Shred America | Shredding Industry Knowledge

It can be difficult trying to figure out what type of secure document destruction your business needs. There are many different solutions available, but while you may think you need one, you may need something else or a combination of services. Knowing the difference between onsite and offsite shredding can give you a deeper understanding of how they work and your individual needs.

Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in 1996 to help protect the health information of individuals. The law requires health care organizations, professionals, and covered entities to ensure that the confidentiality of protected health information is confidential and secure. The law applies to health information that is oral, electronic, and on paper. After health records reach their retention date, health organizations should retain a company that offers a HIPAA compliant shredding service to dispose of the records that patients do not want.

Because identity theft has grown significantly over the past years, you should destroy documents with any personal information, even if that information, such as your address, is public record. All it takes is one piece of information to complete a partial profile that an identity thief already has – there’s no sense in making it easier for the thief.

If you store your documents in a garage or non-climate-controlled storage unit, you might be in for a surprise when you go searching for something you need. Paper absorbs moisture, which increases the fibers, causing the edges to curl. It also destroys the ink on the page, so you can’t read it. There’s a better way to protect personal data. First, storing it in an unsecured location significantly increases the risk of identity theft. Second, if you need a document, it might be convenient to grab, but it might also be destroyed.

Most people keep tons of paperwork, from bills to tax documents. When the filing cabinet becomes full, you might start making stacks in closets and on your desk. You don't have to save all those documents all the time. It's time to prepare for a year-end paper purge. First, go through everything – anything that is over a year old and not related to taxes and warranties should go into the purge box.

Having poor records management skills could be the downfall of an accounting firm. A good records management system should include a retention schedule for each document. Keeping documents longer than needed opens up a huge risk for identity theft. Keeping a retention schedule and managing records by scanning them and storing them appropriately significantly reduces the risk of your clients’ information being stolen.

If you work in an industry that handles a substantial number of documents - especially documents containing protected personal information or protected health information - it's important that your records management practices reduce risk for both the company and its stakeholders. Some of the best practices for records management include: 

American Shredding & Recycling, a Columbia SC area-based information destruction company, is pleased to announce that they have been acquired by Carolina Shred. After conducting a search for a company that would uphold the legacy of customer service and quality standards of secure information destruction, American Shredding & Recycling could not be happier with the outcome:

Shredders are imperative for privacy issues for companies and individuals. You can find many types of shredders on the market, but the best type is the shredder we use on our trucks. Shredders include strip shredders, cross-cut shredders, disintegrating shredders, hammermills, and industrial-grade shredders. Strip shredders are the least secure, as identity thieves can put documents back together like a puzzle. The smaller the pieces, the less likely someone will piece the documents together.

Whether you are in your first or last year of college, you need to bring certain important documents with you, including your social security card, identification, health records, immunization records, and possibly legal documents. During your time in college, you will gather additional sensitive documents, such as tax returns. You need to find a way to keep them safe, especially if you have roommates.

If you’ve started working remotely, it’s important to have safeguards in place as you configure your computer set up. As more companies move to this type of work environment, cyber thieves are working hard to disable remote systems to infiltrate their infrastructure. Implementing the right tools on your computer will ensure you can get your work done safely and securely. These tips will assist in mitigating the likelihood of being hacked.

Not many people think of child identity theft. A child doesn't have credit, doesn't own credit cards, most don't have bank accounts, and many are not on the internet. However, child identity fraud affects one out of 50 children, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. While child identity theft is not new, the number of children affected is rising as more children spend more time on the internet, including social media and remote learning. These and other factors put children at a higher risk for identity theft.

If you have a small business, or you're thinking about starting one, there are all kinds of decisions to make. One of those may be where and how you want to store important records and documents. If you choose cloud storage options, you can protect all your valuable information, and keep it in a digital space that's secure and protected. Unless you specifically need a paper copy of a document for legal purposes, keeping everything in the cloud can give you big benefits. Here are three of them.

Businesses can use data encryption to protect their information. The tech is available in a few types of methods of data encryption to combat cybercrime. Certain data encryption that works for another type of business might not be the right type for your business. Internet security experts like those at Carolina Shred can help you choose the best method of data encryption for your situation.

Keeping legal files often fills up your file room and at least one off-site storage room. Often, the storage room is so full that it's a huge chore to locate old files to discard. However, it is not safe to keep files longer than you need to. If someone should break into the file room, they have a goldmine of identity theft.

Whether you have a business, or you're just trying to keep personal information safe, not protecting your paperwork could be setting yourself up for a document disaster. One of the best ways to increase protection is with a document disaster recovery plan. That helps reduce paperwork and clutter, all while making sure you can still get electronic access to everything that's important.