A paper shredder is an ideal piece of equipment that can greatly enhance security. By shredding old documents, so that unwanted eyes can't view personal or sensitive information, individuals and businesses can reduce the likelihood of fraud and identity theft.
Since there are a variety of paper shredders available in the market, it is ideal for individuals to first determine how much security they actually need. For example, strip-cut shredded documents can be easily reassembled. While these shredders are inexpensive, they simply do not offer the enhanced document security requirements that most individuals and businesses are looking for.
A good cross-cut paper shredder, which is also known as a confetti cut paper shredder, offers the greatest document destruction capabilities. Higher end machines typically shred into smaller particles then entry level machines. Generally speaking, an entry level confetti cut paper shredder is only $50. This is a relatively small investment to protect your identity.
Unfortunately most department stores carry the most appealing shredders, which tend to be cheap and offer limited security. Those that want to buy a quality paper shredder should seek out a specialized store such as ePaperShredder.com. This company carries hundreds of paper shredders which are suited for a variety of personal, commercial and industrial applications.
Because of the financial harm to individuals and businesses, disposing of unwanted documents that contain sensitive information should be a mandatory practice. In fact, Federal and State laws in the United States require secure document disposal in some industries such as financial institutions and in the health care industry. Even though other businesses may not be required to shred documents, these business owners should realize that they assume legal liabilities once they accept and store personal information. In addition to legal issues, it is simply common sense for these businesses to protect their customers by using a quality paper shredder to securely dispose of unwanted documents, records and files.