Two people sitting across from each other at a table with paperwork in front of them.Outsourcing your information destruction isn’t always easy. You must have confidence knowing your provider is protecting your privacy. To make sure you are choosing the most trustworthy shredding and destruction company, ask the following questions:

How long have you been in the shredding business?

In shredding and destruction, experience matters. Choosing a shredding and destruction company with decades of experience ensures exceptional customer service and unparalleled privacy protection.

What are your shredding service options?

Your business has unique information destruction needs, so you want a provider who can meet your needs. Look for a shredding and destruction company that offers a variety of service options, including:

The right provider will work with you to create a customized shredding and destruction plan for your business.

Are your shredding services compliant with privacy laws and regulations?

Find out what steps your shredding and destruction provider takes to stay compliant with the following regulations:

  • HIPAA
  • SOX
  • GLBA
  • FACTA

They should have written policies and procedures protecting personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI).

What is your shredding and destruction process?

To make sure your information to is destroyed with a strict chain of custody, ask your provider for details of their shredding process. Whether you’re doing a one-time document purge or regularly-scheduled shredding, your documents should be collected, transported, and destroyed by unformed, background-screened professionals. After your information is destroyed, your provider should offer a Certificate of Destruction that proves your compliance with information privacy laws.

Are you NAID AAA Certified?

The National Association of Information Destruction (NAID) provides oversight for the shredding and destruction industry. NAID AAA Certified shredding and destruction providers are subject to stringent, ongoing audits to confirm their continual compliance with NAID standards. Choosing a NAID AAA Certified shredding and destruction provider gives you peace of mind knowing your documents and media are destroyed with unrivaled security.

Is my shredded paper recycled?

A qualified shredding and destruction provider recycles all shredded material. After paper is shredded, the shredded waste is used to produce a variety of consumer goods. A select few shredding and destruction providers offer electronics recycling services.

Richards & Richards offers shredding and destruction solutions and electronics recycling for businesses throughout Nashville. For more tips on choosing and shredding and destruction provider, please call us at 615-242-9600 or complete the form on this page.