As everything becomes more expensive, we are all looking for ways to reduce costs. So it's understandable if you're looking at current confidential data destruction pricing and wondering if your business should save money by switching to the cheapest shredding service in your area.
If you asked me, I'd say: yes, you can save a few dollars by handing over your business's private documents and other sensitive materials to shredding suppliers who offer below-market rates. But I also ask, when you pay for confidential data destruction, do you know how much you are actually paying?
It may be helpful to understand what really drives the pricing of confidential data destruction, including:
The size and scope of the work. Data destruction services use the same basic pricing structure as other service providers. The more material you want to destroy, the lower the price you pay.
Different types of confidential material require different handling. It costs more to destroy a box of hard drives than a box of paper. When a business needs to destroy a defective or substandard product, the cost of shredding and disposal will depend on whether the product needs to be disassembled and separated into different material types.
Shipping also drives pricing for confidential data destruction services. The convenience of on-demand material extraction is great, but customers pay additional labor and fuel costs to securely transfer confidential data to the shredding facility. The higher the fuel cost, the more the shredder has to charge customers for pickup services.
security measures. If a company offering confidential shredding is charging suspiciously low prices, ask yourself: Where are they cutting corners? A reputable confidential data destruction service prioritizes security and usage measures such as locking GPS-tracked vehicles, 24/7 video surveillance of the entire facility, and locked access doors that keep unauthorized personnel out. Installing and maintaining a multi-layered security system is critical to protecting customers' sensitive data. Smash services that don't spend enough money on security to expose customers to vulnerabilities.
Staff quality and training. Would you rather hand over boxes of your company's most sensitive documents and materials to uncensored strangers on your first day at your new job? Because they have access to confidential data, shredding service employees should be thoroughly screened to weed out any candidates who may have criminal intent or are generally untrustworthy.
Shredding services with lax hiring policies can save money by paying low wages to employees who might not be able to be hired elsewhere. You probably don't want these employees to have access to your business' old financial records or customer files.
Equipment quality. Not all commercial shredders are created equal. A crosscut or strip shredder cuts the material into very small pieces. But high-volume confidential data destruction services like this one use pierce and tear shredders that rip paper and other materials into small pieces that can never be rebuilt.
Using top-of-the-line industrial equipment can be more efficient and safer than using a cross-cut shredder or other less powerful equipment. High-capacity equipment is expensive to purchase and maintain. Running industrial shredders can also consume a lot of energy, even if they are the most efficient models. High energy costs could raise pricing for data destruction companies.
Industry Certifications and Fees. There are no federal or industry-wide certification requirements for shredding services. But confidential data destruction companies with strict standards can apply for NAID AAA certification. The International Association for Security Information Governance and Management operates the certification program, the trade association for the data destruction industry.
Disruption companies seeking AAA certification go through an extensive application and review process. They must demonstrate compliance with all regulations and industry best practices, including having an incident response policy in writing. Once certified, companies are subject to unannounced audits to ensure ongoing compliance. A data destruction company's NAID AAA certification record is a good indicator of its credibility and transparency.
Confidential data destruction services for paper documents, hard drives, substandard products, etc. We have maintained NAID AAA certification since 2008, and our customers know we put service and safety first. You can arrange to witness the shredding of your corporate materials and see our security measures for yourself. I am very happy Questions about our pricing or any other questions you have about the destruction of confidential data. Contact me today.