NAID AAA Certification means the destruction process is controlled, documented, and independently audited from collection through final destruction. It helps ensure sensitive information is protected during handling, transport, processing, and disposal.
Certified providers must:
For healthcare providers, financial institutions, law firms, government agencies, and other organizations handling sensitive data, this standard creates consistency, accountability, and documented proof of secure destruction.
It matters because it gives organizations a verified way to reduce the risks tied to improper information destruction. Working with a NAID AAA Certified shredding company helps reduce those risks by establishing:
Having a certification also confirms that the destruction work is performed directly by the certified provider, not outsourced to an unverified third party. This helps preserve the chain of custody and reduces the risk of materials being transferred to a company that has not been independently audited. It also gives organizations clearer accountability if documentation, compliance records, or audit support is ever needed.
This certification is issued by i-SIGMA, the International Secure Information Governance and Management Association, which oversees standards for secure information destruction.
Not always. Providers are certified for specific services, such as paper shredding, hard drive destruction, or electronic media destruction.
Yes, providers are subject to both scheduled and unannounced audits to ensure ongoing compliance with certification standards.
Yes, many organizations use it as a benchmark when evaluating shredding and data destruction vendors.
No, certification supports compliance but does not replace an organization’s responsibility to meet all applicable legal requirements.
Viking Shred is Northern California's largest privately held mobile shredding company founded in 2006. We maintain active NAID AAA Certification, undergo regular audits, and never outsource or subcontract destruction work. Every service includes a Certificate of Destruction and complete chain-of-custody documentation.
