Shredder Buyer's Guide
Protect your privacy and that of your family and your business!In 2009, cases of identity theft and fraud in the United States increased by 12 percent and affected 11.1 million adults, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. The chance of becoming one of those statistics is considerably high if you don’t take steps to protect yourself. Privacy infringement is real and it most certainly can happen to you, your family, or your business. Utilizing a powerful, industry-compliant shredder is the best security measure you can take. Shredders come in all different shapes and sizes and are commonly used to prevent sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands. Basic shredders can tear paper into thin strips, while some of the more robust shredders are built to literally cut up everything from credit cards to CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs. Top level security defense for government agencies, businesses and home officesOnce a disc is shredded, it is impossible to recover any data from that disc. This is why using a shredder to destroy confidential data is the most convenient, secure, and affordable way to minimize the risks associated with privacy infringement and identity theft. Government organizations and business owners may opt for powerful shredders to destroy company information, financial data, business proposals, client lists, employee information, research development plans, and any other confidential records. Similarly, individuals at home can also employ shredders to destroy old bills, credit cards, personal paperwork, and more. Choosing the right shredderShredders range from small, personal-sized units to larger, heavy-duty machines that can handle much higher capacities. Fitting the best shredder for your particular needs depends on a variety of factors, including where you plan on using the shredder, what exactly you are shredding, how often you plan on using the shredder, whether or not noise level and speed are factors, and how confidential the information is which you plan to shred. Take the time to examine your answers to those questions before choosing a product. Since security is the most important consideration to the buyer, it is also vital to recognize that there are different levels of security available to the consumer. For example, some (note: not all) of the more industrial strength shredding machines are actually industry compliant with federal privacy laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLB Act), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and are additionally compliant with state regulations like The California Information Practice Act (CAL SB1386). Other shredders also received approval from the National Security Agency/ Central Security Service (NSA/CSS), allowing them to be used by both military and government officials. Lastly, the Department of Defense (DOD) offers their stamp of approval to cross-cut shredders that are “designed to produce residue particle size not exceeding 1/32 inch in width (with a 1/64 inch tolerance) by ½ inch in length,” according to DOD document 5220.22-M, Chapter 5, Section 7. Below is a quick breakdown of the various types of shredders available on the market today. Personal/ Stand- Alone Shredders- These types of shredders usually fit on top of a standard wastebasket. Small and occasionally expandable, they are best for low volume usage and only sometimes handle staples and paper clips. Advantages: Usually compact in size; relatively inexpensive Disadvantages: May only shred paper Office Shredders - Typically, office shredders are mid-sized, though some companies do offer compact, desktop shredder models. These types of shredders are ideal solutions for small to medium sized offices and offer a high level of security for a relatively medium amount of shredding volume. Advantages: Affordable solution; can handle large capacity and volume Disadvantages: May be larger in size; used by more people and therefore might need more maintenance; May only shred paper Multimedia Shredders- As you can imagine, these high-performance shredders are ideal security solutions for government organizations, businesses, or home offices. Typically, multimedia shredders handle high volumes and have the ability to completely destroy DVDs, CDs, floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, rendering data recovery impossible. Advantages: Highest level of security; handles large volumes; can shred a variety of different material including paper and media discs Disadvantages: More expensive; may require special disposing for multimedia waste Industrial Shredders - Heavy-duty industrial shredders can provide exceptional security for an entire company. Designed to be used continually, these types of shredders have extra large feed openings and can handle high volumes of various types of waste. Depending on the model, an industrial shredder may even accept cardboard, carton boxes, aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Advantages: Highest level of security; handles large volumes; can shred a huge variety of different material; usually requires low maintenance Disadvantages: More expensive; may require special disposing for multimedia and recycling waste; takes up a lot of space Important factors when selecting a shredderIt’s important to note that shredders cut in different ways. Strip-cut shredders slice data into long, thin strips and on average, run faster when shredding multiple pieces of material at once, while cross-cut shredders slice material both vertically and horizontally, offering more security and the ability to handle more volume since the smaller pieces compress more into the shredder’s basket. Some shredders also slice data into confetti, diagonal diamond shapes, or micro cuts. Shredders often offer a few additional features including an automatic start/stop which controls the motor and acts like a safety sensor, a reverse feed to help you clear out jams that might occur, and a bin full detector which stops the shredder when the basket is full. Lastly, certain shredders can be noisier than others, so if a muted volume is preferred- be sure to research the shredder’s decibel level and rating. Remember that paper shredders tend to be louder than machines that handle other types of material. MaintenanceMaintenance is sometimes needed with certain shredder models, especially those that handle large volumes. Basic repairs may include lubrication of blades or replacing parts, so it’s important to ensure that your shredder comes with a warranty that lasts at least one year. Aleratec offers useful Eco-friendly Shredder Lubricant Sheets™ which are available in a pack of twelve for use with all paper shredders. Lubrication sheets are convenient maintenance solutions because they are inserted into the shredder just like a piece of paper and reduce blade friction as well as optimize the shredder’s overall performance. Final ThoughtsTaking the guesswork out of selecting the best shredder for you, your business, or your home office is easy if you consider what type of information you want to shred and what type of features you may require in the future. After all, you might only need to shred paper now, but what will happen if your company or business expands? Think about the possibility of more employees, increased usage, and a larger variety of the type of material you may want to shred. All of the aforementioned factors will help you make the best decision in your investment. Aleratec SolutionsAleratec is proud to offer a wide variety of DVD/CD shredders to ensure the fastest, easiest, and most affordable means of protection against identity theft and fraud. Aleratec’s DVD/CD shredders are successfully used throughout the country by government organizations, businesses and individuals working from home to safely and securely dispose of financial records, personal data, credit cards, bills, and more. Aleratec’s shredding solutions currently include: the DVD/CD Shredder™, the DVD/CD Shredder XC™, the DVD/CD Shredder Plus DS2™, and the DVD/CD Shredder Plus DS18™. |
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