CIIM Knowledge Center

I walked into the middle of a conversation between some of my staff where Jake made a comment about hoarding and how much space it takes up and Liz wondered how it even gets started. Brian made a comment that it’s hard to believe that anyone would let it get out of hand and pile…

Did you know that the color green: Was George Washington’s favorite color? Evokes a feeling of abundance and is associated with peace and security? Was adopted in the 20th century as the color for St. Patrick’s Day over the original color, blue? Is related to the Old English word “grene,” the term for the color…

Quotes About Wants and Needs “Our wants are many, our needs are few.” “Needs are necessities but wants are luxuries.” “The definition of needs and wants changes from person to person.” When it comes to a Certificate of Destruction, you want it now because you may need it later. Read on to find out how…

One of the best ways to protect the information your business generates is to shred it. However, there are several misconceptions about shredding that need to be addressed. In this article, we clear up these misunderstandings in a Q & A with multiple-choice answers. Go ahead and test yourself! We promise there are no trick…

Media destruction refers to the process of destroying or removing physical or digital media in order to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive or confidential information. In this constantly-changing technological age, this process is essential to ensure the security and privacy of individual and business information. What Media Should Concern Me? Any device that stores digital…

Need a translation? Here you go: “By the way…” “Yes?” “For your information, did you know shredding and Earth Day are best friends forever?” “Seriously?” “I know, right?” “For the win.” The unique relationship between Earth Day and paper shredding is so perfect it seems obvious once you know about it, but it has gone…

In a Peanuts cartoon, Charles Schultz’s character, Snoopy, writes the IRS to ask to cancel his subscription and be removed from their mailing list. Wouldn’t that be nice? Unfortunately, you can’t opt out of tax season, but you can streamline the task by conducting a file purge. Purging helps eliminate unnecessary files so you can…

Have you ever ditched any of these products or services in favor of something better? Dial-up internet access for broadband CDs for MP3s Landline for mobile phone Postal mail for email You may have chosen to ditch—or even felt forced to ditch—a service, device, or way of doing things for something newer, better, more convenient,…

Are you familiar with the Five Man Electrical Band song, Signs? The chorus repeatedly tells the listener, “Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs.” This could be interpreted as advice or even a warning. Maybe you’ve been using a shredding provider that isn’t living up to your needs but you’re missing the signs that it’s time to…

Everyone will celebrate the holidays in December differently, but we should all be united in recognizing Identity Theft Awareness and Prevention Month as a reminder to protect our personal information and that of our family, friends and coworkers. Protecting your private information continues to get more difficult as each year passes, and with thieves and…

November 13-19, 2022 is Fraud Awareness Week, and the simple idea of a week focused on fraud awareness can be motivating because you can be sure you aren’t alone in fighting data fraud. Use Fraud Awareness Week as motivation to take a look at your own level of data security and find ways to tighten…

Have you ever wondered, “What is the point of creating an ‘awareness month’?” The greatest advantages are that they can teach you something you previously didn’t know and encourage those already in the know to update their knowledge on the subject. Cybersecurity is no different. It’s a big deal, and it affects everyone. How It…

Paper Files Medical records have evolved considerably over the years. Many practices have updated to digital medical records while others are still using paper documents or a combination of both. Any practice that handles Protected Health Information (PHI) will benefit from the services of a professional shredding company. HIPAA The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability…

The Evolution of Paper Paper came into existence around 105 BC when the Chinese created it from hemp and later from bark, bamboo and other fibrous plants. Paper eventually replaced clay tablets, papyrus, and animal skin as a writing surface. Paper was brought to America, which embraced this invention, and the US now uses about…

A Hard Drive Story In June 2022, a Japanese government worker went out for dinner and drinks one night. Afterwards, his bag was stolen. In it were two USB drives that contained the personal information of 460,000 residents of the city of Amagasaki. The information included names, birth dates, addresses, tax details, and bank account…

1 Thing Becomes 100 Have you ever heard the saying, “You can do 99 things for someone and all they’ll remember is the one thing you didn’t do?” That one thing overshadows the 99 things you did do and becomes the representative for all 100. This goes for almost any situation. No matter how well…

There will be no gown, no pomp and circumstance, no tassels moved to the left or caps thrown into the air. For the quiet introverts, this might be a dream come true. For those who are always looking for a reason to (quietly) party, receiving of a Certificate of Destruction just might be the right…

Celebrating is so underrated. Some think it’s ridiculous to celebrate significant dates, achievements, or dates. But the truth is, celebrating can help you appreciate the good things in life, the challenges overcome, and achievements earned—and at the same time, celebrating can help mitigate the negative aspects of life. It boosts our feeling of well-being and…

If you’re not shredding all of your documents that contain any amount of information about you, you are blindly setting yourself up for possible disaster. Here’s some questions you should be asking about who the thieves are that could cause such destruction with your unshredded papers: Q. Who would steal my information? A. Identity thieves…

Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland are like one huge uninterrupted mid-sized city that has continued to grow despite the economic recession of the late 2000s. The cities boast the largest high school in Washington State as well as a growing and active airport, theatre, planetarium, annual events, minor league baseball team, major junior hockey club, golf…

A “minefield” is defined as a subject presenting unseen hazards, and that’s how many people view the continuously evolving slew of data protection laws. There are hundreds of laws about protecting data, but below is a selection of laws most likely to impact you or your business. The Simple Life In 1936, a new piece…

Back in school, the time between the end and beginning of semesters was really useful. The chaotic and messy last semester had just come to an end leaving a clean slate ahead. The completed work of the previous semester could be put to rest and any clutter discarded. The break felt great and allowed you…

It’s hard to imagine ever “celebrating” Identity Theft Awareness and Prevention Month, but consider these four facts. In the USA, we have: The technology available to help fight identity theft attempts Training opportunities available to avoid identity theft Criminal laws in place to bring charges against thieves A month dedicated to bringing awareness that focuses…

I believe it was the British rock band, The Clash, that first asked this question when they wrote the song, Should I Stay or Should I Go. That would have made for an interesting Shred Collection Container music video! Strategically placing shred collection bins around your office will ensure that sensitive documents are disposed of…

There are some things we habitually do to protect ourselves and others. For instance, we might lock our car doors to avoid a break in. If we lock them 50% of the time, we lower the risk considerably compared to never locking them. But the best safeguard is to lock them every time. It doesn’t…

Unless you’re Oscar the Grouch, who loves trash and disposes of nothing, your goal is to continually purge unwanted paper waste from your office. But if that paper waste contains confidential legal information, it is vitally important to protect the Personally Identifiable Information (PII) information on those documents and keep your business from being held…

HIPAA and HITECH affect every document and piece of information a “covered entity” processes. But the rules are complex and rigid, creating multiple opportunities for mistakes. Here we try to unravel the security rules to help you make sense of it all. What organizations need to comply with the HIPAA/HITECH laws? Covered Entities Healthcare Providers…

Information security breaches are an often-silent enemy that create havoc for your company. Most of the time they come unexpectedly, stealing your valuable time and attention, and leaving you open to lawsuits. No one is immune from making information security errors, but reducing the risk and being prepared will help decrease downtime, damaged reputation, and…

The National Association for 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. Not all shredding and destruction providers choose to earn AAA Certification. Those that do offer a distinct advantage…

Destroying expired digital data is just as important as shredding expired paper records. Even if you erase or reformat an expired hard drive, traces of sensitive data are left behind. With the right tools, criminals can access the data and steal personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). When your hard drives reach…

You may know someone who uses a paper shredding service. A mobile shredding truck may have even passed you on the highway. But do you know how a shredding service works? In this blog, we take you behind the scenes. Privacy Protection Privacy protection is the cornerstone of a shredding service. Your provider helps end…

How does your organization dispose of unwanted and expired paper records? If you are shredding documents in house, it may be time to consider another option. Here are five reasons to outsource your shredding to a shredding and destruction partner: 1. Data Breach Prevention Organizations that rely on office shredders for document destruction are more…

The holiday season will look different this year as COVID-19 infection rates keep rising. You can still make holiday purchases from the convenience and safety of your home, but not without risks. In fact, FBI Deputy Assistant Director, Tonya Ugoretz, says there has been more than a 300 percent increase in cybercrime since the pandemic…

Protecting your customers and employees from identity theft is a must. But if you are shredding documents with a store-bought paper shredding machine, you may unknowingly expose them, and your company, to unforeseen risks. In this blog, we look at the facts associated with in-house shredding. 1. In-House Shredding is Time Consuming Removing paperclips, staples,…

As paper shredding and information destruction specialists, we receive questions every day. Lately, media destruction is on everyone’s mind. In this blog, we answer several common media storage questions. Q: Why should I use a media destruction service? A: Tapes and hard drives and other digital storage devices have a shelf life. Never toss outdated…

Every company has a legal obligation to protect its customers’ and employees’ privacy. Do you know why, when, and how to destroy your sensitive information? In this blog, we discuss the do’s and don’ts of document shredding. Don’t: Keep Expired Documents Businesses must know when to get rid of expired documents. Holding onto unwanted documents…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, more organizations are asking their employees to work from home. It could be awhile before your staff returns to the office. As a result, your company must be vigilant about protecting its data while your employees are working from home. In this blog, we offer tips for keeping your business data…

For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the meaning of family. We want our loved ones to stay safe and healthy. Unfortunately, times of crisis also give rise to scams that put your family at risk. In this blog, we offer several tips for protecting your family from identity theft. Update Your Devices…

You can’t take chances with your employees’ and customers’ information, so you must use due diligence when choosing a paper shredding provider. Here are four things to consider in your search: 1. Onsite Mobile Shredding Whether to destroy your paper records onsite at your business or offsite at a shredding plant is a matter of…

“There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” is a popular phrase. We try to live by this adage and answer all the questions that come our way. In this blog, we answer questions that help you understand paper shredding and how it can help your business. Q: Why should I outsource my shredding? A:…

Are you looking for a document shredding provider? If so, you must be one hundred percent sure your documents are disposed of properly. Before signing a shredding services contract, make sure your provider is NAID AAA Certified. In this blog, we explain why NAID AAA Certification is important and how it benefits your business. What…

Consumer spending and identity theft both spike during the holiday shopping season, which is why December is Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month. In this blog, we offer six effective tips for keeping your identity safe over the holidays. 1. Collect Packages from Your Porch Having packages delivered to your doorstep is convenient, but it…

These days, as corporate data breach and consumer identity theft rates skyrocket, document shredding is a popular topic of discussion. But how do you separate fact from fiction? In this blog, we set the record straight by dispelling several popular paper shredding myths. Myth 1: All Shredding is the Same Not all shredding methods are…

Businesses that collect and store vast amounts of personally identifiable information (PII) and protected health information (PHI) must comply with state and federal privacy laws. When PII and PHI is no longer needed, companies must take steps to dispose of it securely. In this blog, we help you understand the privacy regulations that affect your…

Even if you’ve never had your identity stolen, there’s a good chance you know someone who has. According to Proofpoint, over 33 percent of Americans have experienced identity theft. It’s a crime that knows no boundaries: people of every age, from children to seniors, are vulnerable. In this blog, we share several tips for protecting…

Your customers, employees, and vendors entrust you with their information. Protecting their data from the moment it’s collected until its final disposal is a big responsibility. Without proper safeguards, you put their privacy and your business at risk. In this blog, we discuss the benefits of a professional shredding service. Federal and State Privacy Law…

It’s the time of year when every business wants a clean slate. Purging old, expired documents is a great way to start the New Year fresh. In this blog, we explain six advantages of investing in a one-time shredding and purge service. 1. Clutter Reduction Large volumes of outdated business documents take up valuable space.…

Millions of Americans’ identities are stolen every December. That’s why December is Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month. Don’t let identity theft ruin your holiday cheer! Here are several tips for protecting your privacy during the holiday season. Beware of Porch Pirates One benefit of online shopping is avoiding shopping crowds by having holiday purchases…

For your information security strategy to be effective, it needs a reliable and secure paper shredding solution. But finding a secure and trustworthy shredding partner isn’t always easy; it requires a bit of effort. Here are five questions you should ask a prospective paper shredding provider: Q: Are you NAID AAA Certified? A: NAID stands…

Understanding the privacy laws that impact public and private organizations is important. Several well-known federal regulations set strict privacy standards for medical, financial, and personal information. Here’s an overview of the laws that may affect your business: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) HIPAA affects any healthcare organization that handles, stores, and transmits…

October brings cooler weather, falling leaves, ghouls and goblins. But do you know October is also National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM)? In the spirit of NCSAM, here are several tips for keeping your personal and business information secure: 1. Update Your Passwords If you remember your passwords, they’re probably too weak. And if you’re using…

Does your company have a file room filled with old, out-of-date, or otherwise useless documents? If so, consider hiring a secure shred partner to destroy the files for you. From security to productivity, the benefits of this kind of outsourcing are considerable. Here are seven of those advantages. 1.  You save time and productivity. The…

If you’re seeking an outsourced shredding solution for your company, cost, convenience and reliability matter. But there’s one more factor to consider. In this blog, we explain why NAID AAA Certification is important. What Is NAID AAA Certification? The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) is an international, non-profit, trade organization for the shredding and…

You know it’s important to destroy unwanted and expired documents, but do you understand the real value of paper shredding? In this blog post, we take you behind the scenes of a shredding and destruction service where every detail matters. Safety and Security Identity theft and corporate fraud are on the rise. Investing in a…

At CI Information Management, we’re proud to be a trusted resource for our clients and prospective customers. Every day, we’re asked questions about information destruction. This isn’t surprising considering the wide range of privacy and compliance concerns businesses large and small have to deal with. In this blog post, we answer some of these common…

You generate huge amounts of confidential, sensitive information daily. No matter what industry you are in, knowing what to shred is vital. Should you shred it? While every business situation is different, here is a great list to get you started. In this infographic we’ll give you a recommendation on what to shred in the…

Corporate data breaches are on the rise, with an estimated 77% of reported breaches happening right here in the USA. Not only that, the costs (both financial and to your reputation) are often much greater than many believe. In this infographic we’ll show you how:  The major causes of a data breach. How data breaches…

Your confidential information is the lifeblood of your organization. But with the average office worker handling over 10,000 pieces of paper a year, it’s far to easy to have that information fall into the wrong hands, which could result in a fatal blow to your business The traditional recycling bin is great for the environment but often leaves easy access for…

When you hire a document destruction company to shred your business’s old paper files or destroy your old hard drives, you are putting a portion of the future of your company into somebody else’s hands. Such is the extreme importance of secure document destruction. Your company has sensitive information everywhere, from proprietary product information and…

Data breaches have become disturbingly commonplace lately, even for major companies. From Target to eBay to Neiman Marcus, many recognizable brands have compromised customer data. Regardless of the size of your business, a data breach can hurt your reputation, cost you money, and leave your customers wondering whether or not they can trust your brand.…

One of our employees at CI Information Management recently received the Certified Secure Destruction Specialist Accreditation from the National Association for Information Destruction. This program, which NAID launched in 2010, represents the highest level of certification that an individual can receive from the association. So far, only about 150 people nationwide have achieved the Certified…

You may feel like your company’s garbage can is a fairly neutral device. After all, it’s not like your garbage can is a terminator robot, seeking to find and destroy its target at any cost. Despite its unassuming appearance, your garbage can could morph into an unexpected Trojan Horse – a structure that seems safe…

Hard drives are still being used in many laptops and desktop computers, but most tech experts would tell you that these old storage systems are, at this point, obsolete. Solid-state drives (SSD) are the more popular option today, largely because they contain no moving parts. Where hard drives use actual disks, motors, and read/write heads…

The FACTA legislation states that any company that maintains consumer data that is used for business purposes is required to take steps to ensure that unauthorized access is not gained due to ineffective methods of disposal. We live in the digital age, and each of us is all too aware of how important it is…