Paperwork – I can’t bear it, cannot live without it.
It’s among the modern times’ most necessary problems. While there is the gradual shift to an increasingly digital, and even paperless offices, the reality is that organizations and businesses will have to deal in paperwork regular for the next few years.
That’s why the majority of modern businesses have not just accumulated an enormous amount of paper throughout their business operations but they must also determine the best method to securely dispose of this paper.
In most workplaces it comes down to performing shredding on site DIY or hiring a professional shredding company to handle the entire process.
In this blog we’ll discuss the advantages and drawbacks of employing shredding services, especially in comparison to the disposal of confidential waste at home.
As a business that must to be on top of its spending and security of data, it’s crucial to weigh the advantages and disadvantages to choose the most suitable method to meet your company’s needs.
In-house Shredding
Pros
Complete control of documents If you decide to manage the entire confidential waste internally there is no need to engage any outside services involved. This is an excellent option if you have time to spare and a competent staff However, not every business can afford that privilege.
Cost-effective Shredding services for professionals aren’t cheap, therefore internal processing of confidential waste avoids this additional cost. This is typically the case for smaller businesses which only produce small amounts of waste paper.
Shredding at any time – all sensitive documents can be destroyed instantly on site. This speedy process can reduce the chance of confidential data being stolen or lost.
Cons
Inefficient resource allocation – only a few organizations produce such a small amount of paper waste that they are able to efficiently handle shredding on their own. Many businesses handle large amounts of paperwork, which requires substantial time, resources and financial commitments to manage the destruction of confidential information.
The quality and price of an office shredder even though a basic office shredder may not cost much but it won’t be adequate to handle the volumes of papers required by an typical office. The cheapest “strip-cut” shredders are the most secure shredders there are numerous instances of sensitive documents being reconstructed from the strips they disposed of. The more durable, industrial-style shredders in offices can be expensive and come with high costs for maintenance that many companies can’t afford.
Risk of data breaches increasing In-house shredding provides the company full control over their waste disposal procedures however, many employees will not be properly trained to process and handle sensitive documents in total conformity with GDPR guidelines. If documents aren’t removed from the premises immediately after use, improper storage of sensitive materials on site could also create security issues.
External paper shredding near me services
Pros
More productive – due to the effort and time of shredding documents being taken care of by an outside shredding company staff can concentrate on the work that truly is important. Naturally, the price and efficiency of shredding is contingent upon the size of your company. If, like many businesses have to deal with large volumes of paperwork on an every day basis, the odds are that a professional shredding service is the best option for you.
Guaranteed GDPR compliance – not only are professional grade shredders used by shredding companies superior to office shredders their employees are well-trained in handling, destruction and processing and disposal of waste that is confidential. The introduction of stringent new GDPR regulations, which took effect in 2018 failure to ensure the secure disposal and storage of confidential materials could result in severe penalties.
Green – a lot of companies who specialize in shredding confidential documents recycle the majority of their garbage. By shredding your documents, you can help the environment while also saving time and money!
Cons
Economy of scale – If you’re a small company or produce a small amount of waste paper regularly hiring an expert shredding service might not be economical. It is therefore necessary do a cost-benefit analysis of using a shredding service in comparison to the amount of time, money and energy required for your company to manage confidential waste on its own. For smaller companies that have a private garbage disposal container could be the best option for cost savings.
Risks associated with transport and storage The staff of professional shredding firms are well-trained in the area of confidential waste management and data protection protocols There is no way to minimize the possibility of a breach to a minimum. The human error that can occur in this field is inevitable, but it’s more likely to occur with trained professionals than with untrained office personnel.
A bad shredding service professional shredding services are only so good as the organization who is providing it. The GDPR, as well as the other UK legislation on data protection are clear about how best to manage confidential waste but not all shredding providers adhere to the requirements of these laws. This is why it’s important that if you decide that your company might benefit from a shredding solution it is done with due diligence in finding the most suitable shredding service to meet your specific business requirements.