Many of the companies in the U.S., including Austin, regardless of their size and nature of operations, are prone towards suffering from security breaches. There are numerous reasons about why a breach of information can possibly happen, but one of the most common would be because of the exposure of confidential information. Exposure results in being susceptible to risks, including identity theft and data breaches. With this in mind, there is no wonder why shredding services are needed. This practice is beneficial not only for companies, but also for individuals.
What to Shred
One of the first tasks that should be completed is to determine what exactly should be shredded and what should be kept. Destroy documents that contain sensitive information, such as social security numbers, signatures, passwords, and account numbers. Specifically, some of the documents that should be shredded include business plans, client lists, canceled checks, internal reports, medical records, payroll documents, expense reports, supplier reports and financial statements, among others. Shredding providerscan help you decide which documents should be destroyed and which ones should stay with you.
What Does the Law Say
Shredding services are important not only to protect individuals and businesses, but also because of the legal requirements stating the need for such. The federal government has enacted more than 40 laws related to information protection. The Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act of 2005, for instance, states the legal responsibility of businesses to protect sensitive information about their employees. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, on the other hand, requires providers of financial services to also exercise due diligence in protecting client information.
Why Work with a Professional
Some people do not recognize the need to work with professionals to dispose of personal information. Some believe they can just tear up the documents and dump the pieces in the trash bin. Some would just use an ordinary pair of scissors to destroy the documents. However, working with a professional company is highly recommended because they have the experience and expertise required to ensure security is maintained. They also have state-of-the-art equipment that guarantees the safe destruction of sensitive information. Professionals must comply with the existing laws governing companies that shred confidential documents. They can provide you with the guarantee that your documents will not get into the wrong hands.
How to Choose a Service Provider
It is critical to carefully evaluate your choices for shredding services before making a final decision. Make sure they have competitive rates and a solid reputation, including positive feedback from past clients. They should use topnotch technology and employ people you can trust. More importantly, the company should have a AAA Rating from the National Association for Information Destruction. By possessing thisrating the company is a businessthat complies with the existing laws and is certified because of their practices to protect confidential information.