The 6 Types of Shredder Security Levels: Advantage Business Equipment
While Privacy Ninja does not offer a paper shredding services, it emphasizes its importance under the lens of Personal Data Protection. This is because paper shredding is one of the most effective way of disposing documents containing personal data. As we all know, when data is breached due to such document, a financial penalty may be imposed by the PDPC.
The right shredding size
When choosing how to shred your documents, you will want to consider shred size. The size of the paper shreds affects information security and possibly the cost of your service. Paper shredders use a standard classification system of P2 through P7 to determine the security of the paper being shredded through the blades. Understanding the size of the shred is the most important factor in deciding which machine is right for your needs. The smallest cut size falls under level P7, while the largest size is level P2.
Strip-cut shredders, or P2 shredders, are the most productive, but they are also the least secure. Levels Ps and P4 are the most common for businesses or home use. They are HIPAA compliant and do a great job protecting private information. P6 and P7 shredders are required for government agencies to dispose of top-secret documents, but a P7 shredder is needed for the most demanding destruction of top-secret documents.
Which security level do you need for paper shredding?
When you are looking for a new shredder for home or at the office you often see the security level of a paper shredder. What does the security level mean and why is it important to pay attention to it when you are buying a new shredder machine? On this page, we explain the shredder security levels.
Also Read: 12 Damaging Consequences of Data Breach
The 6 types of shredder security levels
1. Security Level P2
Designed for general shredding purposes
Strip Length: Infinite
2. Security Level P3
Designed for confidential, commercial, corporate, and personal data. Most commonly used security level.
Particle Width: equal to or less than (80 millimeters)
Total shred area not to exceed a total of 320 square millimeters
3. Security Level P4
Designed for shredding very sensitive and very confidential commercial corporate and/or personal data. The highest level of security is needed for commercial destruction.
Particle Width: equal to or less than (40 millimeters)
Total shred area not to exceed a total of 160 square millimeters
Check our collection of P4 Shredders here
4. Security Level P5
Designated secret/espionage proof. Standard European high-security shredder level.
Particle Width: equal to or less than (15 millimeters)
Total shred area not to exceed a total of 30 square millimeters
5. Security Level P6
Designated the top-secret shredder level. Specially designed to meet the requirements of the Department of Defense (DOD/NSA) and the exacting standards of the U.S. Military, national security organizations, government agencies, and government contractors.
Particle Width: equal to or less than (12 millimeters)
Total shred area not to exceed a total of 10 square millimeters
6. Security Level P7
Designated the highest top-secret security shredder level. Specially designed to meet the requirements of the Department of Defense (DOD/NSA) and the exacting standards of the CIA, U.S. Embassy, Top Secret U.S. Military Departments, national security organizations, government agencies, and government contractors.
Particle Width: equal to or less than (5 millimeters)
Total shred area not to exceed a total of 5 square millimeters
Check our collection of P7 Shredders here (choose ‘P7’ as Security Level filter)
Which paper shredder security level is the best shredder for you to buy? For destroying sensitive documents with personal information, medical information, financial information, or other confidential information, we recommend making use of a cross-cut shredder or a micro-cut shredder.
The necessity of a DPO
In disposing a sensitive document, a DPO is essential in setting up a policy to ensure its proper procedure and to eliminate a chance for such shredded document to be the reason for a data breach.
As the DPO is the officer who oversees the cybersecurity hygiene of the organization, appointing one is the best decision an organization could have to avoid penalties when data breach happens.
Also read: Vulnerability assessment Singapore: The complete checklist
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