Businesses process and receive volumes of confidential and classified documents on a frequent basis.  It requires good management to be able to effectively archive and protect business documents. Finding a secure place to safely store documents and to ensure compliance with relevant regulations can be a problem. Self storage units are an ideal solution as they can provide a safe, dry environment for your documents. These units can also be made accessible by authorised personnel only. This is our ultimate guide to archiving business documents including exploring the benefits of using a self storage unit for storing your business records.

Benefits of self storage for archiving business documents

1. Space saving: Archiving your documents away off-site in a self storage unit frees up valuable space in your workplace, allowing for a more organised, efficient, and clutter-free environment.
2. Security: Self storage facilities will provide a number of security benefits and features to protect your documents whilst in storage. These can include CCTV monitoring, PIN coded access, padlocked rooms, etc.
3. Accessibility: Easily retrieve your business records from a conveniently located self storage premises. Flexible access hours can be offered for quick and easy retrieval outside of your business hours if required.
4. Dry storage: Indoor self storage rooms provide the best solution for business document storage. Clean and dry storage environments make for much better conditions when storing documents.

Organising your business documents for storage

1. Develop a system: Create a consistent and logical categorisation system for your business documents. This may include sorting by date, type, or function, depending on your specific business needs.
2. Use record retention schedules: Implement a records retention schedule that outlines how long specific types of documents should be kept, based on regulatory requirements or business needs. This will help you to stay compliant and streamline your archiving process.
3. Label and index: Clearly label your storage boxes, containers, or files with pertinent information, such as document type, date, or department. Additionally, consider creating a master index that cross-references the contents of each storage container for easy retrieval.
4. Prioritise access: Organise your documents in a manner that places frequently accessed files at the front of the storage unit, with less frequently required records stored towards the back.

Considerations for legal compliance

1. Data protection regulations: Ensure your archiving practices comply with data protection laws, such as GDPR, which governs the handling of personal data within organisations.
2. Industry-specific regulations: Remain informed about any industry-specific archiving requirements, adhering to specific document retention guidelines and maintaining appropriate records.
3. Secure disposal: When disposing of sensitive or confidential documents, utilise secure disposal methods such as certified shredding services, to protect against data breaches or identity theft.

By implementing thorough organisation techniques, utilising appropriate protective measures and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, you can guarantee the security, accessibility and longevity of your business documents.

Learn how to optimise your storage space, organise your records and ensure safe compliance with an indoor self storage from Bigfoot Self Storage. For more details about renting one of our secure storage rooms for your documents, contact us and we shall provide you with a full quotation.