Confidential shredding services play an important role for many businesses. It is vital that you do everything that you can as a business to protect sensitive information and personal data. This can be information about customers, employees, or suppliers, and could be a target for data thieves if you are not careful. In a world where there seems to be greater concern over digital data, it is still very important that physical data is looked after properly to ensure that waste is disposed of in the most secure manner to protect personal and sensitive information.
There are a few different things that you can look out for when choosing a professional shredding service with a view to bolstering your business security, including the following 7 key points.
- Legal and regulatory requirements
One of the most important points when choosing a shredding service is that it must match the regulatory and legal compliance that is specific to your company and industry. Although there are overarching legal requirements such as GDPR and compliance in only storing and processing pertinent information for a set period of time, there are also industry specific regulations to be aware of. The best professional shredding services understand the regulatory nuances within different industries and have the knowledge to understand exactly what your business requires. - Secure document handling
When you prepare your documents to be shredded, your business will have an idea of the level of security that is required for the information those documents contain. The entire purpose of shredding paper is to prevent access to sensitive information. A secure chain of custody is always required, from collection to destruction, with transparency at every stage from employees placing sensitive documents into secure waste bins, collection of documentation to the destruction of documents either on-site or off-site. - Certificate of destruction
A reputable confidential shredding service should provide your business with a certificate of destruction that proves that your confidential waste has been destroyed in a secure way that adheres to the legal requirements and security best practices. - Options for on-site shredding
Having the option of both on-site and off-site shredding is a great thing to have as a business. On-site shredding means that the shredding equipment is brought to your premises, and the documents are shredded in front of you. This is the best way to ensure that your sensitive documents are disposed of securely. It all depends on what is most convenient for your needs. - Flexible shredding options
Flexibility is also an important part of your choice of shredding service. Some businesses require the destruction of paper documents, others might require binders, folders, and digital media in the form of disks and hard drives to be disposed of securely. The frequency of shredding services is also important, as sometimes there is only the need for a one-time session of shredding documents, whilst other companies require a regular, scheduled service. - Environmentally responsible practices
A good shredding service will dispose of shredded documents in an environmentally responsible way. This includes recycling documents that have been destroyed, which helps to save trees, reduce waste present in landfills, and overall can help to reduce the carbon footprint of a business. - Customer reviews and references
Always do your research and look for reviews before committing to a professional shredding service. Customer reviews and references that can be found publicly and are not just present on the website of the company paint a picture of clarity about what you can expect in terms of service. Positive feedback from clients, and repeat clients, is a good sign that you are making the right choice.
Finding the best confidential shredding process for your business will be unique to your company and the documents that you must dispose of securely. It is always beneficial to go through a thorough process of evaluation when choosing a professional shredding service that matches the needs of your business. These 7 key points provide you with a framework from which you can find the most suitable company to help with your shredding needs.
