Jeff McRitchie

The Five Most Important Things to Consider When Buying a Paper Shredder

If protecting your identity and safeguarding your company's reputation is important to you, now is the time to get a paper shredder.  You just need to have some idea of what your needs are. Here are the five most important things to consider when buying a paper shredder:

If protecting your identity and safeguarding your company's reputation is important to you, now is the time to get a paper shredder. Shredding documents is the best way to protect private information and choosing the right machine is easy. You just need to have some idea of what your needs are. Here are the five most important things to consider when buying a paper shredder:

• How much security you need. The main reason to get a paper shredder is so that you can keep certain types of information from getting out into the open. Thus, you need to choose a machine that will give you a good amount of security. Shredder security is rated on a scale of 1 to 6, with 6 representing the most security possible. Cross-cut machines offer more security than strip-cut ones, so you should probably go for a cross-cut model if security is your top concern.

• If you need to shred non-paper items. Since we live in an electronic age, it almost goes without saying that some information is stored on non-paper items such as CD's and floppy disks. These items can be difficult to dispose of properly. However, there are shredders that can handle these materials. Using one of these machines will give you an added layer of security. There are even devices that can destroy credit cards so you can protect your financial information.

• How many people need to use the shredder. Do you plan on sharing your shredder with others? If that's the case, you'll need to think carefully about the size of your shredder. These machines vary in size greatly. A small, deskside shredder is good for personal use but it won't cut it if you need to share the device with a number of colleagues. Luckily, there are plenty of large and medium-sized shredders available, so you'll definitely be able to find one that's just right for your office. Also, you might want to invest in several machines if your office is particularly large.

• What special features you want (if any). Many of today's paper shredders have special features that make shredding easy and safe. For example, Fellowes makes a number of SafeSense machines that can stop shredding when the user's hands are too close to the feed opening. There are also devices that can shut down automatically to prevent the motor from burning out. And some of the larger machines are equipped with automatic oilers so maintaining them is a snap. Be sure to look for these special features if they sound interesting to you.

• Brand name and warranty. Finally, it's important to select a machine that's made by a respected manufacturer. There are a number of reputable companies including Swingline, Fellowes, Intimus, Dahle, and Martin Yale. As far as warranties are concerned, you should select a machine that's covered for at least a year.

Your paper shredder is your weapon in the fight against identity and it can help you maintain your company's reputation. If you consider the five things listed in the article, you'll have no trouble finding the right shredder for your needs.

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