Following the summer months, starting a new season and getting back into the swing of things can sometimes come with extra paperwork.  I think we can speak for most business owners in saying that, it is never an enjoyable task to sort through bills, contracts and invoices, but it’s a job that every business has to ensure gets done for the sake of their company’s success and general organization.

The way in which you are storing and disposing of critical business records that are no longer applicable, or are past their retention period, is one of the most important processes that should be at the forefront of every business.

Sadly, not every business in Boston is practicing safe document shredding or information theft wouldn’t take place as often as it is currently. We highly suggest that you take extra caution when dealing with the disposal of financial records and other sensitive records; for the sake of your reputation and because of the security risks involved. This is one of the biggest mistakes someone can make, as throwing away critical private data, often leaves your business considerably vulnerable to outside threats. If the wrong individual gets their hands on these juicy details as a result, it could be enough information to carry out a criminal act or a fraudulent activity of some sort.

Each business document, regardless if it contains financial information or not, is flooded with private information. Your name, address, telephone number, credit card number and bank account number need to be secured at all times to prevent the chances of unauthorized exposure. At the end of the day, if you aren’t effectively shredding your unwanted documents, they may be collected by someone else. Dumpster Diving is real, (and legal), and can result in numerous losses to your company.

Document Shredding Protects You from the Risks of Dumpster Diving

Is it that likely an individual will take the time to rummage through your trash anyways? While you may be surprised to learn differently, if there is motivation time and the right mindset, there are members of the public who will make an effort to pick a part your garbage without you even realizing it.

Never underestimate what identity thieves are capable of, even with the smallest tidbit of information. If a criminal is determined and equipped with the necessary resources to perform a crime, you may soon be faced with an empty bank account or credit cards under your name you didn’t sign up for. When in doubt, always have your files professionally shred! It’s the easiest and most reliable form of document disposal.

Stay Secure with Professional Document Shredding

• It’s important to never toss information in your trash can that may reference a Social Security Number, driver’s license number, or bank account numbers.
• Old credit and debit cards should be adequately destroyed for optimal security. Outsourcing this job to a trusted provider in the industry like A1 DATASHRED is your best bet for protection.
• All financial records should also be included in your shred pile for professional shredding purposes. An open recycling bin is an immediate threat to your security and should be avoided at all costs for the disposal of sensitive content.

When you partner with A1 DATASHRED to shred your sensitive financial and records, we promise that we will handle your documents with the highest level of professionalism and care, shredding documents appropriately according to applicable state privacy laws. Your company will remain secure and in full compliance. While identity theft can be damaging, with some simple reminders and precautions, you can reduce general risk. Don’t put your employees and staff in a situation where they will be vulnerable. Rather, take appropriate steps in preventing information theft through document destruction.

We would look forward to discussing with you, your specific needs and budget, designing a document shredding program that’s fitting to your company’s needs. Get in touch with A1 DATASHRED in Boston for more details on our shredding options, and how they can keep your business secure.

Call: 1-888-95SHRED

Data breach is an unfortunate reality and it affects millions of people across the globe; sometimes it can occur without warning, but in many cases it can be prevented through proper security processes within your business. To have confidence in knowing that your business is in fact compliant with the laws surrounding information security and document shredding, it is important you follow some simple rules; the first being the easiest but most important: Stay organized and clutter-free. This means check that desks are free from endless piles of records and that your cabinets aren’t overflowing with outdated documentation.

Bottom line; a workplace that is untidy could create a very vulnerable environment for a security breach to occur.

While identity thieves are continuously highlighted in the news as the number one cause for fraud and information theft, it is important to realize there needs to be specific internal changes made within your office to stop data breach from occurring in the first place. Turning to shredding services is by far the most reliable decision that ensures critical documents are never exposed, however there are more steps to keep in mind before document shredding takes place.

Here are some common security threats and ways in which you can prevent them:

Garbage Beside the Printer

When a garbage can is next to a printer, you can bet it’ll be used for more than just “garbage”. Confidential business information that’s printed by accident, or printed multiple times will likely land in this garbage can simply due to the fact that it’s convenient and easy. This is a major security threat however, as it leaves information vulnerable to dumpster divers who are seeking identifiable information that can be used to commit data breach crimes.

Solution:  Any confidential documents that are no longer needed should be kept in a lockable collection container before they are collected by your shredding service. This guarantees that they are stored in a secure environment where they will not be mistaken for garbage.

Recycling Bin

Like a garbage bin next to your printer, an open recycling bin can be risky business too; far too often documents get tossed in any bin positioned next to a printing area, and this is due to sheer convenience. With this in mind, many companies are getting rid of office-sized recycling bins entirely to stop sensitive records from entering blue bins. Dumpster divers will locate these documents and steal any juicy details they find to be helpful.

Solution: While every workplace should have a thorough recycling program in place, a separate shredding process should be implemented for the destruction of confidential paper. All paper should be shred prior to recycling, so introducing a shred-all policy within your workplace is an excellent way to simplify the process for employees, and it limits the chance of employee error as well.

Key for Security Bin

The keys for your collection bins should always be stored in a safe and secure spot. Remember that if you have a key left out in sight, it’s essentially free game for anyone who is curious or has other intentions, to access your documents. It’s not something anyone wants to believe, but unfortunately theft happens internally all of the time; keys that aren’t secured away could be tempting to wandering eyes in your office.

Solution:  Keep the key in a secured storage room or cabinet, and only grant access to specific employees in management ideally. Having said that, it is truly in your best interest to hire a shredding service, such as A1 DATASHRED, who will provide your business with locked consoles to place throughout your office as you wish. Highly qualified trained personnel will then collect, remove, and securely shred all material through the use of our mobile shred truck.  Outsourcing your shredding services is the only form of document management that guarantees your business will remain compliant and secure.

Don’t risk it!

Get in touch with A1 DATASHRED for further information surrounding our shredding solutions and how they can be of assistance to your company.

Call us at: 1-888-95SHRED

You may consider the office shredder as being a very resourceful tool for your workplace; after all, it can shred paper for hours upon end if need be. The question is does this approach to document shredding provide the security your business needs? Contrary to many beliefs, an office shredder doesn’t actually shred documents into particles, but rather shreds information into strips of paper. These strips can be put back together by anyone who is determined to do so, which can lead to a substantial risk of identity theft. So with that said, if you are currently using an office shredder, you may want to look at alternative solutions for the sake of your security.

There are professional services that specifically offer paper shredding but, what if you can’t reach their facility because it’s too far away or perhaps you are simply too busy to schedule an appointment? We’ve got options for you. In this case, we are referring to on-site shredding services from A1DATASHRED. What is on-site shredding? In simple terms, on-site document shredding is exactly how it sounds – shredding completed directly on your property. Our mobile shred trucks arrive at your location at a specified time that works for your schedule, and through the use of our professional and certified staff along with our shredding trucks, records are destroyed beyond recovery. You can even watch as your documents get destroyed into much smaller pieces than what an office shredder is capable of.

Once the shredding is completed, you’ll receive a Certificate of Destruction to ensure that your documents are not only destroyed, but also unrecoverable and completed in accordance with state privacy legislation. You can book an appointment at any time and we’ll provide you with the necessary security bins for your documents, if required. On-site paper shredding services are easy to use and safer for the environment and for your personal security.

At A1 DATASHRED we can provide you with our on-site shredding services. We can not only help you destroy your documents in a secure way, but also in an affordable way. You can bring in any documents that you need to shred and we also provide data shredding services for hard drive shredding.

If you live around Boston we can provide our on-site shredding services to you.

Contact us today to find out more about our on-site paper shredding services.

Call 1-888-95-SHRED

Large organizations, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and other major companies have several things in common, but one in particular stands out. They all use computers for generating, sharing and storing electronic data. With so many computers and such a significant amount of information being processed and sent online, how can you be sure that your information is in fact secure, even if it’s stored on hard drives?

As industry professionals of secure media destruction, serving the Boston and nearby areas, we want you to understand and be aware of the many forms of hard drive destruction, in comparison to degaussing processes.

• Peace of Mind: Only a few years ago, news revealed that there was more than 2100 data breach instances which lead to the exposure of over 822 million records. A document destruction company who can handle the shredding of your electronic media and hard drives, assures there is zero risk of a data breach, and your organization is completely protected.

• Save Money and Office Space: In the United States, the typical cost for each breach that took place was approximately $188. Consider this; if you were to multiply that by the numbers above, this could in turn result in 10s or even 100s of billions of dollars lost from a data breach. Furthermore, the storage space that is often used for keeping old hard drives tucked away could also be a security problem down the road. If computers are left in the open without the necessary security measures in place or if they aren’t being used entirely, information can be compromised very quickly.

• Full Service Media Destruction: We will handle the safe and secure destruction of more than just your hard drives. We will look after the destruction of other electronic media like tablets and smart phones which most individuals and employees use on a regular routine. Each of these must be disposed of securely so sensitive data found on these is never exposed unknowingly or stolen.
• Guaranteed and 100% Unrecoverable: Did you know that while you may think a “degaussed” hard drive implies that information is obsolete, the opposite is true? In fact with the right skill, information can be recovered and stolen. The FBI have been investigating this growing issue and in fact, has been discovering data on degaussed hard drives for over a decade. A MIT research study revealed that close to 93% of confidential data from “wiped” hard drives could be accessed.
• Maintain Compliance: It is not only safe to destroy media for your privacy, but legislation mandates that you protect this data. HIPAA and FACTA, in particular, cover the necessities in relation to the disposal of hard drives and other data. Failing to comply with such regulations could leave you legally responsible should data be leaked down the road. The risks are not worth it.

Media and hard drive shredding services will assist greatly in your overall information management, and organization, all while reducing your internal costs. Our services can be tailored to suit your needs and budgetary requirements. Ensuring you have your hard drives destroyed by professionals means that you are taking active steps in protecting your company from the threats of information theft and data breach. It can be extremely challenging having to recover from such a loss as your reputation and finances are at stake in the event you fall victim. Don’t let it happen to you.

Allow the team at A1 DATASHRED to assist you in managing you old hard drives and other electronic media.

Get in touch with us today to arrange your hard drive destruction service with us. Call 1-888-95-SHRED

Despite awareness, organizations, and residents in Boston, continue to be victimized by the effects of identity theft. While some circumstances are more minor than others, this increasingly growing crime can lead to many consequences for everyone involved.

The good news is it can be stopped with some simple precautionary habits.  Here are 5 steps your Boston business should be taking to stay protected from the risks of identity theft:

• Keep your social security number protected, always: This is an important aspect of keeping your information protected at all times. Stay away from carrying your Social Security Number whenever possible; this means keep it out of your wallet or out of your purse. Never provide these details to anyone who contacts you through telephone or email unless they are authorized to ask for it, and you trust the source.
• Be sure all online passwords are secure: Ensure that your computer passwords are protected and unique in characters. Do your best to create passwords that include a minimum of one upper case, one lower case, one numeral, and one special character, like # or ?. Always take the initiative to password-protect your cell phone as well.
• Go over your credit reports on a regular basis: Visit the annual credit report to obtain a credit report from each of the three major reporting agencies, Equifax, Transunion, and Experian. Review each with great detail to confirm details are accurate, and that there are no signs of suspicious activity. You can obtain one free report from each agency each year.
• If you suspect information theft, report it immediately: It’s suggested that you visit your credit cards website to view how each card is being used, ensuring your finances are secure. You also have the ability to set a notification for purchases that surpass a specific dollar figure. Any time your card is charged beyond that value, you’ll be informed by email or text. Most credit cards will supply this service at no cost, giving you an additional layer of protection.
• Never throw confidential documents in the trash – shred them: Thoroughly shred all documents containing confidential information, prior to tossing them away. Keep in mind that office shredders do not provide the same security as professional document shredding services, and unless you have an employee who can be assigned to this responsibility on a regular basis, quite often it leads to forgotten or lost documents. This scenario poses a substantial security threat to your company, as if documents land in the wrong hands you may be found responsible. The best approach that guarantees your safety is to turn to a document destruction company such as A1 DATASHRED in Boston.  If you are in the Boston region, contact A1 DATASHRED for a free no obligation quote.

Get in touch with us at 978-858-0200 for more information regarding our document shredding and hard drive shredding services.

Businesses in the United States are subject to various different legal obligations under both state and federal law. Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of what your business is obligated to abide by, but one piece of legislation that all businesses and individuals in the United States should be familiar with is known as FACTA.

The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) was introduced in 2003 in an effort to reduce identity theft risk through the proper management of consumer information by businesses and organizations across the United States. Encouraging the creation of the Red Flags Rule for financial institutions, FACTA has made a considerable impact on how businesses manage consumer data, and on identity theft rates.

Under FACTA, consumer information must be properly handled and disposed of upon its lack of necessity. Parties handling sensitive consumer information are required to take “reasonable measures” which ensure the safety of that information. Such measures can include destruction of information through pulverization, burning or shredding of physical documents.

There are several different types of documents that follow under FACTA’s disposal rule. Typically the documents affected consist of anything that contains sensitive individual information. Documents that contain things like;

• Physical addresses
• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Drivers licence / insurance policy numbers
• Social security numbers

All fall under FACTA’s disposal rule. The penalties for anyone who fails to abide by these disposal rules can be hefty as well with state fines going up to $1,500 per violation, and federal fines going up to $2,500 per violation. Some documents you may want to be paying more attention to include;

• Insurance claims
• Employee records
• Check-writing histories
• Consumer reports

So what should you do? A proven method to help businesses across all industries abide by FACTA guidelines is to take advantage of a knowledgeable information destruction service. On top of maintaining a state of the art secure document shredding facility, A1 DATASHRED also offers mobile shredding services (our shredding machine comes to your office,) as well as hard drive shredding.

Our team of information destruction specialists are ready to help your business meet its obligations. As a proud holder of AAA Certification from NAID we know how to make sure your businesses’ information needs remain within the parameters of FACTA’s information handling and disposal guidelines. If you’re business is looking for a partner to trust, contact A1 DATASHRED today.

Many small companies will at some time face a period of slowdown; usually these quiet months occur during the summer, where of course customers are at their cottage, spending time with their families and generally enjoying the sunny weather.

Of course a landscaping company may just be getting into their hectic schedule, but if you own a massage therapy clinic, you might witness a decline in appointments because families are focused on enjoying family time.

If you are a business that unavoidably goes through a slow period in the summer, there are some ways to use this time to your advantage; in fact, you can turn this slump into a very productive couple of months if you know where to direct your attention. This is the perfect opportunity to transition your focus on areas of your business you normally don’t have the time for and therefore take a backseat the rest of the year.

Work on Your Small Business Skills

Slow periods of business present an ideal time for employee training. Whether you take part in a regional seminar, go to a conference, or improve your skills through online classes, you can easily take this time to fine-tune your skills and experience.

Shift Your Focus to Office Organization and Document Management

Keep in mind that an organized and clutter-free office is not only a productive one but a secure one as well. Take advantage of this time to sort through your office files; determine what needs to be stored, filed, and securely shred. Clean out desk drawers, cabinets and any other areas in which you may have sensitive documents piling up. Take this clean-up approach and use it with your electronic information as well; get your electronic files, emails, and computer filing system structured and clean.

Revisit and Make Any Appropriate Changes to Your Marketing Initiatives

If you haven’t revisited your marketing plans yet, why not take a look at your marketing goals, initiatives, and any other promotions or sales tactics that you may or may not wish to adjust. Summer is the time to dive deep into your analytics, making alterations to marketing plans as needed; determine what to change and what to keep so you are fully prepared to carry out such plans come the fall season.

Consider Asking for Client Feedback

If you already have a customer satisfaction survey you turn to in an effort to obtain feedback, take a good look at it and if you don’t have one, now is a great time to create one. Keep the survey simple and quick and try to focus on 2–3 specific areas only. Of course make sure you also ask open-ended question at the end. Also, consider requesting that your clients provide you with a testimonial or review so you can use this as part of your online marketing initiatives.

If you’ve implemented these tactics and still find you are in need of something to tackle, why not take a small vacation from your business as well! In some cases, this is a mentally healthy decision as it gives you a break and a chance to regroup and relax; in the end, you will feel motivated and refreshed with a clear mind. Once business picks up again you’ll be more than prepared to take it on successfully!

A1 DATASHRED is made up of a team of experts in document shredding and hard drive shredding services. When you hire our specialists to look after your sensitive information, you can rest assured that your documents and data will be permanently destroyed for good, without the potential of exposure.

Get in touch with us to learn more about how our solutions can keep your office secure.

Call 1-888-95-SHRED

When it comes to information security there are several components to consider, but an effective document retention policy is one process that every Boston business should strongly think about starting. Knowing what confidential material to store and what to shred, should be at the forefront of every business, especially throughout tax periods when information theft is at an all time high.

To help maintain security over your private information, keep in mind the following tips as a guideline:

• Information Audits: Audits are ideal in an effort to identify what kind of documents your business produces, and provides you with an inventory as to exactly what is being stored, which means you can easily manage and change it as you wish.
• Tax Records and Storage:  Data retention has two important aspects; the period in which information will be of importance and purpose to the company, and the duration that information should be stored in relation to industry and government standards. For example, in the U.S. legally, payroll tax returns should be stored for 4 years. Every company regardless of its size and industry background must research and know which legislation is applicable to them.
• Regulatory Fines:While the law states that specific records must be stored, you can also be penalized for storing records past their retention period, which can in turn result in potential legal and financial consequences. As with the majority of privacy laws, The Data Protection Act compliance states that a record must be shred once the retention period has come and gone.
• Secure Emails:Sensitive information can include paper documents, electronic files, and online communication like emails. As shared on wired.com, the Panama Papers leak exposed over 4.8 million emails (as well as 3 million database files and 2.1 million PDF’s). If emails aren’t of importance to your business or no longer serve a purpose, make sure they are deleted within a timely manner.
• Simple, Fast Retrieval:Index all documents for convenient and fast access. Be sure to store all documents or electronic files in a locked area, or in a password protected program. Access should be limited accordingly, so that only employees who absolutely need details to carry out their job duties have it. Storing information that serves no purpose will only lead to an increase in security threats like data breach. Furthermore, it will take up significant space, costing you down the road.

Professional Document Shredding: The only secure and reliable way to dispose of paper or digital documents when they are no longer needed is through professional destruction services. Document destruction is a legal obligation for several documents, and partnering with experts helps to limit risk tremendously. Partner with a reputable shredding provider like A1 DATASHRED. We provide quality and efficient destruction services that follow a strict chain of custody from beginning to end, guaranteeing the highest security levels. Our team supplies customers with a Certificate of Destruction following shredding, which documents compliance for your record keeping. Choose from onsite or offsite document shredding; whatever works for your business.

Get in touch with the A1 DATASHRED team, for further details about our document shredding services. We are here to answer any questions or concerns you might have. Call 1-888-95-SHRED.