Why shred

Every Business Has Information That Requires Destruction.
All document shredding businesses in San Antonio have occasion to discard confidential data. Every business is also entrusted with information that must be kept private. Employees and customers have the legal right to have this data protected.

Without the proper safeguards, information ends up in the dumpster where it is readily and legally available to anybody. Any establishment that discards private property data without the benefit of destruction exposes itself to the risk of criminal and civil prosecution, as well as the costly loss of business.

Why should stored records be destroyed on a regular basis?

The period of time that business records are stored should be determined by a retention schedule that takes into consideration their useful value to the business and the governing legal requirements. No record should be kept longer than this retention period.

By not adhering to a program of routinely destroying stored records, a company exhibits suspicious disposal practices that could be negatively construed in the event of litigation or audit.

Why not just use the trashcan or dumpster for disposal of records?

Without a program to control it, the daily trash of every business contains information that could be harmful. This information is especially useful to competitors because it contains the details of current activities. Discarded daily records include phone messages, memos, misprinted forms, drafts of bids and drafts of correspondence.

All businesses suffer potential exposure due to the need to discard these incidental business records. The only means of minimizing this exposure is to make sure such information is securely collected and destroyed.

Couldn't I recycle and get the same results as shredding?

To extract the scrap value from office paper, recycling companies use unscreened, minimum wage workers to extensively sort the material under unsecured conditions. The "acceptable" paper is stored for indefinite periods until there is enough of a particular type to process. The sorted paper, still intact, is then baled and sold to the highest bidder, often overseas, where it may be stored again for weeks or even months until it is finally used to make new products.

Should I trust my documents to just any shredding company?

Take the time to investigate the company you are dealing with. A "Certificate of Destruction" is only as good as the company that will be destroying your confidential information. KNOW THE COMPANY YOU ARE DEALING WITH. Document shredding services from our office in San Antonio will ensure your security.

From a risk management standpoint, if information is leaked by the fraud or negligence of a vendor, their obligations are irrelevant. The firm whose information falls into the wrong hands stands to loose the most, either from the loss of business, prosecution, or unfavorable publicity.

Should I trust my record storage company to destroy my documents?

Most commercial records storage facilities offer records destruction as a service to their customers. However, in a survey conducted by the National Association for Information Destruction, many of those firms were found lacking the equipment necessary to provide the services themselves. It is a common practice in the industry to subcontract the destruction of records. In some cases, disreputable storage firms were found misleading their customer by charging for secure records destruction while the materials were being sold to a recycling company for scrap.

Any business using a commercial records storage firm should inquire as to the nature of the destruction services that are available. It is an unacceptable risk to permit a storage firm to select a subcontractor to provide the records destruction service. The owner of the records is ultimately responsible for their security and, therefore should be selecting the vendor directly.

Couldn't my own employees shred my documents?

Common sense dictates that payroll information and materials that involve labor relations or legal affairs should not be entrusted to lower level employees for destruction. The only acceptable alternatives are to have the materials destroyed under the supervision of upper management or by a carefully selected, high security service.

How important is it to protect the documents of Senior Management?

I have offices in several states. Can DSS provide service to those locations too?

DSS provides service to all of Texas and can assist you in finding service through out the United States.

Does DSS supply locking containers for me to store my material in until I am ready for a pickup?

Yes, our document shredding company in San Antonio has several containers for you to choose from. All of which are secure and have an opening for you to deposit material through.

What if I only need to use shredding services one time?

Our document shredding company in San Antonio can help you for a one time service or if you need routine shredding DSS can put you on a daily, weekly or monthly schedule.

What happens to the material after it is destroyed?

The paper that is destroyed is sent to a paper mill to be recycled.

Do I have to remove rubber bands, staples, paper clips or other types of paper fasteners?

No.