Choosing Shredder Security Level P-4
Shredding your documents and electronic media helps to protect against physical data breaches. But it’s important to choose the right security level for your needs.
Shredder security levels are determined based on the size of the shredded particles. These levels range from P-1 to P-7.
A P-4 setting creates confetti-sized paper particles that are hard to reassemble, making it difficult for identity thieves to steal your information. This is the minimum standard required for HIPAA regulations.
P-1
Level P-1 shredding provides general low security, cutting documents into long strips that can be easily reconstructed. This is fine for junk mail, but you should consider upgrading to a higher shredder security level for more sensitive information.
Level P-3 takes it a step further by using cross-cut shredding to create smaller particles. This is a more secure option, but it can take longer to shred documents.
Levels P-4 and P-5 provide a middle ground between speed and security by using cross-cutting to produce much smaller particles than the strips used in level 3. Reconstructing these particles can be difficult, making them suitable for more sensitive information.
P-2
Level P-2 is the cheapest shredder type that’s HIPAA compliant and secure enough for home or business use. It uses basic strip-cutting to reduce paper strips into pieces that aren’t easily reconstructed. This is ideal for disposing of non-sensitive internal documents like memos, forms without personal information, or travel guidelines.
Level P-3 takes security up a notch with cross-cut shredding that cuts the paper into tiny confetti-sized particles. This level is ideal for disposing of competitive information in larger offices, significantly reducing the risk of corporate espionage and legal breaches.
P-3
Level P-4 moves away from strip-cut and introduces cross-cutting. This style of shredding chops documents horizontally and vertically to create small, unidentifiable particles. It’s a good option for high-security situations such as medical records and HIPAA compliance.
The small size of the particles makes it much harder to reconstruct shredded documents and glean information. This increased security helps to ensure that sensitive information is not retrieved after the shredder has been switched off.
P-4 also meets the needs of a number of top secret government agencies and military departments.
P-4
As the highest shredder security level, P-4 is reserved for extremely sensitive information that requires the ultimate protection. This level cuts paper into cross-cut particles that are nearly impossible to reconstruct without state-of-the-art equipment.
Level P-1 is recommended for general documents that contain a few pieces of personal data or business information. These documents can be reproduced but will require substantial effort.
Level P-3 is used for everyday documents that contain a little more personal or business information. This can include invoices, photocopies and non-sensitive memos. This level is also suitable for general office use and meets HIPAA and FACTA standards.
P-5
Whether it’s your personal financial information or the secrets of the nation, keeping sensitive data private is an important part of protecting yourself. Choosing a shredder with a P-4 or higher security level will ensure your data is safe from prying eyes.
This level features cross-cut style particles that are much smaller than the strips produced by a P-2 shredder, making it difficult to reconstruct your documents. It is ideal for companies that need to protect confidential information but don’t require NSA-level protections.
Law firms might use this level to destroy client files or confidential legal documents, while technology companies can destroy research and development reports.
P-6
Level 3/P-4 shredders are secure cross-cut shredders that are ideal for destroying sensitive documents. They produce noticeably smaller shreds than a P-1, making it incredibly difficult for anyone to reconstruct the information.
For example, HIPAA-compliant medical offices use these shredders to destroy patient files and protect their privacy. Likewise, law firms can use them to dispose of case files and client communications. In addition, they are used by government and military organizations to dispose of top-secret documents. P-6 shredders use a micro-cut method to reduce paper into minuscule particles.
P-7
A P-7 shredder is a high-security option that works well for destroying sensitive and confidential documents. These shredders cut documents into micro-sized particles that are difficult to reconstruct and make them unidentifiable. This security level is ideal for destroying confidential commercial and corporate data and personal information that could be used for identity theft.
When choosing a shredder, it is important to consider the needs of your business and select a security level and particle size that best suits them. However, remember that a higher security level will also decrease the recycling capacity of your paper, as it is more difficult to sort and recycle these smaller-sized shredded pieces.
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