Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/04/2012 -- In order to protect the privacy of consumers, the United States government has enacted over 40 information destruction laws. These laws require various institutions that collect and store personal information to manage and destroy physical records in order to keep this information safe when discarded into the trash. With these requirements come new responsibilities for both large and small businesses. And, with those responsibilities comes a new set of costs.

Many organizations, when faced with the task of destroying the personal records of their clients, will take an in-house approach. They will purchase an inexpensive shredder and set up inter-office rules on how and when to shred documents that fall within the destruction laws. It appears, at first, that in-house shredding is cost-effective, but after looking at the numbers, it becomes clear that what seems to be a money-saving idea is actually costing a business a great deal.

When factoring in the total cost of everything included in shredding documents, beyond the $200 cost of a compliant paper-shredding machine and the time it takes to complete the task, it is quickly evident that the cost of in-house shredding is more expensive than it first appears.

For example, in a medium-sized, local business in Arlington with 25 employees, it is more than likely that at least five of them will need to shred documents on a weekly basis. Shredding takes time. Employees need to prepare the documents for shredding by removing as many staples and paper clips as possible and, of course, they also physically feed the documents into the shredder. This could easily take 30 minutes per person, per week, or 150 total minutes. At the end of the month this turns out to be a total of 10 hours that employees work on document destruction.

If an average employee makes $16.50 an hour, then a business is easily spending nearly $2,000 a year on keeping in compliance with information destruction laws! This number grows considerably when shredder replacement and repair are taken into account, along with the electricity used and the extra time required when machines jam and overheat, let alone if there are more than 5 employees that are shredding documents.

However, beyond the costs associated with shredding documents, consider the wear and tear on the staff itself. Employees produce higher quality work when their tasks are specialized and focused. Having to multi-task throughout the day produces opportunities for employees to become sidetracked and ultimately makes them less efficient. Frequent pausing to shred documents throughout the week becomes a distraction and introduces inefficiency into each employee's day.

The bottom line is that professional on-site document shredding companies, like TrueShred, are often times more affordable than in-house shredding operations. Not only are they more cost effective, but they allow employees to focus on what they do best – their jobs. So, using a professional shredding service is definitely worth considering. A business can save money in the long run, improve employee efficiency, and improve security.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/04/2012 -- Every minute of every day, numerous cases of identity theft occur in the United States. In fact, it has recently been reported that as many as eleven million people become victims of identity theft each year. Sadly, it is not just individuals who are affected by this rising crime. Small and medium-sized businesses suffer from the growing trend that is known as business, or corporate, identity theft.

To a criminal, a small business is a more lucrative money-generating machine than an individual consumer. Additionally, a business is likely to have a higher available credit limit, as well as a database filled with customers' names, addresses, and a treasure trove of other personal information. This is a goldmine for identity thieves. Overall, businesses in America lose as much as fifty billion dollars to corporate identity theft each year, including both home-based internet businesses and storefront brick-and-mortar establishments. Data security laws such as FACTA and the Red Flags Rule apply to all businesses, regardless of whether they have a federal tax identification number or not, so it is possible for a business of any size to be greatly injured if its confidential information has been compromised.

For a business owner, this means that the secure disposal of financial information, client lists, and other private data should be of the utmost importance. Hiring a reliable on-site paper shredding company is an integral component of business security.

TrueShred takes pride in helping Fairfax businesses remain safe and protected. We are a local company comprised of licensed, insured, and bonded professionals. It is our highest priority to provide shredding services that are secure and trustworthy.

Are paper documents the only items that should be securely shredded? There are a number of other items that also should be shredded in order to maximize protection from identity theft, fraud, loss of trade secrets, negative publicity, and/or the loss of confidential client information.

The top ten paper items that should be shredded are:

1. "Convenience checks" sent by a financial institution
2. Canceled checks
3. Bank statements
4. Paycheck stubs
5. Insurance records
6. Account records
7. Client lists
8. Medical records
9. Spending and profit information
10. Personnel files

The top ten non-paper items that should be shredded are:
1. X-rays
2. Product samples
3. Computer back-ups
4. CD ROMS
5. DVDs
6. Uniforms
7. Identification badges
8. Cassette tapes
9. Video tapes
10. CDs and DVDs

TrueShred's reliable state-of-the-art shredding services ensure not only that these items are kept out of the wrong hands, but also that they are kept from piling up on your office desks and floors. Eliminating document clutter from your business helps to remove safety hazards and distractions, as well as providing a barrier from potential lawsuits, identity theft, and fraud. Office space is also maximized by keeping obsolete material from crowding filing cabinets and stacking up in storage spaces. Remember, TrueShred's on-site shredding service securely shreds both paper and non-paper items, in addition to that feeling of insecurity that comes with worrying about being vulnerable to identity thieves and con-artists. TrueShred's motto is simple and well earned - Shredding You Can Trust!

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/18/2012 -- Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the world today. It affects 15 million people and nearly 50 billion dollars are stolen in assets and credit every year. As unbelievable as this number seems, what is even more mind-boggling is that much of the information that a professional identity thief gathers comes from the garbage can in front of your house and behind local businesses all over your town.

It was in 1988 that the Supreme Court ruled that trash was no longer protected under privacy acts. The conclusion was that if a person threw something in the trash, they could no longer expect that information to be private since it was going, unprotected, into the public realm. This raised all sorts of warning alarms for privacy advocates and soon a trail of concern lead from private trash cans to the waste disposal services of big businesses across the world.

With the realization that "trash" now had value, it was important to understand what types of trash needed to be protected and disposed of through document shredding and what trash could just be tossed whole into the can. In general, it was agreed that any document that had a signature, account number, social security number, or medical or legal information should be shredded. Specifically, these documents fall into four different categories.

Business Files and Records
Any business that takes personal information from customers and clients needs to file business records of all kinds securely, and dispose of these documents using a shredder. Insurance companies, banks, hospitals, and government institutions especially have to maintain a high level of vigilance to ensure private information is kept private. Examples of these types of documents include: Account Records, Bank Statements, Bids, Medical Records, Obsolete Contracts, and Payroll Records.

Client Data
Client data refers to information that is collected on an ongoing basis, not through an initial application or through a contract. This type of data is especially damaging if let out into the public because it shows personal habits and patterns to our purchasing habits, etc. Examples of these types of documents include: cancelled checks, correspondence (printed emails or other), photographs, receipts, and invoices.

Personal Information
Personal information refers to data that points specifically to an individual versus an individual's assets. This type of information is often gathered by companies like hospitals and government institutions. Examples of these types of documents include: addresses, resumes, social security numbers, and used airline tickets.

Non-Document Items
Last on the list are non-document items. These are items not necessarily made of paper – and yes, a professional document shredding company can dispose of these items for you along with all your paper products. Examples of these items include: CD-ROMS, DVD's, Cassette Tapes, Prototypes, and ID Badges.

These are just a few of the items that businesses need to dispose of properly to protect the privacy of their clients. To learn more about our professional shredding services contact TrueShred. TrueShred is locally owned and operated by experienced security industry professionals. As a secure shredding company, our personnel are uniformed, bonded, licensed, insured, and subject to background screening, as well as, random drug testing.

About TrueShred
TrueShred is a NAID AAA Certified, on-site document destruction company headquartered in Gainesville, VA, which also deals for Arlington shredding services. As a family-owned and operated business. For more information please call (888)750-8783 or visit us on the web at http://www.trueshred.com/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 07/18/2012 -- Selecting a paper shredding company is a very important task. You want to insure that the company you select meets the highest quality standards while still giving you the best value for your dollar. Here are eight important questions to ask when selecting a paper shredding company for your Northern VA business.

1. Do you shred documents on-site or off-site? This question is the first one you should ask, and the most important one. An off-site shredding company will transport your papers to a warehouse or storage facility where they will eventually be handled, sorted, and shredded by hand. Because the shredding services happen off-site, you never have the opportunity to see just exactly how your documents are handled. At TrueShred, your confidential materials are shredded on-site, at your curb side, which means that there is a completely secure chain of custody with no opportunity for your documents to fall into the wrong hands.

2. How often do you pick up, and how long does the process take? Depending on the amount of materials you have, you may need shredding services once a day, once a week, or just once a month. You can choose to have your screened, bonded, licensed, insured, and background-checked TrueShred representative come to your location as often as you would like. Our shredder is able to destroy materials at an amazing rate of 8,000 pounds per hour. The shredding process is fast, reliable, and efficient. At completion, you will receive a dated Certificate of Destruction for your records.

3. Where should I store my sensitive papers and other items to be shredded? When you choose TrueShred, you will receive a free locked console (90 pound capacity) or bin (340 pound capacity) in which to store all of your items to be shredded. This way, regardless of how often you schedule your shredding service, your documents will remain in a safe receptacle. The receptacle is emptied by your TrueShred representative, transported securely outside to the TrueShred truck, and then immediately shredded on site.

4. Do you have any surcharges or pick up fees? Some shredding companies charge by the minute, which means that there is no guarantee that your quoted price will be what you actually pay. Others charge fees to come to you, or tack on surcharges. At TrueShred, we have flat, fixed rate pricing. We do not charge by the minute, and we have no hidden fees.

5. Do you offer emergency services? Not every shredding company is able to offer one-time services; some require a long-term contract. At TrueShred, we offer an on-demand "purge" service that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

6. Do you shred confidential materials other than paper? Many people today think it is safe to simply erase information off of computer hard drives, computer backups, CDs, and DVDs before throwing them away. In reality, all of these materials should be shredded, just like your bank statements, ATM receipts, and business files. TrueShred can safely shred many types non-document items, including product samples, identification badges, and x-rays.

7. Are you NAID certified? If a shredding company is certified by NAID, the National Association of Information Destruction, it means that it has been approved by the highest authority in the shredding industry. TrueShred is certified AAA by the NAID, which is the highest possible rating, and is a rating only 1 in every 4 shredding companies receives.

8. Do you require a long-term contract? Some shredding companies will require you to sign a long-term commitment, which means you will be forced to pay for their services even if you do not use them. As mentioned before, a long term contract is never required by TrueShred.

About TrueShred
TrueShred is a NAID AAA Certified, on-site document destruction company headquartered in Gainesville, VA, which also deals for Arlington shredding services. As a family-owned and operated business. For more information please call (888)750-8783 or visit us on the web at http://www.TrueShred.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Meets Growing Demand for On-Site Paper Shredding Service

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/22/2012 -- TrueShred, the DC Area's rapidly growing on-site paper shredding company, has purchased yet another shredding truck. The acquisition of another Shred-Tech truck was "essential to meet the growing demand for our services," said Jason R. Knight, Co-Founder of TrueShred.

This latest addition increases the TrueShred fleet to three trucks, giving TrueShred more capability to meet its growing market share. "As our company continues to grow, we have never lost focus on delivering exceptional secure customer service to our clients," said TrueShred's Jeffrey E. Knight. "This focus has enabled us to add new clients each month and to grow our business, despite a very tough economy."

About TrueShred
TrueShred is a NAID AAA Certified, on-site document destruction company headquartered in Gainesville, VA. As a family-owned and operated business, its reputation is built on friendly reliable service and straightforward, honest pricing. Its mobile shredding trucks provide service to areas in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Clients include medical, legal, financial, commercial, government, and residential customers. With roots in the security industry, the principals at TrueShred ensure "Shredding you can trust."

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

"Community Shredding Event" encourages people to bring boxes of files to be securely shredded free of charge.

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/21/2012 -- TrueShred, a Gainesville Va paper shreding company, will partner with First Virginia Community Bank in hosting a public "Community Shredding Event." The Shredding Event will take place on Saturday, May 19, from 9AM-12PM, at the bank's Manassas branch located at 7900 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20109.

There is no cost associated with the event, and participants are encouraged to bring up to 5 boxes of files to have securely shredded while they watch. "TrueShred has provided secure on-site shredding for First Virginia Community Bank for years, and we thought a community shredding event would be a great way to give back to our customers and the community at large," said event organizer and Vice President, Ms. Tonya Smith. Again, this Manassas Shredding Event is open to the public.

TrueShred maintains the highest standards in secure on-site document destruction, successfully meriting a NAID AAA rating year after year. Trust TrueShred to protect you and your family from identity theft. Simply box or bag your old personal and business documents, tax records, credit cards, mail, and financial documents and watch them shredded in seconds via the CCTV mounted on the side of their state-of-the-art truck. One hundred percent of the shredded paper is recycled, benefiting the environment, as well.

Many satisfied clients throughout the Greater Washington, DC area rely on TrueShred to provide secure on-site document shredding. Their services include one-time file purges and on-going scheduled service for a variety of businesses, services, and agencies including physicians, banks, attorneys, CPAs, title companies, insurance companies, the Virginia Department of Taxation, and the Department of Homeland Security. Locally owned and operated by security industry professionals, TrueShred guarantees a secure chain of custody for your sensitive information.

About TrueShred
TrueShred is a NAID AAA Certified, on-site document destruction company headquartered in Gainesville, VA. As a family-owned and operated business, its reputation is built on friendly reliable service and straightforward, honest pricing. Its mobile shredding trucks provide service to areas in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Clients include medical, legal, financial, commercial, government, and residential customers. With roots in the security industry, the principals at TrueShred ensure Shredding you can trust. For more information please call (888)750-8783 or visit us on the web at http://www.TrueShred.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Fairfax County Virginia Shred Event Brings Public Awareness of Fallen Police Officers. Donations for On-Site Shredding help Memorialize those Police Officers who have died in the line of duty.

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/21/2012 -- TrueShred will partner with the Police Unity Tour to co-host a public "Document Shredding Event." The Shredding Event will take place on Saturday, April 28, from 12 NOON – 3:00 PM, at the Glory Days Centreville parking lot, located at 13850 Braddock Road, Centreville, VA 20121. The cost is $10 donation per box and all proceeds go to the Police Unity Tour. "TrueShred has helped us with the Police Unity Tour for years – these guys are great" said event organizer Mr. Kevin Whalen. This Fairfax County shredding event is open to the public.

The Police Unity Tour was founded in 1997 to bring public awareness of all law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty – 173 police officers lost their lives in the line of duty in 2011.

TrueShred maintains the highest standards in secure on-site document destruction, successfully meriting a NAID AAA rating year after year. Trust TrueShred to protect you and your family from identity theft. Simply box or bag your old personal and business documents, tax records, credit cards, mail, and financial documents and watch them shredded in seconds via the CCTV mounted on the side of their state-of-the-art truck. One hundred percent of the shredded paper is recycled, benefitting the environment, as well.

Many satisfied clients throughout the Greater Washington, DC area rely on TrueShred to provide secure on-site document shredding. Their services include one-time file purges and on-going scheduled service for a variety of businesses, services, and agencies including physicians, attorneys, CPAs, title companies, insurance companies, the Virginia Department of Taxation, and the Department of Homeland Security. Locally owned and operated by security industry professionals, TrueShred guarantees a secure chain of custody for your sensitive information.

About TrueShred
TrueShred is a NAID AAA Certified, on-site document destruction company headquartered in Gainesville, VA. As a family-owned and operated business, its reputation is built on friendly reliable service and straightforward, honest pricing. Its mobile shredding trucks provide service to areas in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Clients include medical, legal, financial, commercial, government, and residential customers. With roots in the security industry, the principals at TrueShred ensure Shredding you can trust. For more information please call (888)750-8783 or visit us on the web at http://www.TrueShred.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/21/2012 -- TrueShred is proud to announce that Jeffrey E. Knight is one of a limited number of information security professionals nationwide to be authorized as a distributor for a new Information Destruction Policy Compliance Toolkit. The "Toolkit," available free-of charge, is designed to help organizations develop the written information destruction procedures now required by law. According to the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID), most organizations in the US report that they currently do not comply with this requirement and, therefore, are at risk. The Toolkit is the first and only publication to specifically address information destruction policy development with a goal of making compliance with the laws easy and understandable.

The Federal Trade Commission recently reached a settlement with an Illinois-based mortgage company for discarding personal information without first destroying it, resulting in a fine of $50,000. In the settlement, the FTC cited the absence of the required written policies and procedures as a basis for the penalty. Similarly, the Attorney General of Texas recently announced two settlements with retailers for improper disposal of personal information, also citing the failure to have written policies and procedures. In each of the settlements, the resulting fines amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

According to NAID's executive director Robert Johnson, "It is obvious that law enforcement agencies are becoming more aggressive in requiring compliance with the information destruction regulations as they continue to struggle with the growing ID Theft epidemic. Since last summer alone, there have been more fines, charges and penalties for improper disposal of personal information than there have been in the prior 10 years."

"For some organizations, the policy on information destruction amounts to a single sentence, advising employees to destroy sensitive information properly before it is discarded," Johnson adds. "In today's social and business climate, that simply does not provide sufficient direction to employees who are dealing with many forms of media from any number of sources. Regulators, auditors, courts of law, the media and public sentiment are insisting on a more thorough approach to information disposal because of the potentially devastating consequences of improper disposal on people's lives."

Prior to authorizing a NAID Member representative to distribute the Toolkit, NAID requires that they become oriented in its use. Only individuals who have completed the orientation are permitted to distribute it.

The Toolkit contains sample policies and procedures for training, authorization and destruction for the full range of conventional media forms, including paper records, computers, magnetic tapes, optical and micro media. In addition, the Toolkit includes sample forms, templates and other resources useful in implementing the policy. And, while the Toolkit offers information destruction procedures for in-house information destruction, it also contains sample policies and procedures for selecting competent service providers.

Alan Andolsen, a highly regarded records management consultant who contributed to the Toolkit, says, "To my knowledge, this is the most thorough examination of proper information destruction available to date. It is something that can be integrated into almost any existing information management or security program or it can stand on its own."

The NAID Information Destruction Policy Compliance Toolkit, which runs over 70 pages and includes a CD, containing electronic versions of all templates and sample forms, is available free-of-charge.

TrueShred helps companies comply with these laws by destroying records on-site - ensuring a secure "chain of custody" from the moment sensitive information leaves a business office to the moment it is shredded curbside. TrueShred's state-of the-art trucks shred paper at a rate of 8,000 pounds per hour, providing mobile, on-site secure shredding for clients throughout the VA/MD/DC area.

For more information on the NAID Information Destruction Policy Compliance Toolkit, contact Jeffrey E. Knight at TrueShred, Inc. by telephone at 703.894-8000 or visit http://www.trueshred.com .

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

TrueShred Co-Founder, Jeffrey E. Knight, is appointed an officer in Northern Virginia medical practice association. TrueShred provides on-site medical file shredding service throughout the Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia area.

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/21/2012 -- Jeffrey E. Knight, Co-Founder of the on-site medical file shredding company, TrueShred, Inc., was recently appointed Treasurer of the Practice Management Association (PMA). PMA is a professional, educational organization formed in 1985 to increase awareness in management principles for its members engaged in medical practice management. Luncheon seminar topics at PMA range from EMR to HIPAA compliance and strategic planning to grow medical practices.

Mr. Knight, who is also a Certified Public Account, says, "PMA is a natural fit for TrueShred since so many of our clients are medical professionals." According to Knight, "medical practice managers concerned about HIPAA (Health Insurance Portablility Accountability Act) compliance retain TrueShred to properly destroy patient records and shred other sensitive information." Practice managers converting to EMR "frequently engage our company following the scanning of their medical records," said Knight.

Patient Health Information (PHI) destruction is an essential part of HIPAA compliance. To be compliant with HIPAA requires that all forms of PHI are truly obliterated. The most convenient and effective way of being HIPAA compliant is to shred all paper containing PHI. TrueShred then provides a Certificate of Destruction for the HIPAA audit trail.

Mr. Knight is also affiliated with the Medical Group Management Asssociation of Maryland.

About TrueShred
TrueShred is a NAID AAA Certified, on-site document destruction company headquartered in Gainesville, VA. As a family-owned and operated business, its reputation is built on friendly, reliable service and straightforward, honest pricing. Its mobile shredding trucks provide service to areas in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Clients include medical, legal, financial, commercial, government, and residential customers. With roots in the security industry, the principals at TrueShred ensure "Shredding you can trust." For more information please call (888)750-8783 or visit us on the web at http://www.TrueShred.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Mobile Paper Shredding Company Earns NAID AAA Certification Earned for Third Consecutive Year.

Gainesville, VA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/21/2012 -- Northern Virginia paper shredding company, TrueShred, Inc. is pleased to report that it has achieved NAID AAA Certification (National Association for Information Destruction) for the third consecutive year.

"We are pleased to earn our NAID AAA Certification once again," says TrueShred Co-Founder, Jason R. Knight. "Security is a core principal of our culture that we apply to all facets of our business. We take pride in providing highest standards for on-site paper shredding security."

He adds, "In a time of increasingly sophisticated attempts at identity theft and the theft of confidential data, renewing our NAID certification represents our commitment to providing our clients with the best protection available. We look forward to continuing our partnership with NAID to always provide trusted, safe and secure on-site document destruction services."

The NAID certification program establishes standards for secure destruction processes for areas of a business that include operational security, employee hiring and screening, the destruction process, responsible disposal and insurance. The renewal process includes unscheduled audits, drug screening and an employee criminal record search by security professionals who have earned the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) accreditation.

About TrueShred
TrueShred is a NAID AAA Certified, on-site document destruction company headquartered in Gainesville, VA. As a family-owned and operated business, its reputation is built on friendly reliable service and straightforward, honest pricing. Its mobile shredding trucks provide service to areas in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Clients include medical, legal, financial, commercial, government, and residential customers. With roots in the security industry, the principals at TrueShred ensure Shredding you can trust. For more information please call (888)750-8783 or visit us on the web at http://www.TrueShred.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm