Shredding is often the only option to safeguard private data from information thefts.

But business owners may not even recognize the different types of documents that require shredding. It's important to recognize the various forms of documents that are used by information pirates who want to steal valuable personal and business intelligence. But documents are more than paper, making it even easier for information thieves to obtain trade secrets.

The word "document" is often associated with traditional paper documents. True, documents do include paper documents like invoices, bills, statements, personal records, X-Rays, medical patient charts, client files, supplier details, employee files, pay slips and other business records that are stored on paper. But there's a whole class of other media and devices used for storing information. Many people tend to neglect the information on storage devices like hard drives, servers and back-up disks. But since this information is housed electronically, paperless information piracy is much easier to execute --- and harder to trace.

At the work place, personnel information like pay slip details, performance appraisals, applications, disciplinary reports and action plans need special protection. CD presentations, training modules, workshop videos and materials, sales invoice, supplier lists, client listing, quotations, product research information, strategic reports, budgets, correspondence, computer backups also require efficient disposal by shredding or incinerating. Some businesses have more to shred.

Medical records, x-rays, treatment records, patient information, and electronic scans also contain sensitive information that require secure document shredding. Other non-paper documents, like casino chips, product samples, prototypes, checks, lottery tickets and films often contain personally-identifiable information that need protection.

Shredding is essential for any document or material that contains essential data for running a business. Sensitive private data, scrap book memories, and any document that's information specific needs to be shredded. But purging documents is not enough. All disposed hard disks must also be shredded or incinerated.

Shredding is not confined to paper documents, but extends to any form of data storage device that contains sensitive material. Most local mobile shredding companies have equipment that's capable of destroying virtually any material you give them. Take care to select the right shredder.