When running a business, one must proactively destroy their sensitive data when it is no longer of use, not only to comply with data protection regulations but also to eliminate the risk of a data breach. However, some smaller companies believe that doing the shredding process in-house will be much easier and more efficient, unaware that there are other important factors to consider, such as security, time, and money.
Papers are routinely thrown away because most employees are too lazy to use a shredder, which can at times be a little irritating to use as it’s slow and prone to clogging. When you choose a professional shredding service, like Document Destruction of Virginia, skilled personnel gather and manage your sensitive information in accordance with regulations and chain of custody. At the end of the destruction process, you will be given a Certificate of Destruction, which will be very useful in case of an audit or whenever you’re asked to present confirmation that sensitive data was safely removed.
Getting Professional Help
Using an in-house shredder in the office can be quite frustrating to use and maintain regularly. With continual maintenance, repair, and replacement, an office shredder can be an unexpected financial drain when compared to the cost of outsourcing safe shredding services. Employees must also take time away from work to destroy papers, increasing the likelihood of an expensive security breach. It’s tempting to keep and archive every document your firm may ever need, but this is never a good idea.
As the amount of information your company creates grows, this becomes even more inefficient. You must identify and keep sensitive documents, but you must also identify and eliminate those that do not require storage and may be destroyed. Physical destruction, which cannot be done with store-bought shredders, is the only 100 percent secure way to permanently destroy confidential data on a hard drive.
Professional Document Destruction Services
Once you’ve decided to go ahead and hire professionals to do the shredding, the associated cost should be one of the last factors on your mind. Just think about the toll a security or data breach will have on your company (both financially and reputation-wise). You should make sure to hire a company that has the knowledge and capability to secure your company, clientele, and employees. Check to see if the company you’ve decided to work with has the industry experience and if its staff have passed training and background checks.
Regulatory Compliance
Aside from the environmental implications, just throwing away outdated documents is not a smart idea for any business in Virginia. Many sensitive documents and data are subject to federal and state laws requiring secure destruction. One of the most significant benefits of using a professional shredding service is that everything from the training and certifications of staff, to the machinery involved, are all specifically designed to ensure that these legal requirements are met.
As you can see, the most secure and cost-effective way to get rid of unused sensitive documents and data is to hire a professional destruction company. Don’t hesitate and contact us today!
