Keeping accurate and organized records is crucial when it comes to fulfilling your tax obligations. However, once you no longer need to retain certain tax documents, securely shredding them is essential to protect your sensitive information. Here, we will explore records retention guidelines and provide you with insights on how long you should keep tax documents before safely disposing of them. Understanding Records Retention In Canada, maintaining proper records is fundamental for tax compliance. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) outlines specific guidelines for records retention, which can va ..read more

While hiring a professional shredding service is a wise step toward safeguarding your personal data, there is one crucial aspect that should not be overlooked: witnessing the destruction process. Here, we explore the reasons why witnessing the destruction of personal documents is of utmost importance when utilizing professional shredding services. Maintaining Confidentiality One of the primary reasons to witness the destruction of personal documents is to ensure the preservation of confidentiality. By being present during the shredding process, you can verify that your sensitive information i ..read more

In today's digital age, protecting sensitive information is of paramount importance. Whether you are an individual or a business, securely disposing of confidential documents is crucial to safeguarding your privacy and preventing potential data breaches. When it comes to shredding documents and other items, obtaining a Certificate of Destruction is a critical step to ensure the proper handling and disposal of sensitive materials. Below, we will explore what a Certificate of Destruction is, its significance, and why it is essential for anyone engaged in document shredding. Understanding a Cert ..read more

This year, 1,400 CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) were interviewed across 14 countries to discover what the top threats are as it relates to cyber security for businesses in 2022. The report speaks to the change in landscape and precautions to consider as more employees are working remotely, leading to an increased risk of cyberattacks. So what are the top cyber threats posed to businesses in 2022? Insider Threats - This continues to be of highest importance to consider for all organizations. The CISO report also includes ways to mitigate inside, employee threats in their own str ..read more

Now more than ever, identity theft is rising and data storage allowing larger amounts of information to be stored on one source means shredding is an essential activity in our workplaces. Some of these additional threats include ID badges, laptops and computer hard drives, cellphones, and other devices. With increased storage, no one can simply delete information and assume the data cannot be retrieved with advanced technology. Grinding or shredding technology completely removes the data layering and coding sequences from all digital sources, reducing the information to powder. High-functio ..read more

With work and life so closely intertwined, it is easy to mix up the two. Sometimes you find yourself using your work cell phone to answer a friend’s message, or book a flight ticket on your work laptop while dreaming of your next day off. These are all everyday activities that seem harmless on your work computer. But, there is a price to pay in the end if you stumble across the wrong website… and find yourself putting your company’s security at risk. 52.6 percent of respondents in a Malwarebytes survey reported using their work-assigned electronics to send or receive personal emails. 25 percen ..read more

Supporting a local businesses is one of the greatest ways you can help your community. Merlin Shredding started shredding in Red Deer than moved in to Calgary and Edmonton. They travel all over Alberta. When you turn to your local paper shredding companies, such as Merlin Shredding, the whole community benefits. Smaller companies have more responsibility to give back to local non-profits and have a smaller carbon footprint then larger companies like Staples. Merlin Shredding has been trusted with shredding documents and securely wiping out data for Alberta businesses for over 20 years. He ..read more

Phishing is a common Internet scam that affects employees all over the world. Based on the much-more-fun activity of fishing, the word “phishing” refers to an activity where scammers bait or lure victims. We wish we were writing about fishing. One of the reasons why phishing is so unfortunately effective is because of how convincing it can appear. Messages are addressed to you with your name, the language in the messages implies that they are familiar with your needs, and some scammers even reply to you personally, building what you may think is a sincere or genuine conversation. These exchan ..read more

Paper contributes to 6 million tons or ⅓ of Canada's waste in landfills and it takes 234 liters of water to produce only 1 kg of paper, all the while only ¼ of paper is being recycled. Despite paper being the better alternative to plastic, if not properly recycled, it can still leave a huge impact on our planet. Between business, schools and just leisure use, if everyone committed to the small act of recycling their paper waste, not only would it be good for the planet, it could help further protect your data.  How shredding can help Shredding is one of the best and easiest ways to rec ..read more

A common question to ask is, how do I know what needs to be properly destroyed, and what should I make sure I keep for a certain length of time? We’ve included a list below that you can always refer to for knowing when (or if) to shred certain documents. Shred Immediately Utility and phone bills: Shred after you’ve paid (unless they contain tax-deductible expenses). Anything that contains: Account numbers, Birth dates, Passwords and PINs, Signatures, Social Security Numbers Shred After 1 Month: Credit Card/ Bank Statements: Hold onto bank statements as you might need them in the future ..read more