7 Security levels

Standardised data destruction

The 7 security levels for document shredders explained

DIN 66399 (ISO/IEC 21964) defines seven security levels for different material classifications. Within the framework of the security levels, a distinction is made primarily according to particle size and reconstruction capability.

Find out which Dahle document shredder fits your security needs.

7 Security levels

Security level P2

  • Security: Weak
  • Strip cut (strip width max. 6mm)
  • Recommended e.g. for data carriers with internal data that
    are to be made unreadable
7 Security levels

Security level P3

  • Security: Weak
  • Strip and particle cut (particle size max. 320mm²)
  • Recommended e.g. for data carriers with sensitive,
    confidential and personal data
7 Security levels

Security level P4

  • Security: Medium
  • Particle cut (particle size max. 160mm²)
  • Recommended e.g. for data media with
    particularly sensitive and confidential data
7 Security levels

Security level P5

  • Security: Medium
  • Particle cut (Particle size max. 30mm²)
  • Recommended e.g. for data media with secret
    data to be kept secret
7 Security levels

Security level P6

  • Security: Medium
  • Particle cut (Particle size max. 10mm²)
  • Recommended e.g. for data carriers with data to be kept secret, if exceptionally high security precautions must be observed
7 Security levels

Security level P7

  • Security: High
  • Particle cut (Particle size max. 5mm²)
  • Recommended for data media with top secret data, when the highest security precautions must be observed

Shred data optimally on any data carrier

Document shredders from Dahle are optimised for different materials. Whether it is the classic destruction of data on paper or digital data that is to be destroyed: With Dahle Document shredders you can be sure!

  • P – Presentation of information in original size, e.g. paper, films, printing forms.
  • F – Information presentation reduced in size, e.g. microfilms, foil.
  • O – Information presentation on optical data carriers, e.g. CDs/DVDs.
  • T – Information representation on magnetic data carriers, e.g. ID cards.
  • H – Information display on hard disks with magnetic data carriers.
  • E – Information presentation on electronic data carriers, e.g. smart cards

Discover how Dahle Document shredders efficiently and securely shred any type of data and choose your perfect document shredder from our extensive portfolio.

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The 3 protection classes

The protection class defines how carefully the data must be shredded. DIN 66399 (ISO/IEC 21964) defines 3 protection classes that provide information about the protection requirements of the data. The security level is derived from the protection classes. Each of the seven security levels represents a certain amount

of paper snippets that one DIN A4 sheet is shredded into when shredding with shredders. The higher the number of snippets, the higher the level of security as the printed information is no longer understandable.

7 Security levels

Protection class 1 – Average requirement for internal data

The protection of sensitive data is essential in business daily life. Companies process confidential and personal data in both digital and printed form on a daily basis. Modernising and standardising the data protection law across Europe is also the aim of the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force on 25 May 2018. Many regulations of the previous German Federal Data Protection Act have been extended and tightened. We have summarised the most important changes with regard to data protection for your convenience.

Protection class 2 – high requirement for confidential data

Protection class 2 refers to confidential data which is limited to a small group of persons.

If the data is disclosed without authorisation, this would have significant effects on the company and could violate contractual obligations or legislation. The protection of personal data must meet high requirements.

Data in protection class 2 should be shredded with shredders of security level 3 to 5 as a minimum. Examples for data in protection class 2: personal and financial details

 

7 Security levels
7 Security levels

Protection class 3 – extremely high requirements for highly confidential data

Data for protection class 3, which is not appropriately protected, can pose a danger to the life and limb of persons or to the freedom of the person in question. Data is highly confidential and secret and must only be used by a very small circle of people. The protection of personal data must be guaranteed at all costs in this case. Data in protection class 3 must be shredded very carefully, which means data must be shredded using shredders with security levels 4 to 7.

The 7 security levels

  • Recommended, for example, for data carriers holding general data to be rendered illegible
  • Max. material particle size 2000 mm² or max. strip width 12 mm, strip length not limited
  • Shredded data can be reproduced without special equipment and special knowledge but not without involving a particularly time-consuming process
  • Recommended, for example, for data carriers holding general data to be rendered illegible
  • Max. material particle size 800 mm² or max. strip width 6 mm, strip length not limited
  • Shredded data can be reproduced without special equipment and special knowledge but not without involving a particularly time-consuming process
  • Recommended, for example, for data carriers holding sensitive, confidential and personal data
  • Max. material particle size 320 mm² or max. strip width 2 mm, strip length not limited
  • Shredded data can only be reproduced with considerable effort

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  • Recommended, for example, for data carriers holding particularly sensitive, confidential and personal data
  • Max. material particle size 160 mm² and for regular particles: max. strip length 6 mm
  • Shredded data can only be reproduced using equipment not normally available commercially or special constructions

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  • Recommended, for example, for data carriers holding confidential information
  • Max. material particle size 30 mm² and for regular particles: max. strip length 2 mm
  • Shredded data unlikely to be reproduced with the state of the art

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  • Recommended, for example, for data carriers holding confidential information demanding an exceptionally high level of security
  • Max. material particle size 10 mm² and for regular particles: max. strip length 1 mm
  • Shredded data cannot be reproduced with the state of art

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  • Recommended, for example, for data carriers holding strictly confidential information demanding the highest security precautions
  • Max. material particle size 5 mm² and for regular particles: max. strip length 1 mm
  • Shredded data cannot be reproduced with the current state of science and art

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Do you have further questions about Document shredders? In our FAQ you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Document shredders FAQ