Blog - Land Shark Shredding

What Are You Doing with Your Electronic Waste?

In a competitive business world, keeping up with technology is a must. But this doesn’t mean you should throw your old electronic devices in the trash. The world generates 50 million tons of electronic waste a year, contributing to our planet’s deepening environmental crisis. So how do you stay on top of your technological needs while protecting the environment? In this blog, we discuss the benefits of e-waste recycling and what to look for in an e-waste recycling service provider.

Safe and Legal Recycling

The US EPA and state and federal governments are tracking the e-waste disposal practices of companies. Donating your old devices to charities or allowing your employees to buy used electronics is risky because your data can be recovered from them. Plus, the liability for environmental hazards could fall back on your company if the devices aren’t recycled at the end of their lifecycles. The safest way to protect your organization is to partner with a legally-compliant electronics recycler.

An e-waste recycling service protects your organization by making it easy to recycle outdated IT assets. A professional provider comes to your business and picks up your old devices. If sensitive data is stored on your electronics, your provider destroys them on site with a mobile shredding vehicle. Your e-waste is transported to an authorized recycler and you receive documentation showing proof of recycling. At the recycling facility, your devices are either refurbished, harvested for reuse or resale, or turned into usable raw materials to make other products.

Choosing the Right Electronic Waste Recycling Partner

Given the volume of e-waste businesses generate, the market for e-waste recycling is robust. But not all recycling providers are equal. Many companies illegally export unprocessed equipment with hazardous and toxic materials to developing countries. So how can you be sure your electronic waste is recycled here in the United States? Partner with a company that has a “No Export” policy so you know your electronic waste is recycled legally and safely. Make sure your recycling provider works closely with the following organizations:

US EPA
Department of Natural Resources
e-Steward Initiative
Local solid waste departments

The environmental problems caused by electronic waste may continue to grow, but your organization can stem the tide by partnering with a qualified e-waste recycling provider.

Land Shark Shredding offers eWaste recycling services in Bowling Green and throughout southwest Kentucky. For more information, please contact us by phone or complete the form on this page.

Your Paper Shredding Questions, Answered

You can never know too much about document shredding best practices. In this blog, we’ve collected paper shredding questions from current and prospective customers and provided our answers. Read on to learn how to improve your document shredding program.

Q: What should I shred?

A: Shred every unwanted document that has personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI). Thieves can exploit even small, seemingly-insignificant tidbits of data to steal someone’s identity and finances. So, if in doubt, don’t throw it out—shred instead.

Q: What’s the difference between off-site and on-site shredding?

A: On-site shredding takes place at your business in real time. Companies that offer off-site shredding pick up your documents and transport them to a shredding plant, where they could sit for days or weeks before shredding. And there’s no telling what could happen to your confidential information while it’s en route to the shredding facility. On-site shredding doesn’t have the same risks. Your documents are shredded in a few minutes while you watch. As a result, on-site shredding offers a much more thorough and secure identity theft and business fraud prevention solution.

Q: Is a shredding service expensive?

A: A shredding service is very cost effective, especially compared to in-house shredding. A shredding service eliminates having to buy shredders and using valuable employees to shred documents and deal with breakdowns. Instead, for a low fee, a shredding service gives you a secure and reliable document destruction solution.

Q: How do I prepare my documents for professional shredding?

A: You don’t need to. Unlike in-house shredding, where staples and paperclips must be removed from documents, with a shredding service you deposit your files into a shredding collection container. The industrial-grade shredders on an on-site mobile destruction truck even destroy non-paper items. The bottom line is, professional shredding saves time and keeps you productive.

Q: What qualifications does someone need to shred my documents?

A: The person shredding your documents should be screened, certified, insured, and wear an identification badge. They should always handle your documents within a strict chain of custody. With the right shredding company only the most qualified, trustworthy people shred your documents.

Q: Do shredding companies provide proof of shredding?

A: Shredding companies should offer proof of shredding to their customers, but not all do. Only partner with a shredding company who offers a Certificate of Destruction after every service.

Q: Are professionally-shredded documents recycled?

A: Yes. After your documents are shredded, the shreds are transported to a paper mill for reprocessing and production into new packaging, office paper, tissue, newsprint, and a multitude of other paper products.

If you have a question we haven’t answered here, please ask us. We love answering your questions.

Land Shark Shredding offers NAID AAA Certified shredding and destruction services in Bowling Green and throughout southwest Kentucky. For more information, please contact us by phone or complete the form on this page.

The Pitfalls of In-House Shredding

What do you do with your old and expired documents? Unfortunately, many companies destroy documents in house without assessing the risks and costs. In this blog, we summarize the pitfalls of in-house shredding.

Privacy Breach Exposure

Mistakes happen, but if one of your employees forgets to shred documents containing personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI), someone could hold you liable for a privacy breach. Outsourcing your shredding to an on-site mobile destruction company helps eliminate costly in-house shredding errors. Certified, insured professionals wearing photo IDs follow a strict chain of custody protocol while collecting and destroying your information. Your confidential documents are destroyed right on your premises with state-of-the art mobile shredding trucks.

Lost Productivity

Time is a precious resource, and there’s never enough. Even if you have a top-grade office shredding machine, destroying files with it can take several minutes. Staples and paperclips must be removed so the shredder doesn’t jam. Large files must be separated into small, easy-to-shred portions. And then the shredding receptacle needs to be emptied frequently. This time-consuming process pulls you away from other important, revenue-generating tasks.

A shredding service helps you stay productive. Your provider delivers locked collection containers to your office or facility. Whole files with staples and paperclips can be deposited into the collection containers in a matter of seconds. Your documents are securely stowed until your shredding company picks them up for destruction.

Regulatory Non-Compliance

Many state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA, FACTA and GLBA, require organizations to have written and verifiable information destruction procedures. But in-house shredding offers no proof of compliance with these laws, and your word isn’t enough to avoid non-compliance fines and penalties.

However, a shredding service provides a Certificate of Destruction each time your documents are destroyed, proving your compliance with state and federal privacy laws.

Employee Safety

In house shredding not only lacks in security, efficiency and liability reduction, it puts your employees’ safety at risk. Office shredders produce dust particles that can lead to poor air quality in your office. If loose clothing, jewelry, or hair is accidentally fed into a paper shredder, it can cause an injury. And if your shredder overheats or has a loose wire, it can lead to an electrical fire fed by thousands of bits of shredded paper. Outsourcing your paper destruction to a professional shredding company eliminates these risks and keeps your employees safe.

As you can see, in-house shredding poses a significant number of risks and costs. You can avoid these pitfalls by outsourcing your shredding to a professional provider.

The Benefits of Partnering with a NAID AAA Certified Destruction Company

The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) is the international, non-profit trade association for companies providing information destruction services. NAID’s mission is to champion the protection of personally identifiable information, intellectual property, as well as regulatory compliance through the secure disposition of information and media in all forms by promoting customer best-practices using qualified service providers. In this blog, we highlight the benefits of partnering with a NAID AAA Certified destruction company.

Unparallel Security

To earn NAID AAA Certification, a shredding and destruction company must meet strict security standards and carry a minimum of $2,000,000 in general liability insurance (umbrella or aggregate). These standards ensure unrivaled privacy protection for the companies they serve. Shredding and destruction companies can earn NAID AAA Certification for off-site and on-site shredding. On-site shredding takes place at your business with a mobile shredding truck, enabling first-hand witnessing of destruction.

Verified Due Diligence

NAID AAA Certified shredding and destruction companies must offer their customers a Certificate of Destruction. This document records the date, time, and method of destruction. A Certificate of Destruction offers legal proof of your organization’s compliance with state and federal privacy laws.

Independent Auditing

NAID AAA Certified shredding companies agree to announced and unannounced audits to verify their ongoing compliance with NAID standards. Independent information security professionals who have earned Certified Protection Professional (CPP®) accreditation perform the audits, assessing the following areas:

Destruction particle size
Operational security
Liability insurance
Destruction equipment safety
Security procedures

This audit process ensures you receive a destruction solution that offers unrivaled security and value.

Ethical Destruction

NAID is dedicated to advancing high ethical standards within the information destruction industry and expects is member partners to meet these standards. NAID AAA Certified shredding companies must abide by a professional code of ethics that includes:

Honesty, truthfulness, and fairness
Adherence to privacy regulations
Dependable service and transparent pricing

As you can see, partnering with a NAID AAA Certified destruction partner ensures your documents and data are destroyed with honesty and integrity.

Tips for Choosing a Shredding and Destruction Provider

Is your business looking for a shredding and destruction solution, but you’re not sure how to choose the right provider? In this blog, we offer several tips for choosing and shredding and destruction services provider.

Set High Standards

Not all shredding and destruction providers are equal. Dependability, security, value, and quality of service vary within the industry. Choose a provider who offers a superior combination of all of these, and you’ll have a true shredding and destruction partner.

Rank Experience as a Top Priority

There are many sub-standard shredding and destruction companies, and partnering with them can put your information at risk. Verify when your prospective shredding and destruction company was founded and look into how long they have been serving businesses in your community.

Expect Compliance Support

Ensuring that confidential and sensitive information is handled properly, from the time it’s created until it’s destroyed, is vital to protecting your business. Non-compliance with state and federal privacy laws can have serious financial and legal consequences for your business. Not every shredding and destruction company offers compliance support services that supplement your information destruction practices. Look for a company that can provide information security training for your staff.

Review Chain of Custody

A shredding and destruction service should minimize your company’s identity theft and business fraud exposure, not increase it. As a result, privacy protection should begin the moment your documents and data leave your possession. Verify whether uniformed, background-screened shredding technicians collect and destroy your information. That way you know that only the most trusted people have access to your company’s critical documents.

Check for NAID AAA Certification

Partnering with a NAID AAA Certified provider ensures you receive a secure and ethical data destruction solution. The NAID AAA Certification Program requires that providers meet their high standards in the following areas:

Operational security
Employee hiring and screening
Responsible information disposal
Liability insurance

When a NAID member has completed a successful audit, they receive a certificate showing their company name and the destruction services they’re certified to offer customers.

Look for Community Involvement

Strong communities benefit from companies that give back. Locally-owned shredding and destruction companies are more likely to support neighborhood charities, causes and events. If you value a strong community, partner with a shredding and destruction company that stays involved.

Don’t Compromise

You should never have to compromise when outsourcing your shredding and destruction.Be wary of shredding and destruction providers who limit your service options and force you into restrictive contracts.

Ask for References

Always ask a prospective shredding and destruction provider for references. Strong client references and testimonials point to exceptional service. A prospective vendor’s refusal to provide references should serve as a warning sign.

6 Excuses for Not Shredding Documents

Despite a barrage of high-profile corporate data breaches, many businesses still don’t have an effective privacy protection solution. And even though document shredding offers an easy and effective way to safeguard confidential data; many organizations push shredding to the wayside. Don’t make the same mistake; avoid the excuses below.

1. Shredding Takes Too Long

Using an office shredder is a waste of time and energy. Staples and paperclips must be removed so the shredder doesn’t jam. Large files must be separated into small, easy-to-shred portions. And the shredding receptacle must be emptied often. Meanwhile, during shredding, you’re burning up kilowatts per hour which increases your electricity bill—not to mention using valuable employee time. Outsourcing your shredding to a qualified provider helps you stay productive.

2. We Recycle

Today, more companies recycle. Don’t put your paper documents in a recycling bin without shredding them first. A paper shredding service combines document shredding and recycling. First, your documents are professionally destroyed on-site at your business with a mobile shredding truck. Then, the shredded material is securely transported to a local partner for recycling.

3. I Keep My Documents

Having a document retention policy is a must; many paper records must be kept for several years. But don’t make the mistake of hoarding outdated documents. Keeping paper records beyond their required retention period can create legal risks for your company. When documents reach their final disposition date, have them professionally shreded.

4. I Can’t Afford to Shred

Have you calculated your in-house shredding costs, which include purchasing office shredders and paying your employees to shred? There’s a good chance your company is losing money. A professional shredding service offers a reliable privacy protection solution for a set monthly fee.

5. My Office is Paperless

Congratulations! But remember, it’s important to destroy outdated electronic media too. To make sure your old hard drives, tapes, and digital devices are destroyed in a secure, environmentally-friendly manner, partner with an electronic media destruction provider.

6. My Information Isn’t Valuable

The adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” holds true for discarded documents, too. Identity thieves are adept at piecing together profiles of customers, employees, and proprietary information from even the most innocuous-looking documents. Your information is more valuable than you think; shredding keeps it out of the wrong hands.

In today’s day and age, there’s no good excuse for not shredding documents; shred your documents today!

Earth Day Celebration Tips

On April 22^nd, millions of people around the globe will celebrate Earth Day. Are you planning any office eco-initiatives to mark the occasion? If not, don’t worry; we have you covered. Here we share three ways to inspire environmental appreciation in your business on Earth Day.

Organize a Purge Shredding Event

Americans discard over 4 million tons of office paper per year, and these discarded paper documents often contain personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI).This is why it’s important to have a paper destruction solution that’s sustainable and secure. A purge shredding event is a great way to eliminate office clutter in a safe, environmentally-friendly manner.

Your document shredding provider can deliver locked collection containers to your office before Earth Day. Then, on April 22^nd, everyone can deposit outdated and no-longer-needed documents into the containers. They don’t even have to remove staples and paperclips from files. After you fill the containers, your shredding provider destroys and recycles your documents.

To make it fun, award prizes to departments that fill the most containers. Encourage your employees to dress casual for the purge since your expired documents may be covered in a layer of dust. And don’t forget to celebrate the event with snacks and beverages!

Perform an Energy Audit

Electronic office devices don’t just expand your electricity bill, they contribute to climate change. Everything from inefficient halogen bulbs to office shredders deplete global energy reserves. Replace outdated appliances and electronics with Energy Star rated devices. Swap out old light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs. And say goodbye to your energy-hogging office shredding machine by investing in a scheduled shredding service.

Recycle Your eWaste

Roughly 3.42 tons of electronics waste or eWaste ends up in United States landfills every year. Earth Day is the perfect time to dispose of your electronics in an environmentally-friendly manner. Gather your old devices, including:

Printers
Fax machines
Computer towers and monitors
Scanners
Laptops

Your destruction service provider picks up your electronics for eWaste recycling. The data stored on the hard drives and disks of your electronic devices is destroyed first, then the raw materials in each device are recycled according to US EPA, Department of Natural Resources, e-Steward Initiative standards.

We hope these Earth Day tips inspire long-term commitment to environmental sustainability in your business!

Your Media Destruction Questions, Answered

Every corporate information security plan needs a final disposition solution for expired hard drives and backup tapes. But understanding media destruction best practices isn’t always easy. In this blog, we answer several common media destruction questions.

Q: Am I required by law to destroy my electronic media?

A: Yes. The following federal regulations set strictguidelines for how media with confidential information must be destroyed:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA)
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)

Failure to destroy your media as these regulations require may result in severe financial penalties and damage your business’ reputation.

Q: So, what media should I destroy?

A: Destroy any media storing sensitive personal, financial, or medical information. These may include the following portable storage devices:

CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays
Credit cards, ID cards, and other magnetic or chip cards
Flash drives
Hard drives
Magnetic backup tapes
Memory cards
VHS tapes
Zip disks

Q: What does a media destruction service cost?

A: The volume of devices destroyed, frequency of service, and how quickly you need your media destroyed determines the cost of your media destruction service. A reputable provider will offer a free quote before starting your project.

Q: Can’t I erase and sell my old hard drives and backup tapes?

A: You can, but this will leave your information vulnerable to a data breach. A recent study by the National Association of Information Destruction (NAID) found that 40 percent of used electronic devices sold on the secondhand market contained personally identifiable information (PII). Deleted or wiped files can still be recovered, so always have your expired devices professionally destroyed.

Q: What happens to the eWaste from my shredded media?

A: Your media destruction provider should partner with a trusted, local electronics recycling company that disposes of your eWaste in an environmentally-sustainable way which follows US EPA, Department of Natural Resources, e-Steward Initiative, and local solid waste department standards.

Q: Why should I work with a NAID AAA Certified media destruction company?

A: Partnering with a NAID AAA Certified provider ensures you receive a secure and ethical data destruction solution. The NAID AAA Certification Program requires that providers meet their high standards in the following areas:

Operational security
Employee hiring and screening
Responsible information disposal
Liability insurance

When a NAID member has completed a successful audit, they receive a certificate showing their company name and the destruction service they’re certified to offer customers.

If you have more media destruction questions, please contact us by phone or complete the form on this page. We love answering your questions!

Inside an Electronic Media Destruction Service

Do you know that it’s possible for a tech-savvy data thief to recover information from hard drives, disks and other electronic media—even if the data on these devices has been manually deleted? Furthermore, a study conducted by the National Association of Information Destruction found 40 percent of devices resold in publicly-available resale channels contained personally identifiable information (PII). So, it goes without saying that having a secure destruction solution for your outdated media is a must!

But how does an electronic media destruction service work, and how can you be sure your data is protected when partnering with a data destruction partner? In this blog we take you inside an electronic media destruction service.

Secure Collection and Handling

Privacy protection should begin the moment your electronic media destruction provider arrives at your business. A uniformed shredding technician collects your devices for destruction. These individuals are highly trained and background screened. They undergo rigorous background checks and strict licensing requirements. Your media is collected and handled within a strict chain of custody to minimize identity theft and business fraud risks.

Mobile On-Site Shredding

After your media is collected, it’s immediately taken to a state-of-the-art mobile shredding truck parked on-site at your business. The truck is equipped with an advanced hard drive and media shredder which reduces your electronic and magnetic devices to tiny particles that are impossible to reconstruct. Shredding takes place in a matter of minutes while you watch. At the completion of your destruction project, you receive a Certificate of Destruction documenting the date and time of destruction.

eWaste Recycling

Roughly 3.42 tons of electronics waste, or “eWaste,” ends up in U.S. landfills every year, which has severe consequences for the health of our environment. That’s why you should partner with an electronic media destruction service that offers sustainable recycling of your eWaste. After your devices are destroyed, the shredded waste is recycled using an environmentally-friendly process.

Now that you know what to expect from an electronic media destruction service, make sure your provider offers the critical and value-added services we’ve shared here.

How to Avoid Phishing Scams

Phishing is a fraudulent practice cybercriminals use to compromise computers and steal sensitive information from individuals by pretending to be an email from—or the website of—a trusted organization. Recently, phishing scams have become increasingly sophisticated and varied, targeting organizations of all sizes. In this blog, we offer several tips for protecting your company from phishing scams.

Educate Your Employees

Cybercriminals exploit the vulnerabilities of employees. Therefore, educating your staff about phishing threats is critical. Your employees should always question whether they should open an attachment or click on a link to a site. Teach them to confirm that the link they are about to click on will send them to a legitimate, secure site. The validity of websites should always be reviewed. Check the spelling of website URLs and links, and make sure the link fits with the content of the email. If your employees receive questionable emails or attachments, they should delete them or forward them to your IT department for investigation. Remember, educating your employees is more than providing one training session; make ongoing education part of your phishing prevention plan.

Keep Your Systems Current

Many phishing scams involve impersonating trusted websites. If you don’t check the URL of a website before logging in, you may unknowingly hand over sensitive information to an attacker. Make sure every computer on your corporate network uses the HTTPS Everywhere extension to verify correct URLs. Install the latest patches and updates on all company devices to protect against software vulnerabilities and security issues.

Use a VPN

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts your data while it is being transmitted. A VPN renders your local IP address anonymous, making it harder for a phishing attacker to steal your login credentials. A VPN can significantly boost online security for your business.

Use Anti-Spam Software

Spam filters can reduce the number of potential email phishing attacks, but they require constant tweaking and updating. Anti-spam software automatically reduces the volume of corporate spam and provides real-time protection from phishing threats. Any number of anti-spam software providers can provide a solution for your business.

Update Password Policies

Using one password for every login is a big mistake. Everyone in your organization should be using a unique password for each application and website. Long, complex phrases with letters, characters and numbers are more secure than words. Require your employees to use two-factor authentication to fortify their logins. That way, a code is sent to an employee’s phone to verify their login attempt.

Phishing threats may be frighteningly common, but by following these tips, you can help protect your organization from a security breach.

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