How Often Should Your Business Schedule Mobile Shredding?

In a digital world, it's easy to overlook how much sensitive information has been stored on paper. If your business works with documents that require secure destruction, like client records, financial documents, etc., mobile paper shredding is an on-site, reliable, easy-to-use service that will appropriately destroy your documents securely and conveniently.

But the biggest question is probably how often your business should schedule mobile shredding. The answer is not the same for every business. That answer depends on your specific situation, including your industry, the volume of documents that need disposal, and the regulatory guidelines you must adhere to.

1.    Consider Your Industry Regulations

If you work in a regulated industry, like healthcare, law, or finance, there's a good chance that strict procedures govern how you handle and dispose of documents. HIPAA, FACTA, and GDPR all have policies that involve secure shredding as part of their standards at regular intervals. For example, if you have a medical practice, you might require monthly mobile paper shredding to adhere to compliance and avoid penalties.

2.    Assess the Volume of Documents You Handle

A small business that handles limited paperwork might get by with quarterly shredding. But a larger office generating piles of confidential paperwork may need mobile paper shredding services every week or every other week.

Try doing a quick audit:

·       How many shredding bins do you fill weekly?

·       Are sensitive documents piling up or being discarded improperly?

If you find documents are sitting too long or getting tossed in general trash, it’s time to increase the frequency.

3.    Convenience and Security

Mobile shredding is built to be convenient. A mobile truck arrives at your office and shreds your documents on-site, providing you with a certificate of destruction. You can schedule regularly (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) to ensure that your data is protected while not interfering with your workday.

Additionally, with regular shredding, your office space is cleared of unneeded paper, and there is less chance for accidental exposure. You will experience benefits, and your company will experience benefits.

4.    Factor in Business Growth

Your shredding may change as your business develops. Maybe you have added staff, onboarded more clients, or started keeping more paper records. Hence, it is ideal to schedule mobile paper shredding every 6 months to make sure it’s consistent with your operations.

5.    Go with a Trusted Provider

The right shredding company will help you figure out the ideal schedule. They’ll evaluate your needs, provide secure bins, and offer flexible service options. Look for providers with NAID AAA certification for maximum data protection.

Conclusion

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how often to schedule mobile paper shredding for your business. However, a great start is to do it once a month. After you've established a monthly schedule, you can adjust the frequency based on how much paper you process, your legal industry obligations, and how fast sensitive data accumulates in your workplace.

Regular shredding isn't only about compliance; it's about protecting your reputation, your clients, and your business. If you're not on a shred schedule yet, it’s time to start.