In a world of data breaches, cyberattacks, and digital security threats, it’s easy to forget about one of the simplest ways sensitive information can fall into the wrong hands: the trash.
Dumpster diving is the practice of searching through discarded materials to find valuable or sensitive information. For businesses, this could include customer records, employee information, financial documents, medical records, passwords, or other confidential paperwork.
Simply throwing documents in the trash doesn’t make the information disappear. If sensitive paperwork is left in an unlocked trash bin or dumpster, anyone who gains access to it could potentially view, copy, or use that information.
Even documents that seem harmless can contain details that shouldn't be publicly accessible.
The best way to keep sensitive paperwork out of the wrong hands is to destroy it before disposal. Cross-cut shreddingturns documents into unreadable pieces, making it significantly more difficult to reconstruct the information.
For businesses that regularly handle confidential records, a secure shredding program can provide an additional layer of protection. Locked shredding consoles, scheduled pickups, secure transportation, and Certificates of Destruction can help create a documented chain of custody from disposal through destruction.
Data security doesn't stop at your computer. It also applies to what your business throws away.
If a document contains information you wouldn't want a stranger to see, it probably shouldn't go in the trash.
Securely shred it instead.
Shred America has high security mobile shredding trucks that can come to you, or you can use our interactive map to find one of many secure drop-off locations around the country.
In any case, feel free to contact Shred America to fulfill any of your paper or electronic destruction needs today.
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