The merging of the National Association for Information Destruction with a records management group will mean combined events and cost savings, but it isn’t expected to change certification requirements for electronics recycling companies.
The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) recently announced it would merge with Professional Records and Information Services Management (PRISM), a nonprofit industry group. Their merger will create a new trade association called International Secure Information Governance & Management Association (i-SIGMA).
More than 560 locations around the world – most of them in the U.S. – have NAID certification for physical destruction of hard drives, according to NAID’s online database. Nearly 40 sites are NAID certified to provide hard drive sanitization services.
NAID membership and AAA certification will be retained after the merger. The same goes for PRISM’s Privacy+ certification program. “These long-standing programs are platinum standards of the industry and aren’t going anywhere,” Angie Singer Keating, NAID president and CEO of Pennsylvania-based data security company Reclamere, stated in a press release.
NAID founder and CEO Bob Johnson will serve as CEO of i-SIGMA. NAID’s current management team is also expected to continue working for i-SIGMA.
“As a merged entity, we will have a stronger voice with policymakers, regulators, and decision-makers,” PRISM President Christopher Jones stated in the release. “Together we’ll be able to share resources to help grow our businesses. And combined conferences and events will grow our presence worldwide that serves to reduce member costs. This simply makes sense.”
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