We Value your SEcurity
The security and confidentiality of your material is Shred Aware’s highest concern, and our policies for handling sensitive material include, but are not limited to, the following practices:
Employees
- Shred Aware employees undergo third-party drug testing, criminal history and employment history checks, both upon hire and on a continuing basis.
- All employees sign a Confidentiality Agreement to assure all customer media and information is kept secure and confidential.
- Upon hire, employees undergo extensive training on Shred Aware’s security policies and procedures as well as continuing education on an ongoing basis.
Facility
- Shred Aware’s warehouse is secured 24/7, even during business hours, and our warehouse is monitored by an extensive security and surveillance system.
- All destruction machines undergo regular quality control checks.
- All warehouse visitors must sign in, and a Shred Aware employee accompanies each visitor at all times. This policy applies to everyone— customers, subcontractors, family, friends and vendors, or anyone performing work or repairs.
NAID AAA Certification
Shred Aware received its NAID AAA Certification for Mobile and Plant-Based Operations endorsed for Paper/Printed Media, Computer Hard Drive and Non-Paper Media Destruction on March 6, 2014.
About the NAID AAA Certification Program
The NAID AAA Certification Program is a voluntary program for NAID member companies providing information destruction services. Applicants are audited for mobile and/or plant-based operations in paper or printed media, micromedia, computer hard drive destruction, and/or computer hard drive sanitization.
Why is it important to use a NAID certified company?
- NAID sets the standards for the information destruction industry. NAID AAA Certification is a comprehensive audit program that helps organizations meet laws and regulations requiring protection of confidential customer information.
- NAID’s certification program is recognized by thousands of private and governmental organizations around the world.
- NAID auditors have Certified Protection Professional accreditation from ASIS International.
- NAID auditors verify that protocols are in place to ensure the security of confidential material throughout all stages of the destruction process.
- An extensive, three-level background screening process verifies that no individual with a known history of related crimes will be handling confidential material.
- A comprehensive unannounced audit program means that certified companies may receive an unannounced audit on any day, at any time.
- The Certification Review Board tracks reports of non-compliance and takes immediate remedial action to bring companies back into compliance. Repeat or serious infractions will result in fines and may result in removal of certification.
Shredding Services Process
Locked Bins
Shred Aware provides you with the bin(s) of your choice to secure sensitive documents prior to shredding. All bins lock for security and a set of keys are provided to you for easy and controlled access.
Pick Up and Transportation
- Shred Aware provides professional and prompt service that does not interrupt or hinder workflow. Because we are a local company, our pick up schedule can be flexible to best fit the needs of you and your business.
- Upon pick-up, bins are replaced by empty, identically-sized bins, unless otherwise requested. Or, bin contents are transferred into a larger, 64 gallon bin for removal.
- For onsite shredding, all contents are placed into a 64 gallon bin that will be shredded in our truck at your location.
- All bins are locked before being placed in the company truck, and Shred Aware trucks always remain locked when unattended.
- Upon pick up, we provide a receipt indicating date of pick up, the type, and the quantity of material collected.
- We document the chain of custody for all material. Every pick up is tracked to assure that material is destroyed properly and promptly and to assure that the material remains secure throughout the entire process.
Shredding
- All material is stored in Shred Aware’s locked facility until destruction.
- All material is destroyed by our industrial shredders within three business days, unless it is a purge, in which case material is destroyed within 15 business days. A purge is defined as at least:
- 10 boxes or fifteen 64 gallon bins of paper, or
- 50 lbs of electronic waste or 10 hard drives.
- Customers will receive notice if shredding will not be finished within three days.
- For added precaution, we require an employee to visually inspect all material shredded at our facility as it comes out of the machine, to guarantee that it meets Shred Aware’s stringent qualifications
- Shredded material is compressed and formed into large bales.
- Electronic materials, including hard drives, central processing units (CPUs), CDs, floppy disks, flash drives, VHS tapes, cell phones, and other electronic media, are physically destroyed with our hard drive shredder. The serial number of all hard drives and CPUs will be recorded and relayed back to the customer after destruction.
After Destruction
While all paper is thoroughly shredded, we still take extra precaution even after it had been baled.
- Bales are stored in Shred Aware’s secure warehouse until they are picked up for delivery to the recycling mill.
- Bales are directly transported in a covered delivery truck to a mill in California.
- All material undergoes a de-inking and pulping process before being recycled back into paper products.