Sim
Administrator
I'm looking for a secure document destruction service suitable for a small business.
I run a paperless office (as much as possible!) where any paper statements, receipts, etc are scanned and stored in digital format. I then store the paper statements in an old paper box (holds 5 reams of paper, about 2,500 pages).
It used to take about 6 months to fill one of these boxes, but these days with more and more documentation being delivered in electronic form I estimate it will take over a year to fill one, which is progress in the right direction at least.
I currently have about 8 of these paper boxes I need to destroy now (20,000 pages), then I'll probably move to a system where each time I fill a box, I'll store it for a few months (just in case) before having it destroyed as well, so ongoing it will likely only be 2,500 pages at a time.
I know there are services who bring a specially fitted out truck to your premises with an industrial paper shredder and they destroy the documents in front of you (doesn't take long apparently). I have no idea how much they cost though and what volume of paper makes them worthwhile - has anyone used them?
I have used a personal office shredder myself, but it was so time consuming to shred paper I never bothered. The reviews I've read indicate that I'd have to spend about $500 on a shredder good enough to rip through a box of paper in short order. Then I need to find space in the office to store it when not in use.
I also know that Officeworks offers a shredding service which costs $3 per ream, however it is not "secure" in that they don't have a system which ensures nobody can read what is about to be shredded - it just sits in a box on the bench next to the shredder until they get to it. They have no reason to go through your stuff, but still - there is generally more than enough documentation in there for someone to steal your identity if they wanted to, so there is a risk. My 8 boxes (40 reams) would cost about $120 to shred if I took them to Officeworks.
Thoughts?
I run a paperless office (as much as possible!) where any paper statements, receipts, etc are scanned and stored in digital format. I then store the paper statements in an old paper box (holds 5 reams of paper, about 2,500 pages).
It used to take about 6 months to fill one of these boxes, but these days with more and more documentation being delivered in electronic form I estimate it will take over a year to fill one, which is progress in the right direction at least.
I currently have about 8 of these paper boxes I need to destroy now (20,000 pages), then I'll probably move to a system where each time I fill a box, I'll store it for a few months (just in case) before having it destroyed as well, so ongoing it will likely only be 2,500 pages at a time.
I know there are services who bring a specially fitted out truck to your premises with an industrial paper shredder and they destroy the documents in front of you (doesn't take long apparently). I have no idea how much they cost though and what volume of paper makes them worthwhile - has anyone used them?
I have used a personal office shredder myself, but it was so time consuming to shred paper I never bothered. The reviews I've read indicate that I'd have to spend about $500 on a shredder good enough to rip through a box of paper in short order. Then I need to find space in the office to store it when not in use.
I also know that Officeworks offers a shredding service which costs $3 per ream, however it is not "secure" in that they don't have a system which ensures nobody can read what is about to be shredded - it just sits in a box on the bench next to the shredder until they get to it. They have no reason to go through your stuff, but still - there is generally more than enough documentation in there for someone to steal your identity if they wanted to, so there is a risk. My 8 boxes (40 reams) would cost about $120 to shred if I took them to Officeworks.
Thoughts?