SELECTSHRED | IT’S PUBLIC INFORMATION—NO NEED TO SHRED. IS THAT REALLY TRUE? – PORT SAINT LUCIE SHREDDING FORT PIERCE SHREDDING INDIANTOWN SHREDDING STUART SHREDDING PALM CITY SHREDDING OKEECHOBEE SHREDDING HOBE SOUND SHREDDING

“It is public information and there is no reason to shred it. If we see there is no confidential information on the paper, we are absolutely confident in putting it in the trash or in a recycle bin.” Is that really true? Even with requests for public information, there is accountability involved. When requests for information are made to public agencies, some information is responsibly blotted out and a chain of custody is established (who is asking for the information). This is done to maintain confidentiality and establish accountability. Whether you are a financial institution, medical facility, or government agency, it is never acceptable to have information casually passed around or discarded.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is very emphatic with its FACTA Disposal Rule and states that it applies to large and small organizations such as consumer reporting companies, lenders, insurers, employers, landlords, government agencies, mortgage brokers, car dealerships, attorneys, private investigators, and debt collectors. Your organization has an obligation to protect the identity and privacy of the public, clients or customers when their personal information is collected to conduct business. It is the legal right of the public, clients, and customers to expect any organization to take every precaution to protect their confidential information, including shredding the information before it is discarded. Click on the following link to learn about the FACTA Disposal Rule http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2005/06/facta-disposal-rule-goes-effect-june-1

As we have said in the past, accountability is paramount in protecting your establishment in case of an alleged data breach. Everything will rest on what you have in place to prove that you have done everything in your power to avoid data breaches, protect privacy, and safeguard the confidential information in your custody. Otherwise, you might face daunting legal issues, fines, destroyed reputation, and even settlement costs. Even public agencies can get drawn into costly legal battles when seemingly benign information such as email addresses get exposed without the expressed consent of the owner. Use a NAID AAA Certified company that can provide assistance in reviewing and preparing written document security and destruction policies and procedures, and assist in staff training.

In addition to preventing information from getting into the wrong hands, let’s consider that all shredded materials are recycled into new paper products. It is kept out of the landfills and has become a reusable resource.

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | IS YOUR DOCUMENT DISPOSAL PROCESS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN? – PORT SAINT LUCIE SHREDDING FORT PIERCE SHREDDING INDIANTOWN SHREDDING STUART SHREDDING PALM CITY SHREDDING OKEECHOBEE SHREDDING HOBE SOUND SHREDDING

Accidents happen but don’t let your document disposal process be an accident waiting to happen. We always advocate that you should shred first and then recycle. Recycling without first shredding your paper documents is not the most secure method for disposing of confidential information. Recycling whole paper can cause your business to be vulnerable to the liabilities and penalties from information security breaches.

Shredding is the most common acceptable method of confidential document destruction and is considered as taking reasonable measures to protect against unauthorized access to or use of information when it is disposed of. Don’t let sensitive information accidentally get into the wrong hands. Paper documents sent for recycling are often manually sorted in usable and intact form, rendering the confidential information vulnerable to misuse. Recycling also provides no documentation that confidential information has been securely destroyed. Recycling without shredding by a third party presents the same vulnerabilities as putting confidential information in the trash.

The practice of using recycling as a method of discarding information will not provide appropriate legal protection in case of an information security breach. Recycling alone will not provide a certificate of destruction. However, an on-site third party shredding service will provide a certificate of destruction, prove that a business took all reasonable measures to avoid an information security breach, and provide appropriate legal protection. Also, remember you are still green when you shred first with a reputable, responsible mobile shredding service because all shredded materials are recycled into new paper products.

Shredding with a third party service such as a NAID AAA Certified company that destroys the confidential documents at your location is your best guarantee to fight identity theft, safeguard confidential information, and protect your company’s proprietary information.

Click on the following link to see one of the vulnerabilities of recycling without shredding first with a secure mobile/on site document shredding service. http://wgntv.com/2014/06/03/sb-dan-ryan-shutdown-at-95th-due-to-crash-involving-bus-semi/

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | HARD DRIVE DESTRUCTION – STUART SHREDDING AND HARD DRIVE DESTRUCTION PALM CITY SHREDDING AND HARD DRIVE DESTRUCTION PORT SAINT LUCIE SHREDDING AND HARD DRIVE DESTRUCTION FORT PIERCE SHREDDING AND HARD DRIVE DESTRUCTION

How often do you think of hard drive destruction and the importance of destroying the information on hard drives so that it never comes back to haunt you? We get it about document destruction. We know that we should shred documents so that their contents can never be retrieved. The same thinking should apply to properly destroying information on hard drives.

In addition to paper records, many businesses and individuals keep confidential information on computer hard drives. Commercial photocopier hard drives also store the processed images. Certain video recorders also store data on hard drives. Damaged or outdated hard drives must be destroyed to ensure that confidential information is not compromised. Simply erasing electronic files or formatting hard drives does not destroy the stored information. A hard drive contains an indexing table that points to the location of file contents. “Permanently deleting” electronic files from a hard drive removes the indicator of where the file information is located on the hard drive, but does not actually remove file contents. Also, formatting hard drives destroys the indexing table but does not remove the file contents. These file contents are routinely recovered and reassembled with hard drive data recovery software, unless the platters on which the information is stored are physically distorted/damaged. Complete hard drive data destruction requires physical destruction of the hard drive by physical distortion of the platters. Do not use a hammer or drill to destroy a hard drive. It is unsafe, uneconomical, and a waste of your time. There is a safe and secure alternative!

Some shredding trucks (such as SelectShred’s) have hard drive destroyers that physically destroy the platters, rendering the hard drives unusable and data irretrievable. You can witness the on-site hard drive destruction. The hard drives can be returned to you. However, it is best to have them responsibly disposed of, wherein the rare earth magnets and other metals in the hard drives are extracted and recycled, ensuring total destruction of the drives and keeping toxic materials out of the landfills. The hard drive serial numbers are recorded and certificates of destruction are provided. This process assures you of the ultimate destruction of information stored on hard drives.

Do not allow your personal or corporate information to be retrieved from carelessly discarded hard drives (not physically destroyed) and be misused. Please read the article contained in this link: http://www.sdbmagazine.com/sdb0514-digital-security.aspx

For additional information, please call us.

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | WHAT DOES THE RED FLAGS RULE MEAN TO YOU?

It seems that every day there is a report of another data security breach and the ongoing fight against identity theft continues. Unfortunately, some of the data breaches occur in our own companies and sometimes involve trusted employees. The Red Flags Rule requires businesses and organizations to implement a written identity program for detecting the “red flags” of identity theft.  The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Red Flags Rule with several other agencies.

On January 1, 2011, the FTC began enforcing its Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) Red Flags Rule. It requires organizations that extend payment terms to customers to implement a written identity theft prevention program which identifies customer information that is vulnerable to unauthorized access; institutes precautions to address those identity theft vulnerabilities and train employees to comply with the precautions; alert the authorities or alert potential victims when a threat to identity theft is realized; have the program signed by the board or company owners annually; and require audits of data-related vendors with access to personal information. Follow this link for additional information: http://www.business.ftc.gov/documents/bus23-fighting-identity-theft-red-flags-rule-how-guide-business

The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) plays an important role in encouraging its service provider members to help with customer’s Red Flags Rule compliance. A NAID AAA Certified company’s compliance with NAID standards ensures that you are compliant with the federal regulations that govern your industry such as FACTA, GLBA, and HIPAA.  A NAID AAA Certified company performs the due diligence that is required to make sure that when your company uses a shredding service, the personnel that handles your confidential information have undergone initial and random drug/substance abuse monitoring, initial and periodic criminal record searches, driver record reviews, employee training, access control, and other factors covered by NAID Certification. Follow this link to read more: https://www.proshred.com/selectshred/wp-content/themes/Liveset/pdf/313_NAID-RedFlags-brochure.pdf

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | SHREDDING FOR THE RIGHT REASONS – PORT ST. LUCIE SHREDDING FORT PIERCE SHREDDING INDIANTOWN SHREDDING

Shredding documents is sometimes seen as a suspicious activity. Any movie scene involving document shredding is always filled with suspicion or humor. However, routinely shredding confidential information is far from being suspicious or humorous. Routine shredding indicates systematic sound operations and a responsible corporate/business culture. Developing the routine of shredding with a third party vendor should be encouraged to prevent identity theft, comply with federal regulations, and to avoid fines. Most importantly, the protection of individual privacy and a company’s reputation are not in jeopardy when a secure document destruction program is in place. Follow this link for additional information on the importance of routine and complete shredding. http://usarmy.vo.llnwd.net/e2/c/downloads/328412.pdf

The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) says that even when organizations shred for the right reasons, some practices may promote the appearance of impropriety, especially if a third party contractor is excluded from the process. NAID shares some ways to minimize any impression of wrongdoing: Shred on a regular schedule, use your shredding contractor for all of your shredding, treat all documents equally and shred everything. Have a destruction policy. NAID emphasizes that you should never let some records go in the trash while you shred other records. https://www.proshred.com/selectshred/wp-content/themes/Liveset/pdf/62_Shred_FATRR_flyer.pdf

When you shred, for the best security and protection, do the following:

• Use a NAID AAA Certified company.
• Ask if the documents are shredded at your location.
• Consider the qualifications and certifications of your document destruction company.
• Have a recurring shredding service for daily security of documents and to avoid sporadic shredding.
• Receive a certificate of destruction after each service. It is a legal document that proves you used a third party for the proper destruction and disposal of your confidential information.

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD COMPLIANCE – INDIANTOWN SHREDDING PORT ST LUCIE SHREDDING FORT PIERCE SHREDDING PALM CITY SHREDDING STUART SHREDDING JENSEN BEACH SHREDDING PALM BEACH GARDENS SHREDDING OKEECHOBEE SHREDDING

Why is there an urgency to forge an immediate partnership with a secure on-site document destruction/shredding service as federal regulations requiring compliance deadlines draw near? Healthcare organizations have been charged with safeguarding confidential information and protecting patient privacy (thereby avoiding fines or criminal and civil prosecution), but now Medicare physician fee payments will be impacted if electronic health record (EHR) compliance is not met.

Since 1996, medical facilities, doctors’ offices, and hospitals have been required to comply with provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by protecting patient privacy. The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act), enacted under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), significantly increased data protection requirements for all healthcare organizations. The HITECH Act includes data breach notification. Any breach of confidentiality such as improperly discarded documents must be reported to the authorities, patients, and the media. The HITECH Act also allows for increased enforcement and fines of up to $1,500,000 per incident. Although the electronic health record compliance requirement was created by the ARRA and included Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments for healthcare providers, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 goes further and will reduce Medicare physician fee payments if EHR compliance is not met by early 2015. http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/faqs/are-there-penalties-providers-who-don%E2%80%99t-switch-electronic-health-record.

As we work with doctors’ offices that are scanning their patient charts for EHR compliance, we realize that some medical facilities are still not as informed as they should be about the importance of using a third-party vendor to provide shredding services to ensure federal and state compliance with regard to securing and discarding the confidential information of their patients. In 2006, the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) did a survey that found 54% of healthcare organizations outsourced their information destruction needs. The same survey also showed that the trend in outsourcing was increasing. Your best protection is the use of a NAID AAA Certified document destruction company. With a third party vendor, outsourcing your shredding is more secure, it is less expensive, and there is a record of compliance. A document destruction company provides a certificate of destruction after each service.

For doctors and medical facilities in Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Rio, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, Sewall’s Point, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Jupiter Island, West Palm Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens, Indiantown, Okeechobee, and Vero Beach, it is important to understand that a secure on-site NAID AAA Certified document destruction company with a mobile shred truck that arrives at your location and shreds all documents at your location is your greatest ally to help you avoid fines and lost reputation, and to comply with federal regulations. With the implementation of EHR for all healthcare providers, the need for secure document destruction increases—not decreases. Click on the following links for additional information.http://www.isalushealthcare.com/Resources/ElectronicMedicalRecordsMandate.aspx

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | HOW EFFECTIVE IS YOUR COMMUNICATION? – INDIANTOWN SHREDDING

Effective communication helps us understand each other better.  As we improve our communication in business, just like in personal relationships, we are able to resolve conflicts, build trust and respect. The communication process is no different when dealing with your shredding service.  Is it really only about how much?  What is the lowest price?  Should how low can you go be the greatest concern?

It was with pride that we furnished documents to a prospective customer who wanted to see our qualifications to prove what we claim to do.  This matters!  Why? Knowing who you are entrusting to handle your confidential information is your ultimate responsibility because it will never be enough to say that you used a third party without asking for the proper credentials.  Would you entrust any important job in your home or company without meeting a company representative and requesting documentation about their work history?

Many businesses do not know what happens to their confidential information when the shredding company shows up.  Is it shredded on-site (at your location) or is it taken to a remote facility for sorting, etc.  Don’t maintain the status quo.  Know where your confidential ends up.  Ideally, your confidential documents should be shredded at your location and the shredded materials taken to a recycling facility.  You should also receive a certificate of destruction after each service.

Communication is definitely a two-way street.  It is also our obligation to inform you of what you should be looking for when you look for a shredding service. We are obligated to build a relationship wherein we can explain options that can significantly contribute to the security, efficiency, and profitability of your organization.  Only in going beyond “just give me a number—your lowest price” can we develop this mutually beneficial relationship.

Encourage and build a strong communication relationship with your locally owned and operated mobile/on-site shredding company that is NAID AAA Certified.  A NAID AAA Certified company adheres to strict standards in the document destruction industry. Develop a partnership and form a strong alliance in the ongoing effort to fight identity theft, safeguard confidential information, and protect individual privacy rights.

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | SHRED EVENTS—WHAT’S YOUR REASON?

It’s that time of year when thoughts turn to clearing clutter, championing charitable events, closing chapters (moving to new homes, offices, or areas). Whatever the reason for shredding, the positive end results are the same.  Shredding is an additional tool in our arsenal to fight identity theft, protect our personal information, maintain our privacy, and safeguard the confidential information of our customers or clients. Of course, there is an array of resources available to fight identity theft but shredding confidential documents is only one important layer of protection.

Certainly a shred event is an opportunity to turn an important and necessary activity into a chance to get out and fundraise for a good cause. It can be a chance for professional organizations to provide an opportunity for their clients to dispose of their confidential information in a safe environment. It is an opportunity for each person to come out with others as they do the right thing by properly disposing of sensitive data that they are no longer required to keep.

A shred event will always be a great public service opportunity to promote the awareness of identity theft and the importance of shredding to keep your sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands. It is common knowledge that to avoid identity theft or information theft, outdated files should be destroyed by shredding.

We look forward to our partnership with the Hobe Sound/Port Salerno Rotary Club in hosting a Shred Event at Sailfish Splash Waterpark in Stuart. Follow the link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1481030832110833/?ref=22

We also look forward to contributing to more community shred events that enlighten our neighbors about the perils of identity theft and what they can do to prevent it. Come out and have the opportunity to learn about a NAID AAA Certified mobile/on-site shredding company. Learn about compliance with federal regulations such as FACTA, HIPAA, and GLBA. Experience a shred event where your documents will not be carted away to be sorted and shredded at another location at another time but will be shredded on-site. All shredded materials will be recycled into new paper products.

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | DOCUMENT SHREDDING—WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE?

All business owners and responsible managers worry about risk and reputation. However, due to a lack of information about data security and destruction, many do not understand the risks that result from complacency about implementing procedures to safeguard the confidential information in their custody. Rather than worrying about risk and reputation only, one should learn why it is important to shred confidential information with a third party service and understand the message you send when you don’t.

The message that you want to send to your employees and customers/clients is that you care. You care enough to implement a formal data security, destruction, and disposal program. You show you care by using a NAID AAA Certified company that will help you to manage risk and protect your reputation by safeguarding your confidential information. You show you care by ensuring that you receive a certificate of destruction after each shredding service. Never let the message be that you do not care about properly securing and destroying sensitive data. Without proper action taken, your company, employees, and customer/clients are in jeopardy because there is a lack of accountability. This lack of accountability contributes to the risks of privacy violations and identity theft.

Sometimes it is easy but risky to consider document shredding as a secondary component to running a successful business. However, all privacy laws require the secure destruction of confidential information when it is no longer needed. Data breaches and unprotected proprietary information can lead to stiff fines. It pays to remember that when you shred confidential information, you are managing risk and protecting your reputation. You are also helping the environment when you choose a NAID AAA Certified shredding service to shred your confidential information because all shredded materials are recycled into new paper products.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is charged with consumer protection and pursues vigorous and effective law enforcement. The FTC provides current information that can help your business be compliant with federal laws and regulations.

http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/01/provider-medical-transcript-services-settles-ftc-charges-it

“Never neglect the little things. Never skimp on that extra effort, that additional few minutes, that soft word of praise or thanks, that delivery of the very best that you can do. It does not matter what others think, it is of prime importance, however, what you think about you. You can never do your best, which should always be your trademark, if you are cutting corners and shirking responsibilities. You are special. Act it. Never neglect the little things.”
― Og Mandino

Richard Kinkead, Owner/President

Gloria Kinkead, Owner/Vice President

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com

SELECTSHRED | IS YOUR BUSINESS TIRED OF SHREDDING ITS MONEY AND RISKING ITS REPUTATION? – JENSEN BEACH MOBILE SHREDDER PALM BEACH GARDENS MOBILE SHREDDER PORT ST LUCIE MOBILE SHREDDER FORT PIERCE MOBILE SHREDDER STUART MOBILE SHREDDER OKEECHOBEE MOBILE SHREDDER

Recently, the calls have been coming in about the burned out office shredders. It does seem like a great plan to shred in-house but the reality is that the busier an office becomes, the less likely it is that valuable staff time will be spent feeding the office shredder on a daily basis. Every time your employee feeds paper into the office shredder, your business is as good as shredding its money and its profits as well as risking its reputation. A lawyer said “We all try the office shredder and realize that it is not the solution.”  The office manager for a doctor said “Look at these three office shredders, they have all burned out and we still have stacks of paper that we need to shred.”

Here is our reminder.

■Office shredders are a chore to use but a recurring shredding service is secure, economical, and convenient.

■Office shredders decrease productivity and decrease profitability, costing twice as much to use as a recurring shredding service.

■Office shredders require maintenance and frequent replacement.

■Office shredders provide no record of compliant document destruction program but a NAID AAA Certified Company provides you with documentation if legal allegations arise or audits get done.

Remember, shredded paper that is placed in plastic bags and thrown in the trash carries every bit of information that you tried to destroy and you have no legal ownership of the trash — just ownership of the bad publicity due to misuse of the information taken from the dumpster. Also, it is easier to avoid large fines if you have a document security program in place that is compliant with federal regulations such as FACTA, GLBA, and HIPAA.

As a business owner, you are probably constantly worried about your reputation and costs. One of the best ways to protect your reputation and keep your revenue is to understand the repercussions of improper document security and disposal and implement procedures to avoid fines and litigation.

Richard Kinkead & Gloria Kinkead

SelectShred, Inc.

T: (772) 463-3166

info@selectshred.com