The 7 facts about document shredding you need to know in 2020
We love document shredding! Guess who doesn’t like it quite so much…
Identity thieves and fraudsters. They hate anything which frustrates their attempts to get their hands on your business’s data.
That’s why we decided to put together our magnificent seven facts about document shredding, the facts which every business should get to know in 2020…
FACT 1
Most identity theft and fraud still originate with paper documents. This can be because of the theft of identity documents such as passports and drivers’ licences, stolen mail, or unshredded, discarded documents being taken from recycling.
In fact, one in five data breaches still involves paper. Often, online data breaches start with information discarded in documents, such as passwords, codes, email addresses, and IP addresses.
FACT 2
Document shredding provides an important way your business can comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Businesses have a stringent duty of care for the confidential data of staff, customers, and suppliers and they must ensure the way they handle waste documents does not compromise that data.
If there is a serious breach, businesses face a fine of up to 4% of worldwide annual turnover, or 20 million Euros, whichever is higher.
This confidential data includes names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, national insurance numbers, and banking details. It also now includes IP addresses.
Shredding keeps that data safe and keeps your business within the law.
FACT 3
Shredding reduces your documents to tiny 3mm by 9mm pieces which are impossible to re-assemble.
Our off-site shredding machines can also up to ten tonnes of confidential waste in an hour, while our mobile shredders can process up to two tonnes of confidential documents.
So, it’s effective and fast. A far better option than your staff standing over an office shredder!
We shred to standards set out by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) and BS: EN15713-2009
FACT 4
Shredding isn’t just for paper.
We also shred hard drives, removable media, textiles, and products.
This helps keep your data safe online by ensuring no one can access files left on any hard drives, USB sticks, image cards, and SIMs and helps protect your brand by destroying old uniforms, branded promotional products, and counterfeit or faulty products.
FACT 5
Outsourced document shredding is cost-effective.
If your staff are stuck shredding items, they can’t be delivering for your customers or growing your business. That’s a cost to your revenue generation and, ultimately, your profits.
Then, there’s the direct cost of running the shredders at your premises. The cost in electricity and shredder hire or purchase can run into hundreds of pounds a month in large workplaces.
An outsourced shredding company will provide you with shredding bags or lockable consoles and it will carry out regular pick-ups, freeing up useful office space.
FACT 6
Shredding creates an audit trail for your confidential waste.
You receive a certificate of destruction which shows your business handled your waste correctly. So, if there is ever an investigation into a data breach, you will have the proof that your business complied with regulations and acted responsibly.
Security is also tight when confidential waste is transported by van and when it is shredded at the off-site facility. Staff are vetted and trained to the highest standards, vans are GPS tracked, and there is 24-hour CCTV at shredding centres.
FACT 7
Reputable shredding companies like On-Time Shred understand the importance of protecting the environment and conserving resources.
So, we ensure 100% of all paper waste is recycled after shredding.
This is done at UK recycling mills and your business is given a recycling certificate detailing how much you’ve recycled.
More reasons to choose On Time Shred…
- We’re ICO accredited and our staff are vetted to BS-7858 and have CRB checks.
- You get a flexible service tailored to your business needs – from one-off shreds to weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or quarterly shredding.
- We operate to BSI standards for quality, environmental protection, health and safety, information security and destruction.
