Protect Your Business with Business Document Destruction
Your sensitive business information lives in more places than ever, from paper files and USB sticks to old laptops and decommissioned hard drives. Without business document destruction, improper disposal of these outdated records or devices can leave your company vulnerable to serious risks.
Those outdated files still contain private data like financial records, employee info, client communications, that, in the wrong hands, could lead to identity theft, compliance violations, or reputational damage.
At CBS, a Division of ABM, we help businesses across Central ND from Bismarck to Jamestown, up to Devils Lake, and down to Linton, protect their data with secure, certified document disposal services. Whether you’re decluttering your file cabinets or decommissioning IT equipment, we’ll help you eliminate risk the right way.
What should you destroy—and when? Here’s a quick, practical guide to business document destruction to keep your data safe.
1. Financial Documents
Financial paperwork contains sensitive data like account numbers, transaction history, spending habits, and internal budgeting. If these documents fall into the wrong hands, they can be used for fraud, false credit applications, or even to impersonate your business. Criminals still engage in “dumpster diving” for exactly this kind of data.
What to Destroy:
- Bank and credit card statements
- Tax returns (after the required retention period)
- Customer invoices and receipts
- Internal audits, budgets, and profit/loss reports
When to Destroy:
- After 7 years — Most financial records no longer need to be retained for tax or audit purposes after this point. Holding onto outdated files unnecessarily increases your risk of exposure.
2. Employee & HR Records
These records often contain Social Security numbers, home addresses, salary data, health info, and more, making them prime targets for identity theft or legal liability if not properly handled. Improper disposal could also violate employment and privacy laws.
What to Destroy:
- Resumes and job applications
- Payroll and direct deposit forms
- Performance reviews and disciplinary records
- Health insurance and benefits enrollment forms
When to Destroy:
- After 7 years following termination or resignation, unless specific legal or industry requirements demand longer retention. After that, it’s safer to securely destroy them.
3. Client or Customer Information
Even if you no longer work with a client, you’re still responsible for protecting their data. Exposure could result in lost trust, lawsuits, or data privacy violations, especially for businesses handling personal, medical, or financial information.
What to Destroy:
- Contracts and service agreements
- Copies of IDs or sensitive customer documentation
- Purchase orders, billing info, or contact details
- Medical or legal records (if applicable to your industry)
When to Destroy:
- After 5–7 years (depending on your industry’s data retention laws). When no longer necessary for business or compliance, securely destroy to eliminate risk.
4. Marketing & Internal Strategy Documents
Even non-financial internal files can be valuable to competitors or cybercriminals. Strategic documents may reveal pricing models, business goals, customer targeting info, or operational tactics that could compromise your competitive edge.
What to Destroy:
- Market research reports
- Sales strategy and planning documents
- Customer segmentation data
- Product development notes
When to Destroy:
- When outdated or superseded by new materials, especially if the data is no longer actively used or protected by NDAs.
5. Old Hard Drives, Flash Drives, and Media
Simply deleting files isn’t enough. Data can still be recovered from old hard drives, USB sticks, CDs, DVDs, and backup tapes, even after a wipe. This digital trail can contain everything from emails to tax documents and proprietary files.
What to Destroy:
- External hard drives
- Laptops and desktops (with data storage)
- USB drives, SD cards
- CDs, DVDs, backup tapes
When to Destroy:
- Immediately after decommissioning any device or media that’s no longer needed. Don’t wait—secure data destruction ensures no data is left behind.
Destruction Keeps You Safe
How you get rid of old data, devices, and files matters. Even a single mishandled document or hard drive can lead to serious consequences:
- Data breaches and lawsuits
- Regulatory fines for non-compliance (HIPAA, FACTA, GLBA, etc.)
- Loss of employee and customer trust
- Reputational damage that’s hard to recover from
These hits can be especially devastating for small and midsize businesses, where resources and reputations are harder to rebuild. That’s why CBS, a Division of ABM, offers AAA NAID Certified document and media destruction, tailored to your needs and compliance standards.
Whether you’re handling client files, old payroll data, or out-of-use USB drives, we make sure your information is unrecoverable, and your business is protected.
CBS: Secure Data Destruction Solutions
Protect your business with tailored services designed for companies of all sizes. CBS, a Division of ABM, provides:
- On-Site or Off-Site Shredding — Choose the option that fits your security needs and convenience.
- Hard Drive & Digital Media Destruction — Securely destroy data stored on hard drives, USBs, CDs, DVDs, tapes, and more.
- Secure Chain of Custody Documentation — Full traceability for compliance and peace of mind.
- Service Across Minnesota & Fargo, ND — Local, reliable service with a quick response.
- Trusted Local Support — Backed by The Office Shop and ABM’s decades of experience in office solutions.
Stop Your Old Files from Becoming New Problems
At CBS, we make securely disposing of your old files and data simple, so they don’t come back to haunt your business later.
Book Your Free Destruction Services Review
We’ll assess your data risks, retention policies, and develop a customized destruction plan that protects your people, your data, and your bottom line.
Need a Pickup or Quote?
Use our quick online form, and we’ll handle everything from there.
CBS: Your Partner in Protection
As part of The ABM family, CBS delivers the local, trusted service you expect, backed by national-level expertise in secure data destruction. Count on us to keep your business secure, compliant, and confident in how you handle sensitive information.
Know what to shred. Know when to shred. And trust CBS to destroy it right.