Even in the digital office, sensitive paper documents are created – the document shredder closes an often-overlooked security gap
Cloud services, digital signatures, paperless workflows: The world of work is becoming more digital. And yet, printouts end up in offices, meeting rooms, or home offices every day. The idea of a "paperless office" sounds tempting – but it is (still) a myth.
While companies invest in IT security, one aspect often remains under the radar: physical data security. Because every printout can become a vulnerability – if it is not properly destroyed.
Contracts are signed digitally, invoices are sent by email, and customer information is stored in the cloud instead of on a filing cabinet. But anyone who thinks that this is the end of the "paper" chapter in the office is mistaken. Even in the digital workplace, confidential documents continue to be created on paper. Studies show that even highly digitized companies print documents regularly.
Especially in hybrid working environments with changing work locations, the number of physical printouts often increases again – and with it the requirements for secure handling of paper documents.
Typical examples from everyday work:
All of these documents can contain personal or confidential information – and are therefore subject to data protection.
Digital security is on everyone's lips: firewalls, password protection, two-factor authentication. But what about the physical security of data? A discarded printout in the trash, a note on the desk, or an overlooked draft contract on the printer – all of these are real risks and can lead to GDPR violations.
Physical data storage devices are part of information security – and must be protected just as much as digital ones.
Even in a digitally operating company, a professional document shredder is part of the basic equipment. A modern document shredder is now an active data protection tool – not an old device from the analog era. It helps to destroy documents securely, quickly and in compliance with the law.
What should you pay attention to?
intimus International offers a range of commercial shredders for every need – from space-saving models for home offices to large commercial shredders for open-plan offices.
The future is digital – but paper is far from gone. If you want to work with truly secure data, you need to not only protect it digitally but also physically destroy it. A document shredder is therefore not a relic of the past, but an active contribution to compliance and data protection within the company.
