NAID AAA Certification: Our Credentials Should Matter to You

When looking for data destruction vendors, many will share their credentials, certifications, processes, and procedures. They may highlight how specific acronyms or letters attached to their business name establish them as the most qualified option. But do you really know how those certifications benefit you?

Augusta Data Storage is the only document destruction service provider in the CSRA with NAID AAA Certification. This globally recognized certification is one of the most challenging to obtain in the data destruction industry, and we have maintained strict compliance since 2009. We’re the only locally owned and operated vendor that can bring this highly secure process to your organization, for both mobile and plant-based destruction solutions.

NAID AAA certification is a stringent certification process that requires strict management of facility access, shredding procedures and practices, and subjects the service provider to planned and unplanned audits at any time. But, as a consumer, you’re probably wondering why that matters to you.

Who is NAID?

NAID is the National Association for Information Destruction. They are the international trade association for companies providing information destruction services. NAID’s mission is to promote the information destruction industry and the standards and ethics of its member companies. These certifications come with a strict set of rules and requirements for various parts of our process and facility. Augusta Data Storage works year-round to ensure that we maintain the strict requirements of this certification as we work to improve and streamline our processes.

Why Work with NAID Certified Vendors?

Aside from protecting your business assets, did you know that working with NAID AAA Certified service providers helps you fulfill legal requirements for businesses managing and handling proprietary information?

By law, you are required to maintain certain practices for the secure destruction of company records in accordance with legal due diligence requirements related to HIPPA, FACTA, and The Graham Leach Bliley Act. And by working with a NAID AAA certified vendor, you can  be confident that the destruction of your confidential information is being handled in compliance with federal and state regulations.

Understanding Data Privacy Laws

In the United States, there is not one comprehensive federal law that regulates data security. Instead, there are many laws and regulations that, together, govern data privacy. Here are some of the most common:

The Federal Trade Commission Act

The Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) has broad jurisdiction to prevent unfair or deceptive trade practices. The FTC enforces privacy laws, enforces consumer protection, and issues regulations.

The FTC Act also stipulates that businesses must ensure the proper disposal of consumer report information and records. Any data that can be linked back to a consumer, whether it be hard copies or digital files, must be destroyed properly.

HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA) governs the collection of health information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects individuals’ medical records and other personal information pertaining to health care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing the privacy and security rules of HIPAA.

HIPAA regulations stipulate stringent measures for the proper destruction of healthcare-related documents. It’s not enough to simply discard patient records in the trash or recycling bin – they must be rendered unreadable, indecipherable, and otherwise cannot be reconstructed. Non-compliance with these regulations can lead to heavy penalties, making it absolutely crucial to work with a certified data destruction provider.

Gramm Leach Bliley Act

The Gramm Leach Bliley Act (GLBA) requires banks and financial institutions to explain their information-sharing practices to their customers and to safeguard sensitive data.  It also prohibits the sharing of customers’ nonpublic personal information among financial institutions without giving the customer an opportunity to opt-out. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act regulates information sharing and requires financial institutions to securely handle and dispose of customer records. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties. 

Working with companies that maintain the high standards established by NAID means working with a company that is required to maintain high standards across all facets of their operation and in compliance with data privacy regulations. This includes hiring practices, facility security, and equipment maintenance.

Who monitors NAID Certified Vendors?

According to i-SIGMA, NAID AAA Certification is awarded to service providers who continuously validate they meet regulatory standards and security through scheduled and even surprise third-party audits. This is why hundreds of government offices and thousands of private organizations around the world already require NAID AAA Certification of their data destruction service providers. The choice is simple. Clients can either sort out the legally required initial and ongoing due diligence themselves or rely on NAID AAA Certification to verify service provider compliance. 

NAID’s certification program was developed by information security professionals and recognized by thousands of private and governmental organizations around the world. Because of the far-reaching expectations of this certification, NAID conducts over 700 announced and unannounced audits every year to ensure that their certified vendors maintain consistently secure practices all year.

NAID certification auditors verify that protocols are in place to ensure the security of confidential material throughout all stages of the destruction process such as handling, transporting, storing materials prior to destruction, and destroying and disposing of materials responsibly. This also includes any transfer of custody scenarios.

Why are we certified?

At Augusta Data Storage, we know that our certification allows us to better serve our clients and provides a framework for us to manage and monitor our document destruction practices, but our customers are the real reason we push to maintain our high levels of compliance. We understand that the privacy and security of your business information is a top priority, especially as the value of information continues to climb for hackers, identity thieves, and those looking to commit fraud. 

The ultimate beneficiary of our NAID AAA certification is the customers. By placing their trust in our processes, they know exactly what level of service they will receive: service that maintains the highest level of integrity and security through compliance to NAID’s strict certification standards.

Get In Touch

Our team at Augusta Data Storage is committed to safeguarding and properly disposing of your sensitive data. Trust us to protect your information to the highest standards set by NAID. Don’t let your data fall into the wrong hands. Contact us today and let’s discuss how we can best serve your organization’s data destruction and storage needs. Your security is our mission. When it comes to data security, there’s no time like the present.