Protecting Sensitive Data Is as Important as Ever

In today’s technology-driven world, it’s easy to believe that paper records are no longer needed. Many businesses, including yours, have moved several processes online, from billing to file storage. Yet, offices still generate paper documents every day. Think about your own office. How many contracts, medical charts, and printed emails do you handle throughout your day? The need to securely destroy both physical and digital records has never been greater. Choosing professional shredding services provides you with a secure, reliable way to protect your business, your customers, and your reputation, even in today’s ‘paperless’ world.

Why You Should Shred Documents and Hardware in Today’s Digital Age

Technology makes many things convenient, but it can also put your reputation at risk when it comes to destroying paper and digital records. It’s essential to remember that handling things with care is vital in this digital age. Here are three reasons to keep professional shredding at the top of your list for your records:

1. Paper isn’t gone, and it still poses risks. Many industries rely on paper records for daily operations and for compliance reasons, even in the digital age. These documents contain private information that must be handled with care. Common examples include:
   1. Healthcare providers keep printed patient charts and consent forms.
   2. Legal and financial firms store contracts, tax documents, and case files.
   3. Small businesses generate invoices, receipts, and employment paperwork.

Without secure shredding, these documents can fall into the wrong hands, leading to identity theft, compliance issues, and expensive breaches.

2. The overlooked threat of the digital age: Going paperless may save trees, but it doesn’t mean you are risk-free. Digital devices also store sensitive data that can be accessed long after you delete those files. Examples of overlooked devices include:
   1. Computer hard drives
   2. External drives and USBs
   3. Backup tapes and discs
   4. Outdated smartphones or tablets

Secure destruction of these devices with the help of a professional shredding service helps prevent cybercriminals from recovering personal, financial, and proprietary information.

3. A comprehensive approach to data security makes more sense. For the best protection, consider the benefits of working with a professional shredding provider. They don’t just shred paper; they handle a variety of information sources with strict security measures in place. Some of the benefits include:
   1. Meeting compliance requirements (e.g., HIPAA and FACTA)
   2. Reducing the risk of breaches with regular, scheduled shredding
   3. Providing a certificate of destruction for your records and audits
   4. Saving you and your staff time and ensuring materials are handled securely from start to finish

Stay Diligent in the Digital Age with Crown Information Management

Secure shredding of documents and hard drives remains a cornerstone of data protection for smart business managers. When you responsibly dispose of both paper documents and electronic devices, your company can lower its risk of data breaches, remain compliant, and safeguard its reputation. Crown Information Management offers both on-site and off-site shredding services, providing a secure and flexible solution. We will also provide you with a Certificate of Destruction as proof of proper handling and destruction. Our team is well-trained in understanding HIPAA guidelines, and we maintain a secure facility to protect your records both on-site and off-site. From shredding and storage to hard drive and X-ray destruction, we are ready to help. Call us today! 

For experienced help with shredding, media destruction, scanning, indexing, records management, and document storage, call Crown Information Management. You can reach us at 800-979-9545 or contact us online to learn more about our services. Let our team work for you. We are a SOC1, NAID AAA, and PCI-certified company.