We all know the importance of shredding sensitive information. But is it really necessary to shred documents beyond those that are obviously confidential?
The answer is yes.
Many types of documents, from outdated contracts to old business records, can pose a security risk if not disposed of properly.
Armstrong Archives is dedicated to safeguarding your sensitive information with our secure shredding services.
We understand that shredding important documents is as much a regulatory requirement as it is a vital step in protecting against potential misuse. Our shredding services are both fast and efficient. We take care of everything from easy pickup to secure destruction, so you can relax while we handle the process.
In this blog, we discuss why shredding important documents is crucial, the types of documents to shred, and the risks of not properly disposing of sensitive paperwork.
Key Documents You Should Shred
Categorizing essential documents for shredding helps you stay organized and ensures you don’t overlook important items.
Here’s a comprehensive list of what documents need to be shredded:
Financial Records (Bank Statements, Tax Documents)
Shredding personal documents like bank statements and tax documents is essential to prevent identity theft. These documents contain sensitive information such as account numbers, social security numbers, and financial details. If not properly shredded, miscreants can use them to open fraudulent accounts or commit financial fraud.
You must shred financial records regularly, especially if they are outdated or no longer needed for tax purposes. Professional shredding ensures these important documents are destroyed securely to eliminate the risk of misuse.
Legal Records
Legal documents must be carefully protected due to the sensitive nature of the information they contain.
Such records may include contracts, court cases, and personal legal matters, all of which usually contain your full name, address, and even social security number.
If these documents fall into the wrong hands, they can be used to commit identity theft, fraud, and other forms of personal or financial abuse. That’s why it’s important to shred legal documents once they are no longer needed or have passed their legal retention period.
Medical Documents
Medical records require stringent protection because they contain highly sensitive personal health information.
Fraudsters gaining access to your medical records can see your healthcare history, misuse your prescriptions, or even make false claims under your name. This could lead to incorrect prescriptions being filled or unauthorized treatments being billed to your insurance.
Shredding medical documents once they are no longer needed helps protect your privacy and ensures your personal health information remains secure.
Utilizing professional shredding services ensures medical records are permanently destroyed and mitigates the risk of identity theft or medical fraud.
Credit Card Offers and Utility Bills
Should I shred credit card offers?
That’s an important question, given the rising incidents of identity theft.
In 2023, 52 million Americans experienced fraudulent charges on their credit or debit cards, with unauthorized purchases exceeding $5 billion. Credit card offers contain your name, address, and sometimes account numbers, making them a target for criminals.
The same goes for other similar documents, in case you’re wondering if you should shred utility bills. Shredding documents with key details is crucial to prevent unauthorized access to your financial and personal information.
Having such documents professionally shredded regularly protects you from identity theft and financial fraud. Professional shredding services can handle this process efficiently and ensure all sensitive information is securely destroyed.
Receipts with Personal Information
Do you need to shred receipts? Yes, especially if they contain personal information like your credit card number or other identifying details. As long as they include personal data, receipts can be a goldmine for identity thieves.
It is important to shred receipts once they are no longer needed for record-keeping or returns. Hiring a professional shredding service ensures all sensitive information is securely and thoroughly destroyed, offering you peace of mind.
Why Shredding Documents is Essential for Security and Compliance
Traditional identity fraud losses in the U.S. amounted to nearly $23 billion in 2023. This statistic highlights the necessity of thorough document shredding to prevent data breaches and identity theft. That includes images, personal files, and documents containing personal or corporate information.
With the recent rise in data breaches, safeguarding information has become more critical than ever. Regulations such as HIPAA, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act mandate that businesses securely handle and destroy confidential data to prevent unauthorized access.
When documents containing sensitive information are not properly shredded, they can fall into the wrong hands, leading to potential identity theft, financial loss, and other significant repercussions.
Ensuring sensitive documents are thoroughly destroyed helps mitigate these risks and protects both individuals and businesses from costly and damaging consequences.
Armstrong Archives: Ensuring Secure Document Shredding
Armstrong Archives provides a comprehensive offsite shredding service designed to meet stringent security and compliance standards. Our shredding operations take place in a secure warehouse under constant video surveillance, ensuring a reliable and transparent destruction process.
Once documents are shredded, the paper is collected and recycled through environmentally responsible practices. We also offer hard drive destruction and recycling services for electronic storage devices.
Our secure chain of custody process is documented with a certificate of destruction that gives you peace of mind knowing your sensitive information has been handled with the utmost care and security.
We also offer Security Shred Bags that combine secure document shredding with an eco-friendly fundraising option. These robust, water-resistant two-ply bags conceal documents effectively and can hold between 25 to 30 pounds, roughly equivalent to 5-6 packages of 20-pound bond paper.
These bags offer the best way to shred documents with enhanced protection.
FAQs
Should you shred receipts?
Yes, it’s advisable to shred receipts, especially those with your credit card number or personal information. This prevents identity theft and protects sensitive financial details.
Do you need to shred utility bills or credit card offers?
Yes, you should shred both utility bills and credit card offers. They typically contain personal information that could be used for identity theft.
Why is shredding images important for data security?
Shredding images, especially those containing personal or identifying details, is crucial to prevent misuse. Photos can be used for fraudulent purposes, making secure disposal essential for data protection.
Best Ways to Shred Essential Documents
While home shredding may seem sufficient, it often falls short in terms of volume and efficiency, especially for small businesses and family-run enterprises.
If you’re wondering whether professional shredding services are necessary, here’s a comparison to put things in context:
Home shredders are often sufficient for small volumes, but they may struggle with large amounts and can be less reliable in ensuring complete destruction. Professional shredding services, on the other hand, provide thorough and secure destruction while adhering to industry standards and regulations for data protection.
