Top questions you should ask when choosing a shredding company

Every business strives to protect themselves against data and ID theft. And no matter how much paperwork your company produces, it’s a challenge to ensure records are being properly retained and destroyed. Choosing a shredding partner is an important step for most businesses and one that is not to be taken lightly. It’s imperative to select a shredding provider that is right for you. Here are some of the top questions you need to ask potential providers:

Are you AAA NAID certified?

The National Association for Information Destruction is the industry’s watchdog overseeing shredding companies’ compliance. When choosing a shredding provider, it’s best to choose one that has earned AAA NAID certification because this means they have earned the highest rating from the organization. This rating means that the company provides the highest level of information security, performs the proper level of background checks for employees and continues to remain compliant according to state and federal regulations. To ensure your shredding services are performed adhering to compliance mandates and that your company’s sensitive documents are properly destroyed, be sure to choose one that has earned this certification.

How many people handle my documents?

In the shredding and destruction business “chain of custody” is a popular term. What it means is how many people are actually handling the documents and typically, the more people involved in the process, the more likely it is that a breach can occur. When interviewing a potential shredding provider, be sure to ask how many of their team members will be touching your documents. Ideally, a mobile shredding service will provide your company with locked document containers where paperwork can be deposited, then come to your place of business with their shredding trucks to perform the destruction. Additionally, you’ll be able to witness the entire destruction process. This gives you the peace of mind that your shred is secure.

How long have you been in business?

This is an important question because many industries experience a burst in companies trying to break into the field when the product or service is “hot”. Today, there’s nothing more topical than information security—every day another breach or hack exposes folks to ID theft. But when it comes to shredding and destruction, you’ll want to find a provider who’s been around, has earned a positive reputation and has the experience you need to protect your company from all of the challenges data destruction presents. In addition to finding out how long they’ve been in business, it’s a great idea to ask for references or read reviews online.

Besides paper—what other destruction services do you provide?

Although document shredding is the service most companies need on a regular basis, destruction of other materials is also called for when guarding against hacks and theft.  When selecting a shredding provider, choose a provider that can offer destruction of devices and media that can also pose a security risk if given away, recycled or thrown into the trash. These include:

• Hard Drives
• Magnetic Backup Tapes
• VHS Tapes
• Floppy Disks
• Zip Disks
• CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays
• Microfilm
• Microfiche

Are there any extra fees or hidden charges?

Transparency is key when it comes to hiring a shredding service provider. It’s not uncommon for companies to quote one price and then invoice a different one that includes undisclosed fees or add-ons like fuel or trip charges. Be sure to get the price of your shredding and destruction services upfront and ask what the price includes and if there are any other fees that may be incurred.

Do you offer compliance training?

A key component to data security is ensuring that everyone on your team is well-trained on state and federal requirements as well as protocol for handling confidential information. Your shredding provider should offer online training and support for your employees including HIPAA training and ID theft prevention training.

Choosing a shredding and destruction service provider is a critical step in your company’s safety and security processes. When you’re ready, make sure to follow these tips and ask the right questions to ensure you’re choosing the ideal partner.

All Points Mobile Shredding is a full-service, AAA NAID certified shredding and destruction provider that is locally-owned and family operated. We’ve been serving South Florida businesses and residents for more than twenty years. Get in touch with us today for more information or fill out this form.