Businesses create, process, and store countless sensitive information and physical documents every single day. For modern businesses, choosing the right way to dispose of this information safely is incredibly important. Many companies still rely on manual, DIY shredding by in-house employees. This has its merits but overall, this approach can sometimes leave gaps that can hinder your security and compliance. For most businesses of any kind, utilising the services of a professional confidential shredding service is the most effective way to deal with paper waste.
What are the differences between taking care of all your business paper waste in-house and choosing to partner with a confidential shredding service?
Pros and cons of DIY paper shredding for businesses
There are two reasons why you might choose to stick with DIY paper shredding for your business:
Cost
The cost is obviously lower when you choose the DIY option for shredding paper waste for your business. Your employees can shred paper waste as and when it is required.
Convenience
Your staff can shred paper as soon as they are finished using the document and it is no longer required for storage. The speed of this is good for security, and it is convenient to rely only on your own staff.
Despite these positives, there are a few more reasons why DIY shredding in a workplace is problematic:
Low security
Smaller shredders that are commonly used for DIY shredding in offices usually produce cross-cut or strip-cut shreds. If criminals were to get their hands on this type of paper waste, it would be simple enough to put back together the information, leaving sensitive data vulnerable.
Waste of resources
Your staff are hired to perform certain tasks that they are good at. Wasting time and money on using your employees to shred paper waste does not make any sense at all, when they could be focusing on tasks that are productive and important for the company.
Maintenance
Your office paper shredder will require cleaning, regular inspection, and maintenance. This can include sharpening the blade, replacing parts, and this can cost a fair bit of money over time.
Why you should switch to a confidential shredding service for your business
Switching to a confidential shredding service is a necessity for any business that produces large quantities of sensitive, physical waste.
Better security
Professional shredding services use the latest equipment and shredding techniques to ensure that documents cannot be reconstructed. For waste that is collected and destroyed off-site, Certificates of Destruction are provided, or you can witness the destruction with on-site shredding services.
Save resources
DIY shredding takes up time and money that could better be spent elsewhere. Utilising the services of a professional shredding company allows your employees to spend their time efficiently.
Better compliance
GDPR and industry-specific regulations must be adhered to, or you may suffer fines and reputational damage. Professional shredding services enhance compliance and ensure your company is doing everything that it can to be compliant.
Environmentally responsible
Shredded paper waste is recycled wherever possible, helping your business to meet sustainability goals and to have an eco-friendly approach to everything that it does. This can make a business more attractive to potential customers, employees, and investors.
How to choose the best professional shredding service
Selecting the right professional shredding service for your business is a vital part of your future, now that you have decided to move away from DIY shredding. You must look at:
Shredding options
The best shredding services offer both on-site and off-site shredding services to meet a variety of business needs and locations.
Accreditation
Look for certification, as well as the promise of an official Certificate of Destruction with every collection and secure disposal of your paper waste.
Modern shredding
Choose a company that uses the latest and greatest shredding equipment and techniques, ensuring that all shredding complies with GDPR and industry-specific regulations.
Customer satisfaction
Can you see reviews from happy, long-time customers? This is a good sign that your business is in safe hands with a professional shredding company.
Preparing for a confidential shredding service
Once you have determined the amount and type of paper waste that you need to securely dispose of, and you have chosen a shredding service, book in a consultation as early as you can. That way, you can receive professional advice on how to implement an effective shredding policy, how regularly your paper waste should be collected, and how to prepare your documents for shredding to be as efficient as possible and pass all regulatory compliance.
If you are looking at ways to change how your company deals with paper waste and the secure disposal of confidential waste, choosing the confidential shredding services of a reputable company such as Pulp will go a long way to helping you.
