Paper shredders and shredding have become such common practices that buying an office shredder has become a standard part of the new business shopping list along with pens, staplers, and legal pads. Yet few business owners fully realize is how important shredding is and its widespread applications.
11 Reasons to Shred Documents
Document Accessibility - With more people working from home since March, scanning and shredding documents makes a great deal of sense. Instead of wondering who has a document or having to get to the office to pick up a crucial piece of paper, you can scan and shred documents, providing any team member who needs it electronic access.
Identity Theft - Shredding files and documents helps protect your customers, patients, and employees from identity theft. Crooks have been caught going through business trash trying to find Social Security numbers and related material for scams. Medical offices, accountants, tax preparers, and health insurance brokers are especially high-value targets because Social Security numbers are in a client or patient's file.
Improved Security - From sales figures to meeting notes, you don't want outsiders going through key business data. Don't toss notes and paperwork in the trash. Shred it.
Confidentiality - For yourself and any clients, shredding improves the security of sensitive material.
Intellectual Property - Idea theft and corporate espionage is more common than you think. Even small businesses can suffer if a local competitor, let alone a large one, comes across an idea the first company is working on before it's released. Even bakeries in recent have fought over who came up with a recipe idea first. Shredding documents can protect your intellectual property while in the development phase.
Legal Requirements - Whether it's the Data Protection Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act (HIPAA), or other data security regulations, protecting and therefore shredding certain documents might be legally required for your business.
Efficiency - Manually destroying sensitive documents is time-consuming. Even using a small paper shredder can take a long time, depending upon the circumstances. Storage Quarters can either pick up and scan and shred your documents or bring its mobile shredder to your office or facility. In either case, you will receive a Certificate of Destruction.
Recycling - Material from personal or office shredders cannot be put out for normal recycling because it's tricky to process and might include mixed paper types. Professional shredding, such as Storage Quarters uses, is more environmentally friendly because we can use high-volume paper recyclers who process the shredded paper very differently for enhanced security and green results.
Save Space - It's far too easy to fall into the trap of holding onto paperwork you no longer need. Weed out old documents and save space.
Fire Safety - Related to reason #9, too much paperwork around can create a fire hazard. Some companies even have entire file rooms that can become fuel in the event of a fire.
Improve Client Trust - Demonstrating proper document security can also improve customer and patient trust.
Secure, Convenient Mobile Shredding
Don’t waste time shredding sensitive documents. Let the professionals at Storage Quarters mobile shredding division process your sensitive documents securely, quickly, and efficiently, and provide you with a Certificate of Destruction. We offer destruction consoles for rent in many situations. To get a free quote or to book our services, contact Storage Quarters today by emailing us or call us at (516) 794-7300.