It’s an unfortunate reality that many people have been victims of identity theft. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre states that roughly 45,000 people were victims in 2019. Despite these statistics, identity theft continues to be a very lucrative business.
To help protect yourself against this problem, experts recommend that you chop-chop. This means taking on mobile shredding services to safeguard your sensitive information.
Table of Contents
Points You Need To Take Into Account
But before you cut your choice of services down to just one, here are five things you should consider:
1. Does the company know everything about compliance laws?
Never cut corners when it comes to compliance. Your company should be up-to-date on all laws and regulations that apply to your line of work. Be sure to check out the company’s statements on their use of compliance software. If they don’t seem knowledgeable, think twice.
Most states now need background checks for businesses that handle confidential data. If a company has a record of unsafe behavior, reconsider your options.
Look for companies that are HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant. HIPAA is a federal law that governs handling protocol for medical information. If possible, also check if they are AAA (Accounting and Accountability Association) compliant. It requires more stringent standards from the business.
Always do your homework beforehand. Check a company’s reputation and what the BBB (Better Business Bureau) says. Read online reviews as well.
2. Can you trust their shedding process?
The company must have a secure procedure for document shredding. Check if they use the highest-quality cross-cut shredders.
Additionally, a good company should have a certified on-site shredding facility. This means that you can have personal hands-on control over the process.
3. Are they willing to give you a certification of destruction?
Make sure the company is willing to give you proof that they are holding up their end of the bargain. Many companies offer a certificate of destruction for each client they work with. This lets you know for sure that all the documents you’ve given them are now history.
4. Are they environmentally friendly?
Another critical factor to consider is its disposal process. Many companies will be happy to take your hard drive, USB drive, or other electronic media. Other services use plastic bags instead of paper. The latter may be a better option for the environment.
5. Do they care about privacy?
Ask if the employees at the company need to watch you shred your documents. If you are very concerned about privacy, this could be a deal-breaker.
Check and see if they offer to walk you through the service. If not, they should have an area where you can watch them destroy your documents on camera. Otherwise, you may end up sending your information to the wrong company.
These are some of the things you need to consider when selecting a mobile shredding company. A small investment in their service can protect you from huge financial loss down the road.
