With digital data breaches on the rise, it might be easy to forget that criminals still steal information from physical documents. Whether they be paychecks, tax returns, or bills, your documents contain valuable information. Making sure that you shred important documents helps keep your important information safe and identity secure.
While you can shred at home or the office if you just have a few documents, a professional shredding service often presents the best option if you have a larger project than that. For just a few boxes, there are drop off services for as low as $1 a pound.
For larger projects, you can schedule mobile or off-site shredding, where a truck comes to you. Regardless of which you choose, you can rest assured that they will shred your important documents securely.
Shredding Documents Remains Vital for Compliance
Shredding old and outdated documents remains important for data security and data privacy. In most professions the law requires that you destroy certain documents after a set time period.
These requirements typically fall under laws such as HIPAA and FACTA, which were enacted to protect consumer information.
Some companies have had to pay pretty hefty fines, or even lost their businesses due to not disposing of their documents properly. Fines can range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand for a single infraction.
These violations can irreparably damage your business and professional reputation. All of our shredding partners adhere to all state and federal privacy laws, including HIPAA and FACTA.
The Risks of Choosing Not to Shred Important Documents
Even if you don’t own your own business, there are plenty of reasons you should protect yourself from data theft. It’s no secret that identity theft has been on the rise over the past few years.
Even just between 2019 and 2020, the FTC reported a 73% increase in instances of identity fraud. Experts agree that as criminals get more sophisticated, these numbers will only continue to grow.
We get so much mail everyday that contains personal information, it makes it hard to figure out what you should shred and why. Even if someone gets your mail and they aren’t trying to steal your identity, they are able to find out personal information about you and find out anything you subscribe to.
It’s much easier just to shred all of your paperwork as opposed to finding out that someone has accessed your information later in the future. Mail contains a wealth of information from financial information to medical records. Even junk mail contains enough information for criminals to get a clear picture of who you are.
Find the Right Shredding Option for You
Determining which shredding option works for you will depend on the size of your project and the compliance requirements of your industry.
If you just have a box or two of paperwork a drop-off shredding service is likely your best option. These locations typically charge by the pound, which is great for smaller jobs. The industry average is about $1 per pound, so you can safely destroy all of your paperwork fairly cheaply.
If you have more than a couple of boxes, the next best option is mobile or offsite shredding. Mobile shredding is the most secure option we offer, simply because you can watch the destruction process from start to finish.
Our contractors will never come into physical or visual contact with your documents. The whole process only takes a few minutes. Additionally, for businesses that are required to witness their shredding by law, this is the only option that meets those requirements.
Offsite shredding is very similar to mobile shredding, except your paperwork is taken to a secure location. Our drivers will pick up your paperwork from you location and safely transport them to the shredder. Your documents will be shredded alongside thousands of others, and co-mingled for added protection.
No matter the shredding option, the shredded documents will then be recycled. Not only is shredding a secure solution, it’s a sustainable one as well.
You Can Trust Shred Nations with Your Important Documents
Shred Nations works with trusted and secure shredding providers across the country. For every shredding project, you will receive a certificate of destruction. A certificate of destruction guarantees that your sensitive information was disposed of properly and through the proper chain of custody. To get started with your shredding project, give us a call at (800) 747-3365, or fill out the form on this page, and we’ll connect you to one of our partners who can take care of your shredding needs.
