3 Reasons Why Your Office Needs a Paper Shredder

How does your office handle document security? While firewalls and anti-virus/malware solutions are suitable for protecting digital data, paper documents are also a source of material for fraudsters and scammers.

If your business relies on paper documents, then it’s a good idea to invest in a paper shredder. Paper shredders reduce the risk of identity theft, which could result in huge financial losses for your company.

Recent legislation, like the HIPAA Act, requires all businesses handling sensitive documents to utilise a shredder. Office paper shredders are available in different capacities and security levels to suit your business requirements.

If a bad actor gets their hands on sensitive documents, it could spell disaster for your company. Not only are you putting your organisation at risk, but you could be jeopardising your client’s information.

Your document-handling and destruction procedures need to be airtight to prevent this kind of calamity. Fortunately, a paper shredder gives you the perfect tool for disposing of sensitive documents and materials.

There are several reasons to consider purchasing a paper shredder. Here are five worth considering.

#1 Reduce Clutter and Organise

Do you have overflowing filing cabinets? We’re all guilty of holding onto paperwork for longer than necessary. Many businesses don’t want to risk throwing away documents that could contain sensitive information, so they let them pile up.

If you move your old documents to digital format, it’s time to get rid of the physical paperwork with a paper shredder. Just think about the space you could save in your office by getting rid of those filing cabinets that are bursting at the seams.

Along with paper, some of the top models also destroy materials like plastic, allowing you to dispose of DVDs, credit cards, and other sensitive materials.

#2 Protect Sensitive Information

Do you work with documents that contain sensitive information? Use a paper shredder to prevent fraud and identity theft. Some criminals are smarter than we assume, and they spend hours digging through dumpsters to find the documents you throw away.

If these individuals come across paperwork with names, birth dates, Social Security Numbers, or banking information, it’s like they hit the jackpot.

The last thing you want is a criminal stealing your sensitive data, or worse, your client’s sensitive data. Can you imagine the legal liability if they discover your firm as the source of the leak?

#3 Legal Privacy Compliance

It’s part of any responsible company’s duties to adhere to the document destruction policies outlined in the previous point. However, it’s not only a company policy to destroy sensitive data, but it’s also the law.

HIPAA and FACTA require companies to shred their sensitive documents to protect consumers, patients, and clients.

Failing to comply with these laws could land your company in serious trouble with the government, resulting in massive fines.

The Final Thought: How Much Is a Paper Shredder Worth to Your Business?

Many business owners think they can’t afford the costs of adding a paper shredder to their operating overhead. However, based on the information in the post, it’s clear to see that your firm can’t afford to do without this device in your office.