Head-to-Head Comparison: Onsite vs. Offsite Shredding
If you enjoy a great debate, look no further. The old debate between the benefits of onsite vs. offsite shredding still continues. In this blog, we explain the differences and similarities between the two.
Offsite Shredding
An offsite shredding service allows your documents to be collected from your business and securely transported to a plant-based shredding facility for destruction in a controlled and secure environment. Your shredding provider can either pick up boxes of records from your office or deliver secure collection containers before a one-time shred of file purges or as part of a scheduled shredding service.
A strict chain of custody is maintained during collection, transfer, and destruction of your documents. Trained, background-screened, and bonded shredding technicians collect your documents and transport them in a GPS-tracked vehicle to the shredding facility, where they’re shredded into un-reconstructable particles. The shredded paper is baled, pulped, and recycled into consumer and business paper products. You receive a Certificate of Destruction after your shredding project is completed. Offsite shredding is a great solution for any businesses that needs a cost-effective document destruction solution.
Onsite Shredding
Onsite shredding is also known as mobile shredding. Instead of having your documents transported offsite to a plant-based shredding facility, they’re shredded onsite at your business. As with offsite shredding, your onsite shredding provider can either pick up boxes of records or deliver secure collection containers in advance of a scheduled shredding service. The containers are transported outside to a shredding truck and your documents are destroyed by the industrial-grade shredding machine inside. You can even watch your documents being destroyed on a video monitor.
With onsite shredding, the same strict chain of custody is followed, and you receive a Certificate of Destruction documenting your organization’s compliance with state and federal privacy laws. Onsite shredding is ideal for businesses that need to verify the destruction process.
The Difference Maker
Onsite and offsite shredding services reduce the burden, costs, and risks of in-house document destruction programs. The type of shredding service you choose comes down to preference, but you should always make sure your shredding provider is NAID AAA Certified. The National Association of Information Destruction (NAID) is an international, non-profit trade organization for the shredding and destruction industry. NAID’s mission is to promote the information destruction industry and the standards and ethics of its member companies.
To achieve AAA Certification, shredding companies must be audited by an independent Certified Protection Professional® (CPP) who is accredited by the American Society for Industrial Security International (ASIS). During an audit, the following areas are assessed:
- Operational and facility security
- Information destruction processes
- Employee hiring practices
- Liability insurance coverage
When AAA Certification is given, the shredding and destruction provider agrees to annual surprise audits to verify its continued compliance with NAID standards. Choosing a NAID AAA Certified shredding provider ensures your documents are destroyed with the highest security and ethical standards.
In the debate of onsite vs. offsite shredding, it’s clear that both come out on top as reliable privacy protection solutions for your business.
Pacific Records Management provides shredding services for businesses throughout Fresno, Stockton, Sacramento, Modesto, and Napa and Solano Counties. For more information, please call us at 800-685-9034 or complete the form on this page.