A paper shredder is a device used to ensure one’s personal security. It basically cuts your confidential and private documents into strips and particles. These strips and particles can then be discarded without any fear of theft or manipulation. It is an essential device that is a part of all offices and companies. It is also used by those who wish to keep it at home for the destruction of their personal household details. Usage of this device before throwing away any of your information ensures that you remain safe from identity theft. Micro-cut paper shredders are appropriate for shredding documents with the highest confidentiality (security level 6, 7). These machines are typically slower and more expensive, but you can be sure the documents are properly destroyed.
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What Is Identity Theft?
You might be wondering, what exactly is identity theft? Identity theft is a very dangerous crime that can be committed against you right now. Well, that is if you are not habitual of throwing away your private information responsibly. When you throw away your information carelessly, you are pretty much allowing a thief to misuse it. Thieves can retrieve your personal information from nearby dustbins and use it against you. This may take place in the form of financial harm or other privacy-invading activities.
How Do I Select the Best Shredder?
If you’re looking for a paper shredder but don’t know how to select one, we have got you covered. The selection process is relatively simple. You only need to figure out your budget and the amount of security you need. So if you are looking for something cheap and needless security, a strip cut paper shredder would be wonderful. If you have a slightly higher budget and require medium to high levels of security you can find a cross-cut machine for yourself. However, if you are okay with a higher budget and require the highest level of security, you may purchase a micro-cut shredder. This is because these models are considered to be the most efficient shredders available.
If you want to know more about the micro-cut paper shredder just continue reading.
What Does It Mean “Micro-cut”?
So, what exactly is a micro-cut paper shredder? It is basically a combination of the strip-cut and cross-cut models. Except that it is way better especially in terms of security. This is because Strip Cut ensures levels P1–P2 of security. That would be about 30-40 particles per piece of paper. Cross-cut provides Levels P3-P4 of security. That would be 300-400 particles per piece of paper. While the micro cut grants Levels P5-P6 of security. That is 3500-6000 particles per sheet. Subsequently, it is considered to be the most secure option available. In fact, this model is considered to be the real deal for those who want to conceal their documents completely and permanently. It is commonly used to destroy highly confidential documents.
Its Working Principle
The cutting mechanism of a micro-cut shredder is quite efficient. The machine has a set of interlocking teeth. These teeth churn the paper with great force until the sheet is reduced to few particles. Like the strip-cut and cross-cut machines this one also has a receptacle bin and an opening. The paper is fitted into the machine through the opening. The waste material is collected in the bin. The bin has a decent storage capacity, especially because the particles are so small. Small particles require less space. So, you need to empty the bin after a few days, or as per the amount of usage. So, this was the simple working of the micro-cut paper shredder. Because of this cutting mechanism, its output is also much lower when compared to the cross-cut shredder. So if the disposal space is a considerable incentive, then a micro-cut machine would be appropriate.
Why Should You Prefer Micro-cut Paper Shredders?
Cross-cut and micro-cut shredders are usually compared. This is because of their slightly similar prices and some other features. However, there are two major features present in a micro-cut shredder that are dominant. These two dominant features make the micro-cut machine more likable. Firstly, it creates much less waste. It cuts sheets into smaller pieces. This means that more particles can fit more into a smaller space, such as its waste bin. With less space taken up, the hassle of emptying the waste bin reduces. Secondly, the micro-cut paper shredders are more secure. The finely reduced particles are impossible to read. This immensely improves its security.
Before going ahead with the buying procedures, make sure you consider the following advantages and disadvantages. Make sure to consider all factors carefully. Make this investment wisely.
Advantages
Extra Information protection
As stated numerous times above, the micro-cut paper shredder is very secure. You can use it to destroy even the most private details. You can rely on it for the destruction of large-scale business documents as well. The micro-cut machine leaves no traces. It destroys information permanently. So, even if a thief has thousands and thousands of free hours, he/she will never be able to put the pieces together. Even the most systematic and sophisticated software would be of no use. Hence, you can easily use it to destroy documents such as client records, receipts, personal information, staff files, credit cards, identification cards, or financial data such as bank card information, etc. By using a micro-cut paper shredder you are reducing the risk of identity theft.
Waste management
Using a micro-cut shredder to organize your office or home would also be ideal. You can easily use this machine to reduce bulky files into mere particles. You can then throw away these particles. So you will not have to create too much waste by throwing excess paper in your bin. You will also have no fear as your documents would have been rendered unreadable.
Readily available
Even though the micro-cut paper shredder is considered to be the fanciest device out of the other two, it is readily available. Both small and large business owners can purchase it. They can easily rely on it and have it handy to use. This will also help them the labor of calling paper shredding Service Company to pick up their sensitive documents. In this way, a shredding machine would appear cheaper too. This is because it is a one-time purchase. On the contrary, if you depend on other companies to destroy your documents, you will have to pay them each time. Hence, with a shredder around you can immediately start shredding whenever you want. This will also give you peace of mind and save you from frequent hassle.
Privacy laws
By using a micro-cut paper shredder, or any other shredding machine for that matter, you are actually obeying the law. Everywhere in the world, there are active laws concerning privacy. These laws are specially made to protect the data of individuals. So by shredding documents you are keeping your activities in compliance with the law. In fact, according to law, it is essential to destroy your information before discarding it. So you are being a responsible citizen by using a micro-cut shredder.
Recycling
Did you know the shredding waste could still be useful? You can easily add it to your compost:
Organization
You will not have to deal with a crowded work desk. Many people have to keep unnecessary yet private documents in their limited storage areas in houses and offices. But if you have a micro-cut shredder you can easily use it to shred your documents safe. All your paper waste ends up in the wastebasket of the shredder. This is better for your house/work environment as it will keep your place clean.
Disadvantages
It may be expensive
Because the micro-cut paper shredder has some extra features and is a little more sophisticated, it is expensive. It also needs regular maintenance. So besides the actual purchase, you will have to spend money on maintenance. You will have to lubricate the cutting blades and might have to repair them occasionally.
Run-time might be short
The micro-cut paper shredder like all others can only shred documents at a certain pace. The speed is also determined by the number of sheets you can shred at once, the speed of the motor, and the run time before it needs to cool down. This means that you cannot shred a huge stack of documents all at once. You will have to give the machine a break. This can be problematic if you have designated a specific day for your employees to carry out the shredding task.
Conclusion
Conclusively, we can say that a micro-cut paper shredder is the most secure shredding machine available. It is an amazing security device for companies. It greatly helps users protect themselves from identity theft. Not only this, like all other shredders this one is easily available too. Its high-security features and high storage facilities are very beneficial. These two features provide major incentives to users. So if you are looking forward to buying an extremely secure paper shredder, go for the micro-cut model.