When setting up an office, there are a lot of machines you need to purchase such as computers, printers, photocopiers, and so on. But one machine that s sometimes overlooked is the paper shredder. With the prevalence of identity theft and the appearance of federal privacy laws, it s become necessary to have one. This article will tell you why you need a shredder and give you some ideas of what to look for when buying your new machine.
Privacy is the number one reason for buying a paper shredder. According to the 2008 Javelin Strategy and Research Identity Fraud Survey Report, identity theft cost Americans $48 billion in that year alone. Also, 80 of that survey s respondents said that their company had experienced at least one data breach in the previous year. These breaches happened when documents weren t properly destroyed. The good news is that identity theft is totally preventable and a paper shredder can help prevent your business and customers from becoming identity theft victims.
Another vital reason to get a shredder is legal compliance. Federal privacy laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), and the Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLB) require businesses to properly dispose of confidential customer, patient, and employee information. Not complying with these types of laws can lead to stiff fines, as well as potential lawsuits and prosecution, so if the thought of identity theft doesn t sway you, perhaps the idea of jail will.
There s an impressive selection of shredders available and it s good to know what your shredding needs are before purchasing a machine. There are small deskside shredders that are good for occasional use by one or two people, and there are larger shredders including commercial sized ones that run continuously and can be used by many different people. Some shredders can only shred paper, but the better models can shred CD s, DVD s, and credit cards, so you ll have total control over what happens to all of your private data. Some shredders are jam proof, so you won t have to spend precious time undoing paper jams, and some machines are self oiling, virtually eliminating the need for routine maintenance. And if you like to keep your office quiet, there are shredders that don t make a lot of noise. Really, there s a shredder for everybody.
Whether you choose a quiet shredder or a machine that can shred electronic media, you ll need to choose a machine with the highest level of security. There are six levels of shredder security and the higher the number, the more security you get. Security is determined by how small the machine s shreds are. The smaller the cut, the more security you get because your documents can t be reassembled. A cross cut shredder will produce smaller shreds than a strip cut machine, so if you need a high level of security, be sure to buy a cross cut shredder.
There are many paper shredder manufacturers out there. Some brand names you should look for are Fellowes, Intimus, Dahle, and MBM. All of these companies make great machines that can protect your privacy and your reputation.
Paper shredders should be in every office because they re powerful weapons in the fight against identity theft. There s a shredder out there for you, whether you need a small unit for your home office or a larger machine to process your company s private data. Buy a shredder today and enjoy increased privacy and peace of mind!
Author Resource:
Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for http://www.mybinding.com .He has written over 500 articles on binding machines,binding covers,binders,laminators,binding supplies,laminating supplies,paper handling equipments,index tabs, and shredders.
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