Every
business has documents that, if it they found their way into the wrong hands,
could prove highly dangerous. Are you doing enough to protect such sensitive
information? And are your waste disposal and paper shredding procedures secure?
North
West based ecoshred (www.ecoshreduk.com) are experts in
confidential shredding and waste disposal, servicing business across
Manchester, Liverpool, Warrington and beyond. They’ve highlighted five
commonly-asked questions regarding shredding services – and why your business
can’t afford to be without one...
Identity
fraud is a very serious problem – indeed, it’s believe that over 100,000 people
in the UK are affected by it each year. We hear a lot about details being
gained fraudulently by computer hacking, but often such information is accessed
from hard copies of confidential documents. This can be avoided by hiring a
trusted waste disposal service to destroy the information safely and securely.
What Sort of
Documents Should I Shred?
This
really depends on the sort of business you run. Confidential documents that
should be shredded securely include correspondence you’ve had with customers
and suppliers (especially if banking details are included), invoices,
accounting information, business plans – anything with sensitive data that
could potentially be used for fraudulent purposes or to damage your business.
Why Trust A
Shredding Service – Isn’t It Safer To Do My Own Document Shredding?
Of
course, you want to make sure whoever’s looking after the disposal of
confidential materials is to be trusted. Make sure the company you choose performs
vigorous background checks on their employees, and don’t let anyone into your
building without proper identification. As for shredding your own documents, using
a shredding service will save you money – it can be up to five times cheaper
than running your own shredders.
Should I Shred
On-site or Off-site?
It’s
always better to have your documents shredded on your own premises, as it’s
much more secure. The further away from your offices your documents are taken,
the more chance they have to go missing or be intercepted. You could even ask
to watch the shredding take place, especially if you’re dealing with highly
sensitive information.
What Happens To My
Documents Once They’ve Been Shredded?
This
depends on the shredding service you choose. A good service will recycle your
documents for you, and should be able to provide evidence of the energy they’ve
saved you. With more and more companies focusing on green policies as part of
their commitments to CSR, anything you can do to help the environment should be
welcomed.
About ecoshred
Businesses
across the North West, including Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Wigan and St Helens,
are taking advantage of ecoshred’s trusted on-site document shredding services.
Ecoshred
are experienced in destroying and securely disposing of confidential documents
and data. And for your peace of mind, all of Ecoshred’s personnel are fully
certified, with thorough background checks and drug screenings.
And
if you’re concerned about the environmental impact your business is making, ecoshred
will even provide you with an Environmental Certificate, showing how using
their services has improved your green credentials.