Shredding vs. Degaussing: Which Is Better?

In this digital age, information security is more important than ever. Hackers and thieves are getting smarter, and we need to be especially careful with our personal information in both digital and print form. If you’re getting ready to dispose of old hard drives, IDs, tapes, and more, you need to know how to destroy them correctly. Read on to discover the differences between shredding and degaussing and learnwhich is better for destroying your information securely.

Shredding Benefits

Shredding is one of the most traditionally effective ways to destroy everything, from simple documents to high-tech computer parts. Shredders come in all shapes and sizes, from small deskside shredders to industrial shredders that are capable of bulk shredding projects. When it comes to destroying all types of media, you will need a specific shredder to destroy objects larger than your average sheet of paper or ID card. However, shredding is remarkably effective at rendering your old information useless, as it turns these old media objects into indiscernible strips and particles permanently.

Degaussing Benefits

Degaussers scramble technological devices like hard drives, CDs, VHS tapes, cassettes, and more. If you’re looking for a way to destroy most types of memory drives and files, a degausser is the way to go. One benefit of degaussing over shredding is that degaussing doesn’t destroy the object itself. This means you can still send your scrambled hard drives or tapes to a recycling plant if you’re looking for an eco-friendly option.

How Both Work Together

While degaussing and shredding both have their unique approaches and benefits, both methods work well together to ensure the most information security possible. Using both a degaussing and shredding machine can give you a heightened peace of mind that using one system over the other might not. For example, degaussing an old hard drive to scramble its information and then running it through a multi-media shredder would offer two layers of security. Many businesses will have both a shredder and degausser at the ready to provide the most extensive information security solution.

As you decide how to keep your company secure, it’s crucial to understand the differences in shredding versus degaussing. Both machines can provide your business with some of the highest levels of information security. You might even consider using both devices together for greater security and peace of mind.