Best Practices for Document Destruction
Destroying confidential documents is easier than it seems without lighting up a massive bonfire to burn everything! You need a device that is specially designed to do this: A paper shredder. Different types of document shredders are available on the market. Depending on whether you are a homemaker, head of a major firm, or director of an intelligence service, your perception of the word “confidentiality” will be very different. 
Paper shredding machines are the most common tools that help destroy confidential documents. The advantage of paper shredders is that they can ruin several pages at a time. The pieces are then recovered directly into a closed basket. Some models offer straight cuts. Others are crosscuts for optimized safety. Some models are also capable of destroying cards and other complex paper types.
Remove the Documents that You no Longer Need
Every month, there is a bombardment of various documents that contain sensitive information: bank statements, invoices, receipts, and the list goes on. Sometimes, you might have confidential company documents that must be appropriately destroyed.
As one of the best practices for document destruction, sort through these documents and remove the ones you do not need. Using a professional paper shredder is always an excellent option. Other methods like burning the papers and throwing the ash in the sink will also eliminate them for good. Extracting information from burned-out ash is impossible, but that method takes longer and makes a much bigger mess!
Do not Throw Sensitive Papers in a Bin
Throwing away papers with sensitive or private information in the trash bin is unsafe. Maybe you work for the government or a company that manages confidential data. Throwing these papers in the garbage is not enough to protect them from those looking for specific information.
Learn how to destroy these documents to protect yourself from the illegal or malicious use of this information. Following the best practices for document destruction is vital to keep you and your company safe.
Investing in a Paper Shredder
A paper shredder is the best choice for document destruction. When you decide on a paper shredder, it is essential to use a crosscut mill, not a straight-cut mill, resulting in finer paper webs. This will prevent people with unauthorized access from piecing together the pages with paper strips. Choose a machine that cuts the paper into strips up to 0.5 mm wide and 0.5 cm long.
Security Level of the Paper Shredder
Considering the best practices for document destruction, experts recommend checking the security level of the paper shredder. A higher security measure would indicate how efficiently the machine cuts the paper. Paper mills are available in office supply stores and are classified into several security levels, depending on the smoothness of the cut strips.
The more fine bands the machine has, the higher the security level. Most companies provide paper shredders that are much more advanced and sophisticated options for document destruction. They offer a higher option for secure paper shredding or other document destruction services.
Shred Your Documents Regularly
Make it a routine to shred your papers. Having a fixed schedule for document destruction will save you and your company plenty of time. An added benefit of having a set schedule is that you won’t have to go through a massive pile of sensitive documents.
Scheduled shredding is one of the best practices for document destruction. It helps minimize the risk of an intentional or unintentional breach in the database. Regular shredding will prevent the information from falling into the wrong hands.
Use Professional Document Destruction Services
What if you have many sensitive documents that need to be destroyed but do not have the time or the equipment to do it securely? Hiring a professional service is always one of the best practices for document destruction. Many companies provide expert services for eliminating sensitive documents with confidentiality. These professional services will eliminate sensitive documents without compromising trade secrets, client lists, and other sensitive company information.
Training your Staff about Properly Securing the Document Destruction
It’s always one of the best practices for document destruction to arrange staff training about properly disposing of documents with sensitive company information. Training your staff about document destruction will help keep confidential data safe. Employees themselves can be held responsible for the theft of trade secrets. Holding each employee accountable for their data is a good practice for document destruction.
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