Does your business have a system in place for document shredding? If not, you could be vulnerable to data breaches that may cost your company a significant amount of money and credibility. When it comes to document destruction, utilizing a third-party shredding service is generally the most reliable and secure method to ensure that the job is done correctly and consistently.
Why Secure Shredding Matters
When you think of identity theft and data breaches, you probably think about these crimes occurring digitally. While cybercrime is a big concern when it comes to data security, it is not the only avenue through which unauthorized individuals can access your business’ sensitive data. Physical document security is also important for protecting yourself, your business, and your clients. That’s why many businesses invest in shredding services to destroy potentially sensitive documents and ensure that sensitive and personally identifiable information cannot be lifted from those files. Simply throwing away sensitive documents or using cheap strip shredders in your office is not enough. You need a secure shredding service that will ensure complete and reliable document destruction to protect your business.
Here’s a closer look at what makes a shredding service truly secure, so you know how to pick the right service for your business.
Controlled Document Storage
There are multiple points of vulnerability to consider when it comes to document shredding. First is where documents are stored within your workplace after they are discarded but before they are sent off to be shredded. Your shredding service should offer a secure, clearly labeled shred bin where paperwork can be deposited. A small slot at the top of the container with a locked lid will ensure that documents can be added to the container but not easily retrieved once they are thrown out. Having shred bins readily available throughout your workplace ensures that documents are properly handled within a reasonable timeframe so that sensitive information is not simply sitting on an employee’s desk for anyone to see.
Scheduled Pick Ups
You should choose a shredding service that offers routine scheduled pickups so that discarded documents are safely transported to a shredding facility. Your service should have dedicated vehicles for picking up loaded shred bins and dropping off empty ones. These vehicles will be secure and operated by trained drivers who take your document security seriously.
Sophisticated Shredding Technologies
Did you know that traditional strip-shredders are not a secure method of document destruction? Using computer programs, thieves can easily reconstruct documents that have been strip shredded and tossed in the trash. Conversely, a professional off-site shredding service will use sophisticated, specialized equipment to thoroughly pulverize documents, making them irretrievable. Once shredded, documents are typically sent to a recycling facility, where they are further broken down and used to create recycled paper products. This cycle reduces the risk of document theft and data breaches.
Certificates of Destruction
How do you know that your documents have been thoroughly shredded and destroyed once they leave your business? Your shredding service should offer a certificate of destruction, which will confirm the total weight of the documents destroyed and give you peace of mind that the job has been done right.
Beyond Security: Benefits of Professional Document Shredding
Along with following strict security protocols, a professional shredding service will also save your business time and money. The costs of in-house shredding can add up quickly when you consider the cost of employee time; shredding equipment, parts, and maintenance; and energy usage. By hiring a professional shredding company, you are streamlining the process of document destruction in the most cost-effective way possible.
Contact Citizens Business Archives for Secure Document Shredding in Tucson
When you need a shredding service you can trust, you can count on Citizens Business Archives. Business owners throughout Southern Arizona have trusted us for decades to handle their document storage and shredding needs in Tucson. With a secure facility and dedicated pickup services, we offer prompt, reliable document shredding for businesses across all industries. Our staff is trained in HIPAA compliance, and we offer certificates of destruction for every shredding pickup. Whether you need pickups weekly, monthly, or on a custom schedule, we can help.
Contact us on our website or call (520) 585-4324 to get started with our shredding services. We look forward to helping your business maintain optimal document security and best practices for document destruction.
