Wiping a hard drive refers to the process of erasing data from a computer by overwriting it with binary code. There is a popular myth that you must write over data multiple times to make it unrecoverable. In reality, overwriting a drive once offers the same level of protection as overwriting a drive multiple times. Wiping the hard drive is done in instances like selling a computer or disposing of it. But simply wiping the hard drive isn’t enough protection. Someone who is computer savvy enough can retrieve enough data to access your personal information (or confidential client information).

In 2012, identity theft cost Americans $24.7 billion. In 2013, it cost Americans $10 billion more than all other types of property crime combined. Not only does identity theft cripple businesses from a financial perspective but it also compromises their safety. It only takes one stray scrap of paper with just the right information still legible to constitute a data breach that can compromise a sterling reputation and bring about a bevy of legal liabilities.

The well-being and reputation of a company often depends on how it protects its business documents and customers’ privacy. Your business’ and your customers’ paperwork is confidential and private. You don’t want it to get in the wrong hands. One way to protect both parties is by hiring professional document shredding services. But how do you select the right shredding service for your business? As you weigh your options, consider the following factors.

Everything we do in the world today is somehow affected by technology. Technology has made our lives easier and the business we conduct faster. There is no dispute this change in how we are able to perform transactions has made business better. However, there is also no dispute that it poses threats to security. Challenges created by identity thieves and how you are forced to continue protecting the safety of your data is constant. The following are some mistakes made by businesses and how you can prevent them from happening at your company.

The oil and gas industry is expansive and involved in a wide range of regulatory regimes. As such, record and information retention for any oil or gas company is staggering. Many oil and gas businesses are also facing escalating costs right now, including costs associated with discovery. Developing a records inventory and identifying obsolete records are two of the key steps for reducing document storage costs and discovery expenses.

There are many benefits that your business will see if you work with a reputable document destruction company. From scheduled shred days to yearly document purges, these companies can help you save and stay efficient. Before you sign on with a document shredding company, you should be familiar with some questions you can ask them.

When you are getting rid of hard drives, you may wonder what the best methods are. Because business hard drives store so much private data, you shouldn’t throw them out whole. Even if you are able to take them apart, they still need to be wiped before being destroyed too. Here are some basics about destroying these devices that can help you protect your business data.

In-house document shredding may seem like a great option, but it often comes with hidden costs. These include financial costs as well as reduced security and efficiency. The following are some of the issues that can happen with do-it-yourself document destruction and how to solve those problems.

Identity theft is a serious crime that happens more frequently than ever. When it comes to handling private information, it is important that every business knows how to properly dispose of it. In fact, the government has several laws in place to help make sure private information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. But just what are these laws? Here’s a quick guide to some of the most important ones.

The proper disposal of sensitive documents is a vital part of any document management plan. A business must know what to shred and when to shred it in order to protect its security and comply with federal regulations. A security or data breach is the last thing any business wants to be responsible for. The best choice is to implement a shred-all policy.