Shredding and confidential destruction of sensitive material
As part of our document storage service, Ardington Archives works with clients to determine destruction dates for archived documents and files. Confidential destruction is carried out by twice shredding the documents, before they are pulped and recycled into toilet tissue. We additionally offer destruction of associated media such as PC hard drives, meeting BSI standards in both Environmental and Information Management.
Ardington Archives also offer confidential destruction as a stand alone service to both companies and private individuals, and can provide an on-site destruction service where required.
Although the law requires businesses to retain certain documents for a period, any document that is no longer required should be securely destroyed. It is a legal requirement that anyone transporting documents to a destruction point on behalf of a company should be a registered waste carrier. From discreet collection of office waste in unmarked vehicles, to the secure shredding and destruction of documents, Ardington Archives can manage all aspects of this process.
Key benefits:
Ardington Archives’ confidential destruction process is not only environmentally friendly but allows clients to meet their business requirements in relation to the control of information for data privacy laws.
- Discreet collection
- Secure shredding and media destruction
- Minimise business risk
- Meet data protection regulations
Process
Prior to boxes being deposited in our secure storage facility, we request each client to assign a future review date on which we will send a reminder to check on the destruction requirement of that box and its contents. A quarterly report is sent to each client advising which boxes are due for destruction, and the client can then decide whether to send the boxes for confidential destruction or to continue to house them in secure storage. On receipt of instruction to destroy, signed by an authorised destruction signatory previously assigned by the client, we arrange for the boxes to be confidentially destroyed through an environmentally friendly shredding and recycling process. Once this is completed, a certificate of destruction is issued, confirming the contents have been securely destroyed.
Secure media destruction
Ardington Archives provide a secure destruction service for electronic media such as computer hard drives, USB storage and CD/DVDs. As this type of media often holds confidential information, deleting files and directories may not actually fully remove the data, therefore confidential destruction is required in order to comply with the Data Protection Act. All destroyed media is warranted in compliance with appropriate standards, and disposed of in compliance with the Waste, Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, ultimately being shredded to ensure your data has been permanently destroyed.
We offer unique, customised document scanning and storage solutions.
We work closely with our clients to ensure we deliver a scanning and storage solution to fit their needs. Have a look at some of our other services.
Ardington Archives currently has a total document storage capacity of over 100,000 boxes across three archive stores, together with our in-house argonite pods and secure vaults. Our facilities are modern and purpose-built for storage. In addition, we have the option to expand our secure archive environments to increase total capacity.
At Ardington Archives we understand that fast and efficient document retrieval is vital for the management of any business. Document retrieval can be requested via phone, email or through our secure online portal service, and if requested by 12 noon, will be returned the next working day, anywhere in the UK. Requested documents are returned either physically or via electronic format, with both options ensuring a secure and confidential delivery.
At Ardington Archives, we provide a comprehensive range of document scanning and digital conversion services using state-of-the-art equipment. We can advise on the best mix of scanning and hardcopy storage to meet your specific needs.
As part of our document storage service, Ardington Archives works with clients to determine destruction dates for archived documents and files. Confidential destruction is carried out by twice shredding the documents, before they are pulped and recycled into toilet tissue. We additionally offer destruction of associated media such as PC hard drives, meeting BSI standards in both Environmental and Information Management.
Ardington Archives has a range of custom designed storage boxes made from high content recycled board. Designed with a double thickness skin to ensure strength, rigidity and a longer life than most other storage boxes, all Ardington Archives boxes are PH neutral to maintain the quality and integrity of the documents stored inside, meeting BS 4971 standards. All boxes are supplied flatpacked for ease of storage and transportation.
In our rapidly-evolving digital era, preserving our cultural and personal heritage has taken a revolutionary turn through heritage scanning. This transformative process involves digitising redords, documents and images, extending their life without causing any damage to the original items.
Get In touch
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01367 718710
FAQ
What is confidential file destruction?
Confidential file destruction refers to the process of securely and permanently disposing of sensitive and confidential documents or digital files to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure. This process ensures that information is rendered unreadable and irretrievable to protect sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.
Why is it important to confidentially destroy files?
Confidential file destruction is crucial to protect sensitive information from theft, fraud, or unauthorised access. It helps organisations maintain data privacy and comply with data protection regulations like GDPR and other legal regulations. Failing to securely destroy confidential files can lead to data breaches, legal consequences, and reputational damage.
What methods of destruction do you use?
Shredding: Physical documents are shredded into tiny, unreadable pieces using industrial shredders.
Incineration: Documents are burned at high temperatures to ensure complete destruction.
Digital file wiping: Software tools are used to overwrite and delete digital files, making them unrecoverable.
Degaussing: Magnetic media (e.g., hard drives) are subjected to powerful magnetic fields to erase data.
Do you undertake the confidential destruction of material and does this incur an extra cost?
Yes, we do. We ask clients to advise us of a review date when the boxes first come into our store. Every quarter we write to our clients who have boxes with a review date during that quarter to ask if they would like the boxes destroyed. Clients sign the form approving destruction (this has to be completed by an authorised signatory) or give a new review date. If the boxes are to be destroyed we then remove them from storage and send them to be confidentially shredded to DIN level 3, whereby it is then pulped and recycled into tissue paper. A certificate of destruction is issued upon completion of this process. We will also collect directly from clients any paper or IT equipment they would like confidentially destroyed.