Data security is on the minds of many business owners. And it should be. According to a 2017 Cost of Data Breach Study, the average data breach in the U.S. cost $7.35million. The average cost per stolen record? $225. Aside from the monetary costs, a data breach can also significantly damage a company’s reputation and customer loyalty.

Selecting Your Document Destruction Partner

One way to keep your confidential data secure is to properly shred any paper documents that contain identifying information. But how do you find a document destruction company that you can trust to securely destroy your information? Giving a company access to all of your business’s confidential information is a big deal, so it is important to find the right fit. When you are shopping around for a reliable shredding company be sure to evaluate these key items:

1. Reputation

Do your due diligence and ask around about the document destruction company you are considering. This includes online research, asking for references (and actually checking them out), consulting with other business owners, and reading any reviews. The company you choose to handle your confidential information should have established themselves as leaders in their industry with a great service record. Don’t leave the security of your business in the hands of a company that has no experience, or even worse, experienced security issues themselves.

2. Operation Style

This is a big one. You should definitely meet with a company’s representatives to discuss their security and destruction processes. If feasible, take a tour of their facility. Also ask about the company’s hiring process and security training. If the company does not conduct background checks on new hires, have strict security training or protocols it is best to keep searching. The right shredding company will make security their first priority and be able to clearly explain their protocols to any prospective clients.

3. Compliance

Whether you are choosing to enlist in on or off-site destruction services, the company you select should be able to provide you with guidance on security laws and legislation for your industry and geographical area. Your chosen shredding service provider should work as your partner willing to work with you to implement proper security protocols that keep your business in compliance.

4. Chain of Custody

Once confidential information is no longer needed in the workplace, implementing proper chain of custody protocols is imperative. A shredding company should provide you with locked, tamper-proof consoles, secure information pick-up and destruction. Along the way, there should be a paper trail documenting the entire process. There should also be a similar process for the secure storage, pick-up, and destruction of hard drives and other electronic devices as well.

5. Proof of Destruction

After ever shred your document destruction company should provide you with a Certificate of Destruction. This guarantees that the documents have been securely destroyed. It is also important for compliance purposes.

6. Environmentally Friendly

While not necessarily important to your business’s information security, it is important to select an environmentally conscious company to do your shredding. Ask what they do with the paper and electronics once they are securely destroyed. For instance, Confidata sends the shredded paper to local NYS paper mills. From there they are recycled into products such as toilet paper, paper towels, and tissues.

Protect Your Business with Secure Document Shredding

Confidata works together with businesses in the Albany, Syracuse, and Utica areas to securely destroy paper documents and electronic devices. Learn how we can help become a partner in your security protocols by filling out our contact form or calling 1-800-62-SHRED.