead, a professional shredding company will perform those services for you and provide a Certificate of Destruction to ensure the job is done correctly.
Protect Yourself And Your Company From Identity Theft
Identity theft can happen to anyone, and cause major destruction to important aspects of your life, such as your financial, medical, and digital security. If you don’t dispose of or safeguard your confidential information properly, it is easy for identity thieves to piece it together and harm you. Companies can also be targeted for economic espionage, which not only endangers them, but also their clients and customers.
Seeking out a shredding service, such as American Document Destruction to securely and properly dispose of your paper documents and digital device hard drives is an effective and smart way to protect yourself from identity theft.