Disposing of sensitive information can sometimes be a challenge. That’s why businesses prefer a shredder capable of doing the work effectively and efficiently. Many companies consider shredders an essential piece of office equipment. Still, there are a few aspects to consider when buying a shredder, whether for an organization or your own private home office.
In this article, you’ll learn how to choose the right shredders for your business.
Why Should We Use Shredders?
There are multiple benefits to using a shredder for document disposal, making choosing the right one even more crucial. Some of the benefits include:
- Secure disposal of sensitive information and data protection: If your company has to have physical documentation of sensitive information such as medical records and passwords, the shredders will ensure that others can’t steal them once they’re no longer needed.
- Versatility: Shredders can do a lot more than cut paper. You can also dispose of materials, including credit cards.
- Cleanliness: Shredders are practical because they make it easier to keep your office clean. When you use a shredder, documents go into one enclosed space with minimum mess.
- Cost-effectiveness: A shredder can save a business money by reducing the need for expensive document disposal services, especially when proper document disposal compliance is necessary.
- Efficiency: Using a shredder can help improve the efficiency of your business operations by reducing the time spent sorting through and disposing of unneeded documents.
- Convenience: Instead of manually tearing or cutting up each document, you can feed them into the shredder and let it do the work. Automating document shredding saves time and effort, making it a convenient solution for sensitive information disposal.
It’s worth noting that the exact magnitude of these benefits depends on the type of shredder you buy. When choosing one, look for features that meet the needs of your business operations and services.
For example, if you regularly document sensitive data that needs disposal, you can select one with a specific cut to ensure it’s properly destroyed.
Types of Shredders
Different types of shredders are available for multiple purposes, and not all are suitable for every environment and scenario. They offer alternate levels of security for document disposal, shredding capacity, and size.
Home Shredders
If you want to dispose of some of your documents securely at home, this shredder is for you. Home shredders work for 10-15 minutes at a time. They tend to be cheaper and are a cost-effective way to dispose of your bills, personal documents, junk mail, passwords, and medical records.
Home shredders often have a lower shredding capacity and a smaller receptacle than industrial and business shredders. They may also have a lower level of security and fewer shredding options.
Business Shredders
Business shredders have a higher capacity than home shredders. Because of their power, multiple users can use them for 10-45 minutes at a time. These shredders frequently come with bonus features such as feed trays. Since they’re bulkier, they often come with wheels to make moving them through the office space more manageable.
Business shredders typically come with a range of security options, including cross-cut and micro-cut shredding, various shredding speeds, and bin sizes. You’ll probably have more room for customization when choosing a business shredder.
Industrial Shredders
Most small to medium size businesses will not need to use industrial shredders. However, they’re ideal for shredding a large volume of documents. Industrial shredders are a good option for big businesses and offices that regularly need to eliminate large amounts of sensitive data.
Next to being much larger than the other two types, they can be used for extended periods by many people at once. They’re also a go-to choice for warehouses and factories.
Cutting Patterns and Other Important Features
Cutting patterns are by far the most important feature when choosing a shredder. Some are suitable for basic documentation disposal, while others, such as the micro-cut, are more complex and offer maximum security.
Many compliance regulations regarding financial and medical documents will specify the type of shredder and complex cutting pattern you need to use. Different types of shredders also have additional features as selling points for your specific business needs.
Strip-Cut
Machines with this cut type are typically the most basic and affordable shredder. Strip-cut shredders are suitable for shredding non-sensitive documents and are ideal for high-volume applications.
Cross-Cut
Cross-cut shredders cut paper into small, rectangular pieces. They offer a higher level of security than strip-cut shredders because they produce tiny pieces that are harder to put back together. Cross-cut shredders are suitable for disposing of confidential documents that contain sensitive information, such as financial statements, credit card statements, and medical records.
Micro-Cut
Micro-cut shredders cut paper into tiny, confetti-like particles. They offer the highest level of security and are suitable for shredding highly confidential documents that require maximum protection, such as legal documents, trade secrets, and government documents.
Additional Features
There are other features to take into consideration when looking for a shredder. These include:
- Shredding capacity – The shredding capacity determines how many sheets of paper the machine can cut at once. Consider your disposal volume when choosing a shredder.
- Bin size – The bin size determines how much-shredded paper the shredder can hold before it needs emptying.
- Security level – The security level refers to the protection provided by the shredder in terms of the size and shape of the cut material. The higher the security level, the smaller the shredded particles and the more difficult it is to reassemble.
- Jam prevention – Shredders with jam prevention features can help to prevent paper jams and make shredding more efficient. These features are essential for avoiding costly repairs and malfunctions. Many shredders have automatic and manual prevention options to ensure the machine is not overfed.
Dispose of Your Sensitive Information the Right Way
Businesses working with sensitive data need a good shredder in the office. They may also need other office equipment to increase efficiency and convenience. That’s why On Demand offers the best office equipment for businesses in Houston.
Choose the ideal shredder or copier, then contact on Demand for a solution to give your business the optimal workflow it deserves.