how-to-choose-the-right-shredding-service-for-your-business

Selecting the Appropriate Shredding Service for Your Business

27 October, 2020By

There is no disputing that shredding remains the paramount approach for securely disposing of sensitive information and documents that are no longer required, all while upholding sustainability principles.

At an initial glance, opting for do-it-yourself shredding, or utilising an in-house shredding apparatus, may appear to be the most cost-effective and efficient course of action. Nevertheless, upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that do-it-yourself shredding entails unforeseen expenditures that can accumulate swiftly, including:

    1. Operational Costs: Beyond the initial investment in procuring your own shredding machine, there are ongoing maintenance expenses to consider, such as labour, materials, and emergency costs should the machine malfunction.
    2. Time and Employee Productivity: Each minute spent by an employee operating a paper shredder detracts from their regular responsibilities.
    3. Heightened Security Risks: Inexpensive in-house shredders tend to produce paper strips that can potentially be reassembled, thereby jeopardising your business. Not only do these in-house shredders render your business more susceptible to hackers seeking to reconstruct shredded documents, but they also increase the likelihood of employee errors. Research often cites human error by employees as the primary cause of data breaches. It is imperative to ensure that employees are adequately trained in handling confidential information, maintaining a chain of custody, and ultimately ensuring compliance with relevant privacy laws, such as APP 11 of the Australian Privacy Principles.

In summary, entrusting professionals to correctly dispose of sensitive, confidential documents is the most prudent course of action. Professional document shredding has evolved into the unofficial industry standard for secure confidential data destruction. Should you contemplate assessing a professional document shredding partner, the following three inquiries should be posed:

  • Whom should we rely upon to ensure the proper disposal of our confidential data?
    It is crucial to collaborate with a partner who possesses the necessary credentials, experience, and expertise to safeguard your data. They should hold qualifications and certifications that guarantee a constant focus on document security throughout their processes. A professional shredding partner should also furnish a Certificate of Destruction following each shredding operation. Beyond peace of mind, this certificate serves as proof that your information is no longer at risk and that your organisation complies with pertinent privacy laws.
  • How often does our organisation necessitate professional shredding services? Numerous organisations find that a regularly scheduled monthly shredding service offers the optimal means of ensuring daily protection. The advantages encompass secure, locked consoles within your office, routinely scheduled pick-ups, and a Certificate of Destruction after each service. ZircoSHRED Australia’s services are adaptable, ensuring that document destruction is tailored to meet an organisation’s unique document management requirements.
  • Do we possess hard drives and other media (e.g., USBs) requiring destruction? Many older hard drives contain confidential and easily recoverable information. If your organisation’s hard drive disposal method entails erasing or wiping old hard drives, employee and customer information may still be vulnerable. Opting for a partner that provides a secure chain of custody at every touchpoint, affords flexibility in terms of frequency, and guarantees the destruction of hard drives will grant you peace of mind while allowing you to focus on what truly matters—your business.

ZircoSHRED’s destruction machines are specifically engineered to render your hard drives irretrievable and incapable of reconstruction. Moreover, ZircoSHRED supplies a Certificate of Destruction following each hard drive destruction service.

Beyond these considerations, ponder the values you wish to see mirrored in the service provider you contemplate partnering with. Whether it pertains to supporting more sustainable business practices or contributing to the community you serve, the partner you select should uphold values aligned with your organisational culture.