Sometimes it’s hard to believe that some businesses don’t know if their documents are being shredded on-site. Even more unbelievable, are those who discover by chance that their documents are being carted away to be shredded off-site – not shredded on-site as they thought. On-site shredding is having your documents shredded at your location. Off-site shredding is having your documents transported to another location to be shredded.
Let’s be clear – it’s not illegal, it’s not unethical, and it’s not wrong to have off-site shredding. However, every individual and business should know what happens to their documents when their sensitive information is handed over to a third-party document destruction service. However, if you have a healthy dose of paranoia and would prefer that your documents be shredded at your location – that is your right to know. Certainly, it takes more time, more fuel, and more time on-site for a company to shred your documents on-site but your peace of mind in knowing that your documents are really destroyed is priceless.
On-site or off-site? Get an understanding of the difference between both options and be confident that your documents have been shredded. Take action to understand the implication of choosing one over the other because the accountability will rest with your company and its decision maker regarding the proper destruction of the documents in your custody. With the increase in information security breaches and identity theft, companies are more likely to choose on-site shredding to be sure their confidential information has been destroyed. Even when your documents are stored off-site, it is still your responsibility to ensure that the documents are properly destroyed and a certificate of destruction is provided by the entity that shredded the documents.
For the utmost in safeguarding the confidential information in your custody, use a mobile/on-site NAID AAA Certified document destruction company to destroy your confidential documents and your hard drives on-site (at your location). Ask to witness the destruction process. It’s your right to have your shredding done right…on-site.
Sometimes choosing off-site shredding can be like simply recycling – an accident waiting to happen. Read this article for more information.
Richard Kinkead, Owner/President
Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President
SelectShred, Inc.
T: (772) 463-3166
SelectShred does shredding in Stuart shredding in Palm City shredding in Port St Lucie shredding in Fort Pierce
