NAID Certified Shredding: Why It Matters

May 14, 2019

Advantages Digital Media

The NAID or National Association for Information Destruction is an international trade association for businesses that offer information destruction services. As part of their mission to raise awareness about the importance of secure document and information destruction, NAID has set a standard for secure shredding services and document storage and destruction facilities.

That standard, known as NAID AAA Certification, is verification that a shredding company or document destruction service provider meets stringent standards for secure document and information destruction.

But so what? You have an office shredder. Who needs to pay to meet some standards?

Why NAID AAA Certified Shredding Matters

The answer to that last question is that every company is bound by legal requirements and/or contractual compliance to protect a wide variety of data from being used for purposes beyond which it was acquired.

Choosing a NAID AAA Certified document destruction company is critical for your business for the following reasons.

1. It’s Guaranteed Privacy Compliance – NAID AAA certifies that documents are destroyed using a cross-cut shredding process that renders paper particle sizes so small that it is impossible to reassemble the document, and the information it contained. Certification protocol also includes unannounced audits of employee screening processes, operational practices and security procedures, conducted and verified by a third-party Certified Protection Professional (CPP).
   
2. Certified Document Destruction – Not only do you need to meet your compliance obligations, but you need to prove you have done so. Only a NAID AAA certified supplier can offer you a Certificate of Destruction.
   
3. PIPEDA Compliance – PIPEDA, which is Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, obligates businesses to get a person’s consent to collect, use or reveal that person’s personal information. Provisions of PIPEDA include that personal information can only be used for the purpose for which it was given; organizations must get specific consent to use the information for purposes other than those for which it was given, and individuals must be assured that their information is fully protected. NAID AAA Certification is your assurance that you are in compliance with PIPEDA relating to document destruction.

If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article about how to organize employee files.