Which Level of Document Shredding Suits Your Needs?

In this day and age it is essential to take safety precautions regarding a variety of personal and business information. Just as one makes sure their computers have sufficient firewalls, anti-virus programs, and password security access; they too need to remember that their paper documents are also at risk of falling into unwanted hands. This is where sufficient document shredding equipment comes into play. Before venturing out to buy a shredding device one should first consider the level of security needed in all common scenarios in their home or office. There are six levels of security that correspond to different types of paper shredders. Level 1 is the least secure and is recommended for general records that are devoid of significant personal or business information. Level 1 shredders typically use a strip cut style that is 3/8 of an inch wide but can also be found in a cross cut style producing 3/8 x 1 1/2 inch pieces. Level 2 is slightly more secure but still on the lower end of the spectrum. Shredders at this level are recommended for more sensitive documents such as emails, letters, and insignificant computer printouts. Level 2 shredders also utilize both strip cut and cross cut but at sizes that are slightly smaller; with common strip cut equipment producing 1/4 or 1/8 inch strips and cross cut producing 1/4 x 1 9/16 inch fragments. Level 3 is the most common level of security for one's daily shredding needs. It is recommended for more personal or professional data that might include customer or vendor information, income ledgers, identification numbers, or bills. Typically equipment that falls under a level 3 category uses a 1/16 inch strip cut style or a 1/8 x 1 1/8 inch cross cut style. Level 4 is typically necessary for secret documents. Devices of this level only offer cross cut fashion cutting that produces pieces that generally measure 1/6 x 5/8 inches. Level 5 is recommended for documents that might be seen as top secret and produces cross cut sections typically measuring 1/32 x 7/16 inches. The last and final security level is 6 and documents worthy of such a level can be categorized as high security. Level 6 document shredding typically produces bits of paper that are about 1/26 x 1/5 of an inch. After reviewing the levels its best to contemplate how many different categories that you or your business may utilize and how many shredders you will need. If you only need one shredder to cover a variety of documents its best to buy a model that's capable of the highest level of security that is applicable. Typically a level three is sufficient for both personal and business use.