Shredder Buying Guide: Security Levels Explained

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In today's world, privacy and data security are more important than ever, and selecting the right paper shredder is a critical step toward ensuring sensitive documents are safely disposed of. Whether for personal, office, or corporate use, the decision between strip cut, cross cut, and micro cut shredders can significantly impact the security of your data.

Understanding Your Shredding Needs: Strip Cut vs. Cross Cut vs. Micro Cut

Before diving into the various types of shredders, it's essential to evaluate your specific shredding requirements:

• How often will you shred documents?
• What's the sensitivity level of the information?
• How much space do you have for the shredder?

Answering these questions will help you choose a shredder that matches your security needs, usage, and available workspace.

Types of Shredders

Strip Cut Shredders

Strip cut shredders are among the most basic and common shredding machines. They cut paper into long, narrow strips, making them suitable for light shredding tasks.

Advantages of Strip Cut Shredders:

• High Capacity: These shredders can process up to 30 pages at once, making them fast and efficient for large volumes.
• Lower Maintenance: Strip cut shredders typically require less frequent oiling, reducing maintenance time.

Disadvantages of Strip Cut Shredders:

• Minimal Security: The long strips produced can potentially be reassembled, posing a security risk.
• Growing Costs: Strip cut models are becoming less budget-friendly as the demand for cross cut shredders increases.

Cross Cut Shredders

Cross cut shredders offer a significant security upgrade by cutting paper both lengthwise and crosswise into smaller confetti-like pieces.

One great option is the OfficeAssist' Shredder M100 Anti-Jam Cross Cut. With its P-4 cross-cut capability, ability to shred 10 sheets at once, and 6-gallon/225-sheet bin, it's an ideal choice for those looking for a reliable manual-feed shredder. The convenience of not having to remove staples and paper clips adds to its efficiency.

Advantages of Cross Cut Shredders:

• Better Security: Cross cut shredders offer increased security by producing smaller pieces, making document reconstruction much more difficult.
• Fewer Bag Changes: Due to smaller paper particles, bins require fewer changes.

Disadvantages of Cross Cut Shredders:

• Lower Capacity: These models often handle fewer sheets per pass, which may slow down the shredding process for bulkier tasks.
• Higher Maintenance: Cross cut shredders need more regular oiling to keep their complex mechanisms in top shape.

Micro Cut Shredders

For those who require maximum security, micro cut shredders are the gold standard. These machines shred documents into tiny, confetti-like particles, making it nearly impossible to reconstruct shredded information.

For high-volume shredding needs, the OfficeAssist' Auto Feed Shredder A-HS Anti-Jam Micro Cut can handle up to 600 sheets at once with its patented auto feed and a 4-digit PIN lock for added security. This shredder is perfect for large offices that require fast, secure, and continuous shredding operations.

If you're looking for a smaller capacity auto feed shredder, the OfficeAssist' Auto Feed Shredder A-HS Anti-Jam Micro Cut is designed for more compact offices, with the ability to handle 150 sheets in one go. It's efficient, secure, and ideal for smaller departments.

Advantages of Micro Cut Shredders:

• Maximum Security: Micro cut shredders are ideal for shredding highly sensitive data, such as financial records and legal documents.
• Compact Shreds: Micro cut models produce smaller pieces, meaning bins need to be emptied less frequently.

Disadvantages of Micro Cut Shredders:

• Cost: These shredders tend to be pricier than strip or cross cut models.
• Lower Capacity

  : Due to the intricate cutting process, micro cut shredders typically handle fewer sheets at once.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shredder

When deciding between these shredders, you need to consider several factors:

1. Security Needs

   For highly sensitive or confidential documents, micro cut shredders provide the necessary security to protect your information. The OfficeAssist' Auto Feed Shredder A-HS is a great example for those needing advanced document security.

2. Shredding Volume

   If you have large volumes of documents to shred regularly, a strip cut shredder's higher sheet capacity may appeal to you. However, for occasional shredding or home use, a cross cut or micro cut shredder like the OfficeAssist' Shredder M100 or OfficeAssist' Auto Feed Shredder A-HS might be more practical.

3. Space and Capacity

   Consider the available space in your home or office and how much capacity you need. A compact shredder is ideal for smaller workspaces, while heavy-duty shredders are better for large-scale use.

4. Maintenance and Durability

   Different shredders require varying levels of maintenance. If you prefer a low-maintenance option, a strip cut shredder might be more appealing. However, cross cut and micro cut shredders, while more secure, typically require more frequent oiling.

Making the Right Choice

Ultimately, selecting the right shredder depends on your security requirements, document volume, and budget. If you need speed and efficiency, a strip cut shredder might be the best choice. For those looking for enhanced security, particularly for highly sensitive documents, a cross cut or micro cut shredder offers the best protection.

Learn more about Kensington's Paper Shredders

A common occurrence when buying a shredder is purchasing one that doesn't fully meet your needs. From experience, buyers tend to underestimate the number of pages they shred and how often the shredder is actually used.

Below are a few different things you should consider before purchasing a shredder. If you have any further questions and/or need help picking which shredder is right for you, feel free to contact us here.

Usage

Where the shredder will be used and how much it will be used will have an impact on your requirements. A home office will have different needs than an office with 5 or 6 people or a government office that has highly confidential and sensitive information.

Bin capacity should be considered when buying a shredder. Bin sizes vary in capacity, and completely depend on the environment in which they're being used. If you buy a small shredder for a busy office, you will be constantly emptying the bin. By getting a bigger bin capacity, you will save time emptying the rubbish.

The company is the world’s best Automotive Parts Shredders supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Material

You will need to consider if there are any other items other than paper that will need to be shredded. Paper isn't the only shreddable item that contains sensitive information, so you must consider other items such as cardboard, CD/DVD's, USB's, floppy disks etc'

It is also important to consider the thickness of the paper which you are shredding. The data sheet of a shredder will show the quantity of paper that can go through at any one time based on 70gsm and 80gsm. This might be a consideration for you if you shred more of one type than the other.

Security

Security is, and should be, a huge factor when purchasing a shredder, especially if the shredded material is of a confidential nature. The security level of a shredder is documented as a 'P' rating. The confidentiality of the information on the document will dictate the 'P' rating of the shredder you require.

P2: Basic level security. The shredder will strip cut the document. It is generally not the best way of shredding, and it will be easier to re-assemble.

P3/4: Instead of strip cut documents, the shredder will cross cut the sheets which creates a confetti like waste. It is much harder to re-assemble than strip cut items. As the sheets are shredded into much smaller pieces, you won't have to empty the waste bin as often as strip cut machines.

P5/6/7: P5, P6 and P7 rated machines provided a high level of security and confidentiality. These will micro cut the document which leaves it in a dust like state. Because of this, it is virtually impossible to assemble.

P5 would be suitable for shredding sensitive information of HR and Finance departments, whereas P7 would be more suited to the most confidential documents i.e. intellectual property documents or government items. P6 would fall in between.

To learn more about shredder security levels, check out this article.

Other

Budget

Like most things, your budget will have an influence on your options. Shredders are available at many different price points. The material to be shredded, brand, capacity of the bin and the security level are a few of many factors that influence the price of a shredder.

Warranty

Would you like a warranty when buying a shredder? Warranty lengths vary from brand to brand, so make sure to consider this.

Servicing & Maintenance

There will come a time when you will need to service your shredder. You should consider who will service the machine for you when you run into issues and how long you may have to wait to get it serviced.

Lubrication

Similar to any device with a motor, it will need to be oiled regularly to prolong it's life. Shredding an oiling sheet is an easy way of prolonging the life of smaller shredders. However, bigger shredders are sometimes self-oiling. This means that instead of shredding an oiling sheet, these shredders pull oil from their own reserves.

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