SEM Archives - Page 6 of 6

Hard Drive and Solid State Media End-of-Life Destruction

August 27, 2018 at 2:36 pm by SEM

Where do hard drives go when they die? You can’t just toss them in the trash. There’s too much sensitive information on them that could result in significant liabilities. So what should you do? Before you can decide what to do, you also need to identify the sensitivity of the information and type of media that needs to be disposed.

Information Types

While there are many acronyms and levels of information, it’s actually reasonably simple if you break it down into two categories. The first high security information, which is information that is typically found in the highest levels of government. So sensitive that it may pose a threat to the defense of our country. The second is sensitive information. In today’s world where criminals are trying to steal identities or proprietary information, virtually all information is now sensitive. This is most applicable in the health care, financial, banking and retail industries as well as education and state/local governments.

Media Formats

Once you have categorized the type of information, you need to determine how the data is stored? High security and sensitive information is found on a wide variety of storage devices – the bulk of which is either stored magnetically on magnetic media formats like hard disk drives and back-up data tapes or stored on chips found on a solid state devices like an SSD drives, thumb drives, cell or phones.

Means of Destruction

While there are a variety of methods to erase data such as degaussing magnetic media or implementing an erasure software program, in the end, the most effective method is to combine the data erasure with a method to physically destroy the media. One such physical destruction method is the use of a hard drive shredder.

But do I need a shredder that is designed for platter based magnetic drives and another one for solid state drives?

Not necessarily.

While systems that are designed specifically for either platter based drives or storage chip based devices are certainly highly efficient, a combo unit, like the SEM Model 0315 HDD/SSD COMBO shown here, deploys two separate openings that feed cutting chambers designed to effectively shred either a magnetic platter based HDD and/or a solid state chip based device. The magnetic media HDD side of the shredder will reduce the media to a particle size that is as small as .75” while the other side is designed to shred the solid state device down to .375” (9.5 mm), small enough to insure that all of the storage chips on the media are destroyed. Other combo units with greater throughput capacity are also available here.

What Solution is Best?

Once you have identified the type of information and the formats in which the data is stored, you can make an informed decision of which solution best meets your end-of life data storage requirements. If the bulk of your media is either magnetic media or solid state media, consider a system designed specifically for that form of media. However, if your organization stores data on both forms of media, an all-in-one combo system that effectively shreds both may be the answer.

Don’t forget SEM is always here to help guide you through the decision making process. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us today!

National Hot Dog Day!

July 18, 2018 at 8:49 pm by Heidi White

July 18, 2018 was National Hot Dog Day and SEM celebrated in style by having Tony Island Hot Dogs from Oxford, Massachusetts bring their world famous hot dog cart to SEM headquarters. SEM employees enjoyed hot dogs with all the fixings as well as homemade sauces and sodas, and the weather was absolutely picture perfect. One of the most popular dogs was the Bacon Jammer, but employees also raved about the chili cheese dog. Tony Island even brought vegan dogs for the resident vegan! The lunchtime outing was a fun way to enjoy each other’s company while celebrating such an important (?) national holiday. Happy Hot Dog Day!

Security Engineered Machinery Founder Honored as ASIS Life Member

June 26, 2018 at 2:59 pm by Heidi White

Leonard Rosen, SEM Founder and Chairman of the Board

Leonard Rosen has been a continuous member of ASIS since 1968

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. is pleased to announce that Leonard Rosen, SEM founder and Chairman of the Board, has been honored with Life Member status by the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS). ASIS grants Life Member status to individuals who have 50 years of continuous membership within the organization. Mr. Rosen founded SEM in 1967 and became a member of ASIS in 1968.

“Receiving ASIS Life Member status was unexpected, and quite an honor,” said Mr. Rosen. “To me, this speaks volumes about the quality and endurance of Security Engineered Machinery, which has enabled me to remain a member of ASIS over the past five decades. SEM has consistently adapted to changing technology while continuing to grow through the years, and I am so proud to be part of this incredible organization. We started by selling paper shreddersto the federal government and now manufacture data destruction devicesfor every type of data and for every type of client. SEM continues to be a robust organization that has helped to protect national security for over 50 years.”

Throughout the years, SEM has supported ASIS through trade show participation as well as advertising in ASIS publications, including Security Management. In addition, SEM team members maintain membership and actively participate in regional chapters of ASIS.

“ASIS is truly the premier security association for security-centric government and commercial entities, and I am thrilled to gain Life Member status in such an upstanding organization,” added Mr. Rosen.

Mr. Rosen founded SEM in 1967 to fill a clear need for high security disintegration equipment for the federal government. He has possessed numerous positions with SEM over the years, including sales and marketing and operations. Prior to founding SEM, Mr. Rosen served in the U.S. Army and is a Korean War Veteran, after which he served in management positions related to sales and marketing roles with various domestic and international manufacturers. A graduate of Boston University, Mr. Rosen continues to be actively involved with SEM day-to-day operations and serves as Chairman of the Board.

“In addition to strategic vision that laid the foundation for SEM’s success, Len possesses exceptional leadership capabilities that are directly responsible for the longevity of SEM employees, whose service can often be counted in decades rather than years,” commented Andrew Kelleher, President of SEM. “He valued and encouraged work-life balance and positive company culture before anyone even knew what they were, and SEM continues to operate in that vein. It is rare to find someone with the vision and integrity of Len Rosen.”

Disintegrator 20 Point Preventative Maintenance

January 30, 2018 at 9:55 am by SEM

Routine disintegrator maintenance is imperative to keeping any disintegrator functioning like a fine tuned machine. Unfortunately, disintegrator preventative maintenance is habitually an afterthought and this oversight can lead to costly repairs and aggravation. The majority of disintegrators are stationed in high security environments where classified or sensitive materials need to be destroyed in a timely, efficient manner. Whether it is a matter of national security or to protect business interests you need your disintegrator to work and get the job done every single time!

In order to ensure our clients effectively maintain their disintegrator systems, SEM has incorporated a Service Guaranteed 20 Point Preventative Maintenance Service Program (listed below). SEM disintegrator preventative maintenance consists of a scheduled visit(s) by an authorized factory trained SEM service representative who will perform the at-site labor. This scheduled maintenance lineup includes three core areas of focus: The disintegrator system, evacuation system and electrical system. All three of these system operatives are symbiotic; when one is not maintained properly it causes more stress and wear on the rest of the system.

Disintegrator System:

1. Installation of sharpened knives,
2. Calibrate installed knives to application for optimal performance.
3. Remove old knives.
4. Sharpen spare knives.
5. Grease your rotor bearings.
6. Inspect hopper for easy opening and closing to cutting chamber.
7. Inspect rotor for excessive wear.
8. Inspect screen for proper fit and wear.
9. Inspect drive belt for wear.
10. Adjust drive belt tension to factory specifications for maximum efficiency.
11. Check sheave bolt tension and set to factory specifications.

Evacuation System:

12. Inspect fan for proper operation.
13. Inspect evacuation system for leaks.
14. Lubricate and grease air system as required.
15. Adjust flow controls as needed.
16. Inspect filter.
17. Shake filter and empty debris as required.

Electrical System:

18. Inspect all safety switches ensuring the function properly.
19. Inspect all starters ensuring proper operation.

Reports:

20. Complete evaluation report with recommendations.

How does this 20 Point Service Program work? At SEM we have several different ways of helping you determine which service arrangement works for you. If you are buying a new disintegrator our industry leading sales representatives will qualify you what type of service plan works for you based on your disintegrator system/model, volume of destruction and budget. If you already have an existing disintegrator we can schedule an immediate service call to get you tuned up and inspect wear mechanisms.

Once you have determined that a disintegrator service plan is sought after, our team will facilitate your scheduled service. Your scheduled service can consist of a onetime service call or an annual PM contract. Our best service option is our annual PM contracts, consisting of multiple service calls and is the most cost effective in the long run.

SEM’s 20 Point Preventative Maintenance is designed to spot small problems before they become big problems and keep your systems performing at peak efficiency with minimum downtime. SEM’s highly skilled service technicians service all major brands of disintegrators and are trained on all system components. Our service network has several locations throughout the United States and the world; there is no location we cannot get to!

Shredder Training is the Key to Maximizing the Performance and Life of your Destruction Equipment

July 11, 2017 at 1:59 pm by SEM

Shredders, disintegrators, briquettors, optical media destroyers, HDD/SSD shredders, HDD crushers and degaussers are critical components of your overall information security program. Keeping these systems in good working order is extremely important, and easy to do with proper user training.

Probably the biggest factor in the longevity of any equipment is tied to proper training in the operation, daily maintenance and preventative maintenance. Depending on your equipment and site there are programs that can train your people to operate, maintain and troubleshoot so you avoid problems and keep the equipment up and running well.

Training can be done at your site with your equipment during a scheduled PM call, on a specific scheduled visit to your site, or at a training facility where factory service reps will go over all aspects of operation, daily maintenance, preventative maintenance as well as, tips and tricks to get the most of your systems and avoid the pitfalls. At the beginning of the training there will be a Q & A to help identify the issues of greatest concern to the group. During the training all participants are encouraged to ask questions and will have the opportunity to get “hands on” so they thoroughly understand the material being taught. After the training and a final Q & A each participant will be given a certificate of completion designating which equipment they were trained on. This is a great way for users to add additional value to their skill sets and company capabilities.

The training can be specialized to cover any and all the issues you may be having with your specific equipment, and discuss in detail how to fix and mitigate these in the future.

Some of the things your users will learn from attending training:

Changing knives, clearing and preventing jams, servicing dust filters, proper lubrication, testing belt tension, aligning conveyor belts, swapping out shredder heads-(depending on equipment) among many others.

The goal is maximizing machine availability for the organization and imparting the skills to help users diagnose and recognize potential issues before they become bigger problems.

And investment in a proper training program will pay dividends in equipment up time and save your organization money in the long run.

Click here for more information on SEM’s Preventative Maintenance and Service plans or call 800-225-9293.

Sustainability at SEM: Our Commitment Goes Beyond Just Words

February 3, 2016 at 3:00 pm by SEM

What does sustainability mean to you?

Does it mean creating and maintaining a balance between the environment and economy? Or does it mean simply adding recycling and composting to your routine?

To SEM, sustainability means developing new processes and procedures to help conserve Earth’s natural resources and environment for future generations and leaving our home better off than we found it.

We offer a plethora of products that are equipped with energy saving motors, special steel rotors, and other green solutions. For example, our disintegrators are designed with energy saving motors and precision balanced solid steel rotors that use less horsepower and electrical consumption. These small additions help cut down on up to 20% energy in comparison to other competitor models. For an even greener disintegrator option, we have our SEM VKE Green Disintegrator Kits that include everything needed for ultimate operator and environmental health and safety.

While paper is universally considered recyclable, it’s not as easy to do so as one would think. That’s why we offer a state-of-the-art briquetting system (included in the VKE Green Disintegrator Kit) that reduces paper waste by up to 90%. Yes, 90%! Since shredded paper waste is typically bulky and messy, recyclers won’t accept it; however, our briquetting systems compact paper waste into hockey puck-like briquettes that are accepted by most recyclers, and can even be used as a fuel source. You can find out more information on our briquettor systems here.

SEM’s commitment to the environment is implemented not only through continuous review and improvement of our processes, products, and services but through everyday methods as well. At our headquarters and secondary locations, all our cardboard and paper are recycled, our office lights are sensor-activated as to not waste unneeded electricity, recycled materials are used in many of our products, we use green cleaning products, and SEM restrooms are even stocked with Green Earth Certified hand soap.

We are also sure to communicate our policy to our customers, employees, and all persons who work on our behalf as well as anyone visiting our head office. Any vehicle who is parked at our loading dock must turn of their engine while there in order to cut down on pollution and emissions. You can find out more about our sustainability options in our blog, Data Destruction and the Environment.

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