All In Shreds

Companies, associations depend on shredding for day-to-day security

When you think of the NFL, shredding papers and documents is the last thing that comes to mind, unless your former quarterback is moving to a new team. You’re more likely to think of an oversized lineman sacking the quarterback or a fullback rushing for 3 yards in a cloud of dust.

But last year, the Labor Department showed that the NFL Players Association paid $12,461 for document shredding to Office Shredders in Elkridge, Md. Why?

A Necessary Step
NFLPA moved last year, and it’s not uncommon for a company to shred documents during a move. But the NFLPA is under scrutiny for its treatment of retired players. The association and its forprofit subsidiary, Players Inc., are involved in a legal battle with a group of retired players, who are seeking extensive document discovery from the union. The lawsuit is filed by Bernie Parrish, formerly of the Cleveland Browns.

No one disagrees that paper needs to be shredded, but in this case, it’s a question of how much needs to be shredded. NFLPA shredded documents because it moved to new offices, but its new location is only four-tenths of a mile from the previous location. So how much paper was destroyed? Pricing methods vary, but the most commonly used rate is 10 cents per pound. Office Shredders was paid $59,897 for relocation services. Figuring the amount of paper on the most common rate, Office Shredders would have tackled up to 124,610 pounds, or more than 62 tons.

Shredding is a big business, but it also is at the forefront of security when it comes to taking care of private and exclusive documents relating to people’s lives.

“By now, almost everyone in America is familiar with identity theft,” said David Withers, marketing director at MBM Corp. “The vast majority of businesses and many individuals are taking steps to make sure they’re protected.”

Staying In-House
Withers and MBM Corp. understand the level to which identity protection must be maintained. In citing the need for shredding, Withers pointed out the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act legislation that was passed to minimize the risk of identity theft and consumer fraud. FACTA also was meant to cut down on identity theft by restricting the ability of thieves to “dumpster dive” for valuable consumer information in discarded business records.

“This is the exact reason why we (MBM Corp.) believe that a company or people in an office setting should have high-quality and high-volume shredders at their disposal,” Withers said. “Companies must safeguard sensitive information of employees and customers. The best way to do this is by shredding in-house.”

Withers said in-house shredding maintains security by not allowing anyone outside the office to have access to sensitive information. He said once the information goes out the door to a mobile shredding service, a customer never knows for certain that the papers are disposed of properly. Plus, he said, mobile shredding is an ongoing expense.

“Today, shredding is viewed as a necessary business activity,” Withers said. “A large volume of shredding takes place in hospitals, banks and government agencies, which all have untold amounts of personal information that must be protected.”

It's a Facta
Employers are required to properly and effectively destroy all documents and materials that contain sensitive employee or consumer information. But FACTA is not limited to companies or small businesses. Homeowners with employees, such as a nanny or maid, also are responsible for the handling and disposal of any type of employment information.

“If a person doesn’t shred and information leaks out, that person could be subject to lawsuits, as well as state and federal fines,” Withers said.

The issue of shredding documents doesn’t have to be as tough as a defensive lineman, nor as savvy as a quarterback on the run. A quality shredder is, however, the first line of defense that will not only protect companies and individuals from dumpster diving but also provide security from identity theft.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher/Editor in chief of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • Integration Imagination: The Future of Connected Operations

    Security teams that collaborate cross-functionally and apply imagination and creativity to envision and design their ideal integrated ecosystem will have the biggest upside to corporate security and operational benefits. Read Now

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Utah Valley University Shooting

    Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah Read Now

New Products

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.