10 Reasons to Shred Your Shredder
1) Reconstruction of Shredded Material. When a corporate intelligence officer a.k.a. "corporate spy" discovers shredded material in a dumpster or recycling bin it says to him "READ ME FIRST" and that's exactly what he'll do. In the U.S., it only costs around $150 per hour to reconstruct shredded material, either by reassembling the particles by hand, or scanning each particle and then reassembling the document using software. Sarasota Document Shredding produces an infinite array of irregularly shaped particles, which are nearly impossible to reconstruct, and especially so when commingled with dozens of other client's shredded waste.
2) Cost. In-house shredding programs minimally cost twice as much to operate as hiring a certified shredding contractor. Using a contractor provides the additional intangible savings by eliminating a thankless job, and offering superior security, better disposal, and substantially reduced liability.
3) Certified vs. Uncertified Destruction. In-house shredding programs typically do not qualify as certified destruction programs. In-house shredding programs almost never develop, document or observe a comprehensive destruction policy. If a company can't prove it actually destroyed the record in question by producing contemporaneous documentation to that fact, the in-house operator may be subject to severe penalties.
4) Witnessed Destruction. Because shredding is both monotonous and requires little skill, the in-house shredder operator is typically a minimum wage, bottom of the totem pole employee who generally works alone and can routinely dump sensitive information in recycling or trash bins. Today, credit card numbers and social security numbers can be sold over the internet and unfortunately for some, if no one is watching, these new negotiable instruments are simply too tempting to shred.
5) Background Checks. In-house shredding managers rarely perform the types of background checks on their employees that will stand up if ever challenged. All too often, the very person shredding for an in-house operation is the last person on earth who's qualified to do it. By hiring Sarasota Document Shredding you are guaranteed that each employee meets stringent background checks and is bonded and fully insured.
6) Disposal. People typically dispose of their material in recycle bins or dumpsters. This practice not only flies in the face of security protocol, its environmentally unsound. Purchasing trash is a long accepted and highly effective practice in the fields of corporate intelligence, corporate security and counterespionage.
7) OSHA and Potential Fire Hazards. Depending on the type of shredder, it it often required that in-house machines be operated in isolated and independently vented rooms.
8) Disgruntled Employees, Former Employees, and Infiltrators. Remember the movie, Erin Brokovich? It is the true story about an environmental crusader who received the critical break in her case from a once-loyal but now disgruntled employee who filched, instead of shredded, incriminating documents. Be aware that infiltrators can penetrate your most sensitive records with ease. Some do it with technology and others do it the old fashioned way, by gaining trust and access to record storage areas of our largest companies. For an impersonator bent on lifting sensitive information, the shred-job is the preeminent assignment.
9) Security. Using a shredding contractor not only restricts internal access to sensitive information, it actually encourages employees to secure sensitive information. In fact, up to 40% of all identity theft is done by employees.
10) Greatest Defense Against Obstruction of Justice Charges is a Scheduled Shredding Service. Had Enron and Anderson employed independent shredding contractors on a weekly or monthly schedule, recent history might be far different. The ideal defensive shredding policy is to hire an independent certified shredding contractor, shred everything, recycle nothing whole sheet, pay by the shred container (not by weight or by timed services), and have the service regularly prescheduled.
The last word - It good to shred, but its best done by a pro.
2) Cost. In-house shredding programs minimally cost twice as much to operate as hiring a certified shredding contractor. Using a contractor provides the additional intangible savings by eliminating a thankless job, and offering superior security, better disposal, and substantially reduced liability.
3) Certified vs. Uncertified Destruction. In-house shredding programs typically do not qualify as certified destruction programs. In-house shredding programs almost never develop, document or observe a comprehensive destruction policy. If a company can't prove it actually destroyed the record in question by producing contemporaneous documentation to that fact, the in-house operator may be subject to severe penalties.
4) Witnessed Destruction. Because shredding is both monotonous and requires little skill, the in-house shredder operator is typically a minimum wage, bottom of the totem pole employee who generally works alone and can routinely dump sensitive information in recycling or trash bins. Today, credit card numbers and social security numbers can be sold over the internet and unfortunately for some, if no one is watching, these new negotiable instruments are simply too tempting to shred.
5) Background Checks. In-house shredding managers rarely perform the types of background checks on their employees that will stand up if ever challenged. All too often, the very person shredding for an in-house operation is the last person on earth who's qualified to do it. By hiring Sarasota Document Shredding you are guaranteed that each employee meets stringent background checks and is bonded and fully insured.
6) Disposal. People typically dispose of their material in recycle bins or dumpsters. This practice not only flies in the face of security protocol, its environmentally unsound. Purchasing trash is a long accepted and highly effective practice in the fields of corporate intelligence, corporate security and counterespionage.
7) OSHA and Potential Fire Hazards. Depending on the type of shredder, it it often required that in-house machines be operated in isolated and independently vented rooms.
8) Disgruntled Employees, Former Employees, and Infiltrators. Remember the movie, Erin Brokovich? It is the true story about an environmental crusader who received the critical break in her case from a once-loyal but now disgruntled employee who filched, instead of shredded, incriminating documents. Be aware that infiltrators can penetrate your most sensitive records with ease. Some do it with technology and others do it the old fashioned way, by gaining trust and access to record storage areas of our largest companies. For an impersonator bent on lifting sensitive information, the shred-job is the preeminent assignment.
9) Security. Using a shredding contractor not only restricts internal access to sensitive information, it actually encourages employees to secure sensitive information. In fact, up to 40% of all identity theft is done by employees.
10) Greatest Defense Against Obstruction of Justice Charges is a Scheduled Shredding Service. Had Enron and Anderson employed independent shredding contractors on a weekly or monthly schedule, recent history might be far different. The ideal defensive shredding policy is to hire an independent certified shredding contractor, shred everything, recycle nothing whole sheet, pay by the shred container (not by weight or by timed services), and have the service regularly prescheduled.
The last word - It good to shred, but its best done by a pro.
