When most people think about document destruction, they think about the end of the paper trail – when all important and confidential documents have been shredded and disposed of in a secure manner. However, document destruction is actually much more than that. It is an essential part of business life, and one that should be given careful consideration.
In this article, we will discuss the different document destruction services that are available, as well as what you need to know about prices and security.
There are a number of different service providers that offer document destruction services. Some of these are national companies, while others are local businesses. The type of service that you choose will depend on your needs and budget. National companies tend to be more expensive, but they often have more comprehensive services.
Cutting edge payroll software
- Powerful and easy to use
- HMRC & RTI compliant
- Used by payroll pros
The CRM platform to grow your business
- Great for entrepreneurs
- Powerful data analytics
- Manage sales and data
Powerful web builder and advanced business tools
- Great for startups
- Powerful web page builder
- E-commerce available
Supercharged content planning
- Great for marketing
- Better than lists or sheets
- Manage social media
Create a new website in 10 minutes. Easy.
- Launch your website fast
- Powerful data intuitive
- No coding skills needed
Why document destruction is so important
- It helps to protect your business from identity theft and fraud. When confidential documents are shredded, they can no longer be used to commit these crimes.
- Document destruction helps to ensure compliance with data protection laws and regulations, such as the GDPR. Not only does this protect your business, but it also protects your customers and clients.
When it comes to choosing a document destruction service, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. The first is the type of documents you need to be destroyed. This will determine the type of service you need, as well as the price.
For example, if you need to destroy sensitive financial documents, you will need a service that is specifically designed for this purpose. The second thing to consider is the security of the document destruction process. This is essential in order to protect your business from data breaches and other security risks.
When it comes to security, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to make sure that the service you use is GDPR compliant. This means that they will take all necessary steps to protect your data, including encrypting it and ensuring its destruction in a secure manner. You should also check that the company you use is registered with the ICO, which is the UK’s data protection regulator.
Finally, you should always ask for a certificate of destruction, which will provide evidence that your documents have been destroyed in a secure manner.
What documents should you destroy?
- Financial documents
- Customer data
- Employee records
- Medical records
- Internal communications
- Product information
| Don’t overlook papers that don’t appear to be sensitive |
|---|
| These could cause issues if they fell into the wrong hands—like a list of all your employees’ birthdates, CV’s from applicants to jobs at your company, or meeting minutes that mention upcoming product launches before they’ve been made public. |
When in doubt, shred it
If you’re not sure whether or not a document should be destroyed, the best course of action is to err on the side of caution and shred it. This way, you can rest assured knowing that your confidential information is safe and secure.
The document destruction process is important for a number of reasons, including protection from identity theft, fraud, and data breaches. When choosing a service provider, you need to consider the type of documents you need to be destroyed, as well as the security of the process.
The cost of document destruction services can vary depending on a number of factors, but it is important to ensure that the service you use is GDPR compliant and registered with the ICO. You should also ask for a certificate of destruction. When in doubt, always shred the document. This way, you can be sure that your confidential information is safe and secure.
Cost of document destruction services
Some businesses may feel that they can save money by destroying their documents themselves. However, this is not recommended for a number of reasons. First, it is important to remember that data protection laws still apply, even if you are destroying the documents yourself. This means that you need to take all necessary steps to protect your data, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, it can be very difficult to ensure that all documents are destroyed in a secure manner.
Here are the factors that impact the cost, these vary depending on the type of service you require.
- Amount of documents
- Location
- Where you want them shredded
- How regularly you require the service
On-site vs off-site document destruction
The security of the document destruction process is essential to protect your business from data breaches and other security risks.
The level of security you require will also differ depending on the type of business you have. For example, a law firm handling sensitive client data will require a higher level of security than a small business destroying old invoices.
On-site document destruction
This is where a team comes to your premises and destroys the documents on-site.
The advantage on-site document destruction is that you can witness the destruction taking place and have peace of mind that your documents have been destroyed securely.
Off-site document destruction
This is where the documents are collected from your premises and taken to a secure facility to be destroyed.
The advantage of this is that it is often more cost-effective than on-site destruction.
Whichever option you choose, make sure you do your research to ensure that your documents are being destroyed in a secure and compliant manner.
Security considerations
Make sure that the service you use is GDPR compliant as hefty fines can be imposed for data breaches. Make sure they follow a secure chain of custody – this means that your documents are secure from the moment they are collected until they are destroyed.
Check that the company you use is registered with the ICO and always ask for a certificate of destruction as proof that your documents have been destroyed.
When choosing a document destruction service, security should be your top priority. Make sure you do your research to ensure that your documents are being destroyed in a secure and compliant manner
How to find a reputable service
When looking for a reputable service, make sure to check for GDPR compliance, registration with ICO, and a secure chain of custody. You should also check customer reviews and testimonials to get an idea of the quality of the service.
FAQ
Document destruction is the process of destroying confidential or sensitive documents in a secure manner. This can be done either manually or using a shredding machine.
protect your business from identity theft and fraud. When confidential documents are shredded, they can no longer be used to commit these crimes. Additionally, document destruction helps to ensure compliance with data protection laws and regulations, such as the GDPR. Not only does this protect your business, but it also protects your customers and clients.
The cost of document destruction services can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the type of service you choose and the amount of documents you need to be destroyed.
When it comes to choosing a document destruction service, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. The first is the type of documents you need to be destroyed. This will determine the type of service you need, as well as the price. For example, if you need to destroy sensitive financial documents, you will need a service that is specifically designed for this purpose. The second thing to consider is the security of the document destruction process. This is essential in order to protect your business from data breaches and other security risks.
Yes, all document destruction services must be GDPR compliant in order to protect your data. This means that they will take all necessary steps to protect your data, including encrypting it and ensuring its destruction in a secure manner.
Yes, you should always ask for a certificate of destruction when you use a document destruction service. This will provide evidence that your documents have been destroyed in a secure manner.
The ICO is the UK’s data protection regulator. All document destruction companies must be registered with the ICO in order to operate legally.