Why Secure Document Management is Critical for Your Disaster Recovery Plan

A business person is swimming in a flooded office.

Most businesses in Western Pennsylvania spend countless hours developing comprehensive disaster recovery plans. They backup servers, create off-site data redundancy, and establish emergency protocols. Yet many overlook one of their most vulnerable assets: physical documents. When a disaster like a fire, flood, or severe storm strikes, your paper records face immediate risk. Without proper document…

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Why Secure Shredding Practices Should Be Part of Your Anti-Fraud Strategy

Paper labeled “SECURITY” being shredded into strips.

International Fraud Awareness Week runs from November 16-22, making it the perfect time to evaluate your organization’s fraud prevention measures. While most businesses focus on digital security threats, physical document security remains a critical vulnerability that fraudsters actively exploit. At Allegheny Records, we work with businesses throughout Pittsburgh and Western PA to implement comprehensive document…

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End-of-Year Security Checkup: How Document Shredding Helps Prevent Identity Theft

Identity Theft Warning Sign A yellow sign with the words Identity Theft on a keyboard

December marks Identity Theft Awareness & Prevention Month, making it the perfect time for businesses across Pittsburgh and Western PA to review their document security practices. With the year winding down and tax season approaching, now is when most companies face their highest volumes of sensitive paperwork. Identity theft costs businesses billions of dollars annually.…

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How to Stay Compliant and Secure with Effective Document Retention Policies

a large quantity of boxes are stored on racks at this records storage warehouse facility

Your business generates thousands of documents every year. Employee files, financial records, contracts, correspondence, and customer data pile up faster than you might realize. Without a clear document retention policy, you’re putting your Pittsburgh business at risk for compliance violations, security breaches, and unnecessary storage costs. A proper document retention policy doesn’t just organize your…

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How Shredding Can Protect Against Child Identity Theft

Identity theft concept, shredding personal information

When most parents think about protecting their children, they consider physical safety first. But in today’s digital world, there’s an invisible threat that often goes overlooked: child identity theft. This crime affects over one million children annually, and the damage can last well into adulthood. What makes children particularly vulnerable targets? Their clean credit histories…

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Why Shredding Financial Documents is Essential to Prevent Fraud

Stack of Paper documents with clip, Pile of unfinished documents on office desk folders

Picture this: you’ve just finished organizing your home office and found a stack of old bank statements, credit card bills, and tax returns from the past few years. Your first instinct might be to toss them straight into the trash can, but hold on—that simple action could put your financial security at serious risk. While…

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The 1-5mm Shred Size Myth: What You Need to Know

Save Download Preview Wooden signpost with two opposite arrows over green leaves background

Some shredding providers make bold claims about their destruction capabilities—but are they actually telling the truth? If you’ve ever shopped around for shredding services in Pittsburgh, you’ve probably heard companies boast about achieving “1mm x 5mm” particle sizes with their mobile trucks. Here’s the reality: this claim is misleading at best, and completely false at…

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Why Chain of Custody Matters in Shredding

Dropping of paper in a metal bin container for safe disposal of business documents

When Pittsburgh businesses hand over sensitive documents for destruction, they’re not just getting rid of paper—they’re transferring responsibility for protecting confidential information. This transfer requires a critical security protocol that many organizations overlook: chain of custody documentation. Chain of custody isn’t just paperwork; it’s your legal protection and compliance guarantee rolled into one essential process.…

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Avoid PHI Breaches with HIPAA-Compliant Shredding

The word HIPAA and medical icons float in the foreground next to an image of a medical professional in a white jacket and wearing a stethoscope.

Healthcare organizations in Pittsburgh face an alarming reality: Protected Health Information (PHI) breaches can cost millions in fines and irreparably damage patient trust. While most practices focus on digital security, physical documents containing PHI often represent the weakest link in your compliance strategy. The simple act of tossing patient records in regular trash or using…

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How Secure Document Shredding Helps Prevent Senior Identity Theft

The word Confidential surrounded by some shredded papers

Following National Senior Fraud Awareness Day on May 15th, it’s important to highlight one of the most effective yet overlooked methods of protecting older adults from identity theft: secure document shredding. As seniors continue to be disproportionately targeted by fraudsters, understanding how proper document destruction plays a vital role in preventing identity theft has never…

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