Press Releases Archives - Page 3 of 5

Security Engineered Machinery Introduces Shredder Specifically for Credit/ID Cards and Dog Tags

July 15, 2019 at 6:14 pm by Heidi White

IDShred65 addresses growing need for efficient and effective destruction of cards and dog tags that contain personally identifiable information (PII)

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, is pleased to announce the introduction of the IDShred65 ID and dog tag shredder. This device is specifically designed for the destruction of plastic and metal credit cards, dog tags, and ID cards such as CAC IDs and driver’s licenses.

“The IDShred65 was created to address a growing need to destroy cards and dog tags in both the commercial and federal markets,” said Nicholas Cakounes, SEM Executive Vice President. “Unlike competitor models, SEM’s IDShred65 easily destroys the heavier, thicker credit cards of today including metal cards.”

The all new IDShred65 is enclosed in a compact metal cabinet mounted on casters for portability and ease of use in office environments. It also boasts a rugged, all steel cutting head that is specifically designed for the efficient destruction of thick metal cards and tags. Designed with operator ease of use in mind, the IDShred65 has a customized feed slot for cards and tags, a modern, sleek design, and plugs into a standard 120V outlet. It also comes standard with integrated safety and convenience features including an LED control panel with auto start/stop and reverse and bag full and door open indicators. In addition, the IDShred65 is an eco-friendly product, featuring an Energy Savings Mode that shuts off power when not in use and operating without the use of oil.

“We are thrilled to offer the IDShred65 to satisfy the rapidly growing need for on prem destruction of dog tags and cards, both metal and plastic,” added Bryan Cunic, SEM Director of Customer Care. “SEM has long been an innovator of high security information destruction technology and the new IDShred65 continues that tradition of excellence.”

The IDShred65 has a list price of $5,999 and is TAA compliant. For more information, click here.

Security Engineered Machinery Gives Back to Veteran Marine Family by Building Log Cabin Playhouse

June 21, 2019 at 7:22 pm by Paul Falcone

Secure data destruction device company partners with Habitat for Humanity in Operation Playhouse

From left to right: Leonard Rosen, founder of SEM, and Otto, Robert, and Ashley Bitterman.

WESTBOROUGH, MA, June 19, 2019—Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, spent the day of Wednesday, June 19, 2019 partnering with Habitat for Humanity for Operation Playhouse. The operation is a partnership that pairs businesses with veteran families to build a playhouse for their children, and this year’s concept was a log cabin. The SEM team started bright and early to design the cabin, which came equipped with its own deck, railings, and chair, to meet their 3pm deadline to present to the Bitterman family, a couple of United States Marines Veterans and their two-year-old son, Otto.

SEM employees (left to right) Todd Busic, Ted Jerdee, Marie DiVirgilio, Karl Lotvedt, and Jeff Lanoue constructing the walls of the playhouse.

“We were honored to present this playhouse to a family who has given so much back to our country today,” stated Nicholas Cakounes, Executive Vice President at SEM. “We are forever thankful for their service as United States Marines, and hope that they will make countless new memories together as a family with this new playhouse.”

Ashley Bitterman served in the US Marines from 2009-2019 and served a tour in Afghanistan from March to September 2011. Her husband, Robert Bitterman, is also a Marine who served from 2010-2014.

The couple watched with smiles as Otto ran into his log cabin, finding a variety of toys and decorations inside his new play space. A stuffed moose head on the wall, a bear skin rug, books, a plastic fishing pole, and his own set of Lincoln logs were just a few of the surprises waiting inside, which Otto took turns pointing to and exclaiming, “So cool!”

The entire SEM team stood around and applauded as the Bittermans rolled up, proud of the work they were able to complete together in just a day. Mr. Cakounes presented the family with a certificate of ownership for the playhouse after thanking the Bittermans for their sacrifices and service to the country.

“You can’t beat seeing that kid’s smile at the end of the day” said Ted Jerdee, Inside Sales Representative at SEM. “It’s a small thing to be able to give back to people who have given so much.”

This is the second time that SEM has taken part in Operation Playhouse and it appears it won’t be the last. Throughout the day, different team members were already brainstorming new ideas of how they could top this year’s house, which came complete with a solar panel that supplies power and a stained deck with railings.

The family left an hour after they arrived, excited about the playhouse loaded into their truck by the team at SEM, whose core values include giving back to the community on both a local and global basis.

About SEM

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM) provides comprehensive end-of-life solutions for the protection of sensitive information in government and commercial markets. SEM’s reputation as the authority in high security information sanitization was earned through over 50 years of technical innovation, intellectual curiosity, and unrelenting integrity. By fostering a supportive, team-centric environment focused on talent retention and client satisfaction, SEM is recognized as the undisputed leader in depth of expertise, industry excellence, and reliability. SEM data destruction devices are the premier high security choice available on the market today. For more information, please visit www.semshred.com

About Habitat For Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Security Engineered Machinery Provides Compliance Solutions for the Destruction of CUI

April 5, 2019 at 3:22 pm by Heidi White

Secure data destruction device manufacturer supplies CUI line of paper shredders to provide compliance solutions for Executive Branch agencies and their affiliates to meet ISOO’s new CUI directive

nsa-listed-paper-shredder — SEM’s entire line of high security paper shredders comply with the new CUI paper destruction requirement

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, is pleased to offer a complete line of high security paper shredders that meet requirements of the new Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) Program instituted by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO). The Program, which affects all Executive Branch agencies within the Federal Government as well as their affiliates that may handle CUI, mandates that paper containing CUI be destroyed to a 1mmx5mm particle, which is the same particle size as required by the National Security Agency (NSA) for classified and top secret information.

“We have been in frequent contact with NARA and ISOO, including presenting at their first CUI Industry Day held at the National Archives in Washington DC,” stated Todd Busic, Vice President of Security and Intelligence Operations at SEM. “As a result of our communication with these organizations and our commitment to the new directive, SEM has pledged to educate government agencies on the paper destruction requirement of the new CUI Program, which is quite different than what was once accepted as standard.”

“SEM has long been an industry leader in providing solutions on the cutting edge of new technology and on educating entities on new and updated data security regulations,” added Andrew Kelleher, President of SEM. “As a solutions provider to the Federal Government, we are fully committed to assisting NARA and ISOO in educating Executive Branch agencies on the new CUI directive and how best to achieve compliance.”

All unclassified information throughout the Executive Branch that requires any safeguarding or dissemination control is characterized as CUI and includes nearly all government agencies. Further, unclassified data such as For Official Use Only (FOUO), Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU), Personally Identifiable Information (PII), as well as information relating to critical infrastructure, defense, export control, financial, immigration, intelligence, international agreements, law enforcement, legal, natural and cultural resources, NATO, nuclear, patent, privacy, procurement and acquisition, proprietary business information, provisional, statistical, tax, and transportation all fall under this requirement.

Executive Order 13556 “Controlled Unclassified Information” created a program for standardizing the management of CUI across the Executive branch and designated the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as Executive Agent. As such, NARA is responsible for the implementation of the CUI program as well as agency oversight to ensure compliance. The Archivist of the United States in turn delegated these responsibilities to the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), which issued 32 CFR Part 2002 “Controlled Unclassified Information” to establish a comprehensive policy for managing all aspects of CUI, including disposal and other program-specific requirements.

The rule affects not only all federal Executive Branch agencies that handle CUI but also all other organizations that in any way interact with CUI or have access to federal information on behalf of an agency. Therefore, these agencies must implement safeguarding or dissemination controls that are consistent with the CUI Program for any and all unclassified information. Prior to the CUI Program, agencies typically utilized agency-specific policies and procedures, of which there were many, resulting in inconsistently managed CUI.

The ISOO CUI directive has very clear requirements for information end-of-life, mandating that all CUI information be destroyed to NIST 800-88 specifications. For paper, the NIST 800-88 destruction specification is the same as NSA requirements for classified information: a 1mmx5mm final particle size. Therefore, all CUI paper must be destroyed using a high security shredder that produces a final particle size of 1mmx5mm or less, such as those listed on the NSA/CSS 02-01 EPL for classified paper destruction. All of SEM’s high security shredders meet the new CUI mandate.

In an effort to provide clear communication and simplified purchasing for Federal Government agencies, all of SEM’s compliant paper shredders are now marked as being appropriate for CUI destruction. For more information, visit www.semshred.com/CUI.

Security Engineered Machinery Introduces New Optical Media Shredder

January 9, 2019 at 3:03 pm by Heidi White

Secure data destruction device manufacturer releases the Model 0200 OMD/SSD-C for NSA listed destruction of classified CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, is pleased to announce the introduction of the Model 0200 OMD/SSD-C optical media shredder. The device, which is listed on the most recent National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) Evaluated Product List (EPL) for the destruction of classified CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs (BDs), is specifically designed for portability and ease of use in office environments.

DVD NSA EPL — SEM Model 0200 OMD/SSD-C is a cabinet version of the NSA listed CD/DVD/BD shredder

In November 2018, the NSA/CSS released updated EPLs that meet NSA/CSS specifications for classified and top secret information in accordance with NSA/CSS Policy Manual 9-12, Storage Device Sanitization. The updated EPL for Optical Media Destruction Devices includes a new directive for DVD and BD destruction that requires a final particle size of <2mm. The previous directive was 5mm for DVDs and incineration only for BDs.

“The new 2mm NSA specification for DVD and BD destruction found many government agencies suddenly without an approved optical media destruction device,” said Nicholas Cakounes, SEM Executive Vice President. “Our new optical media destroyer is an office-friendly, NSA listed plug and play solution that meets the needs of government entities with any type of classified optical media requiring destruction.”

The Model 0200 OMD/SSD-C includes the NSA listed 0200 OMD/SSD optical media shredder and a 3-gallon vacuum waste evacuation system housed in a compact cabinet, which is mounted on casters for easy portability. The system is approved by the NSA for the destruction of classified CDs, DVDs, BDs, EMV credit cards, magnetic stripe cards, CAC ID cards, and SIM cards. It is also completely self-contained and uses a standard 110V plug, making it an efficient, user-friendly solution for office environments.

“We are excited to offer this new system to satisfy the NSA/CSS optical media destruction standards,” added Bryan Cunic, SEM Director of Customer Care. “SEM has always been on the cutting edge of information destruction technology and we are thrilled to continue that tradition of excellence with the release of the Model 0200 OMD/SSD-C.” The Model 0200 OMD/SSD-C has a list price of $5,999 but is available to US government entities for $4,999. The device is TAA compliant and comes with a one-year warranty.

Security Engineered Machinery Builds Playhouse for Veteran Family

November 29, 2018 at 9:14 pm by Heidi White

The Brown family with their new playhouse

On November 28, 2018, Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, participated in Operation Playhouse, a unique program offered through Habitat for Humanity Metrowest/Greater Worcester. Operation Playhouse enables local businesses and organizations to build and donate a custom playhouse to benefit the children of local veterans and military personnel. The one-day event culminated with the presentation of the firetruck-themed playhouse to United States Marine Corps Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veteran Richard Brown and his family.

SEM Executive Vice President Nick Cakounes presents the playhouse to USMC Veteran Richard Brown, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom

The event started at 9am onsite at SEM corporate headquarters in Westboro. SEM employees volunteered to participate in various tasks including painting, constructing, roofing, and decorating the playhouse as well as building accessories. Several authentic firetruck items were donated by the Boston and Dunstable fire departments for use in the playhouse. The construction was overseen by David Hamilton, Community Program Manager for Habitat for Humanity. Veteran Richard Brown and his family, from Dunstable, MA, arrived at 3:30pm to receive the playhouse. Nicholas Cakounes, Executive Vice President of SEM, made the presentation.

“Veterans have a special place in our heart here at SEM,” said Mr. Cakounes. “We are filled with gratitude to those who have served our country and protect our freedom, so giving back in some small way through Operation Playhouse was an absolute honor.”

Jeff Lanoue, SEM’s New England Regional Sales Manager, and Garret Peters, SEM’s Operations Manager, constructing the windows.

“This event was incredibly special to me personally,” added Korean War Veteran Leonard Rosen, who is SEM’s founder and Chairman of the Board. “Mr. Brown selflessly served his country, ensuring our rights and freedom. That is a debt we can never repay, so we were thrilled to be able to do something to bring joy to him and his family.”

SEM is a veteran-owned company whose primary client base is the United States Federal Government and its entities, including all branches of the United States Military.

Service Technicians Shawn Barnham, Don Donahue, and Dave Carroll built a custom ladder for the playhouse

Security Engineered Machinery Turns Electronic Data Into Dust

October 31, 2018 at 1:24 pm by Heidi White

Leonard Rosen, SEM Founder and Chairman of the Board

As the world becomes more technologically advanced, so has the world of data destruction. Westborough-based Security Engineered Machinery, founded more than 50 years ago, has met that demand with devices that destroy hard drives. Founder Leonard Rosen spoke to WBJ about the company’s role in securing the information of government agencies and government contractors.

How does SEM help keep the country’s data secure?

Every military installation — and company of note — is involved with electronic media. In the past, it was all paper. As time went on and advancements were made in communications and data storage, electronic media became the ultimate in information accumulation.

We have adapted by coming out with machines that can destroy the information on these new devices.

What kind of machines?

Our biggest area of expertise is in hard-drive destruction. That’s done in several ways. One is by deaussing, which is introducing a magnetic charge to a hard drive that basically erases that information.

Are the physical items also destroyed?

We have crushers that exert force into a hard drive and very heavy-duty shredders that accept hard drives and chew them up into tiny pieces.

How much communication is there with customers on new adapting SEM devices to fit their needs?

Depending on what the government agency or defense contractor is doing, we can adapt our machines to meet whatever security requirement they have.

SEM does work with defense contractors?

You’ll be hard pressed to find a major defense contractor in the U.S. that doesn’t use our technology.

Do these products have to meet any government standards?

When we find out what new devices need to be destroyed, we either have something that can destroy it or we start designing one that can do it. Once we have a completed product that we have confidence in, we sent it to National Security Administration for evaluation.

How is it evaluated?

They put it through volume tests, but the end product is more important. The toughest thing we’re doing now is destroying solid state drives. There’s so many layers of information in those, so it’s a two-step situation.

Original post by Worcester Business Journal on wbjournal.com

This interview was conducted and edited for length and clarity by WBJ Staff Writer Zachary Comeau.

Security Engineered Machinery to Rebrand SITES Business Under SEM Brand

October 30, 2018 at 11:04 pm by Heidi White

Growing secure data destruction device manufacturer has said the change will take place on November 1

SEM will continue to provide the same product offerings and superior service that SITES clients have come to expect.

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, announced late Tuesday afternoon that it will no longer market SITES-branded equipment as of November 1. All products previously branded under SITES will continue to be sold globally under the SEM brand.

Andrew Kelleher, SEM President and Chief Executive Officer, says the decision to discontinue the SITES brand came as a result of extensive market research and product review. “The SITES brand was originally started to serve our growing commercial client base, but we found that there was significant overlap with our government and commercial clients,” said Kelleher. “We also found that there was significant product redundancy between the SEM and SITES brands, which the simplification will resolve. We are appreciative of our clients and resellers who have worked with us under the SITES brand and are diligently working through a seamless transition with them.”

In business for over 50 years, SEM sells primarily to United States federal government entities including the military, FBI, CIA, DoD, Department of State, and Department of Treasury. SEM will now also service existing SITES commercial clients including data centers, financial services companies, healthcare organizations, security printers, and cloud solution providers and will directly market to commercial clients under the SEM brand moving forward.

“Eliminating the SITES brand enables us to sharpen our focus on the strong industry reputation and significant global brand awareness of SEM,” added Kelleher.

SEM will continue to support existing SITES products through parts availability and its world-class sales and service teams. The new commercial section of the SEM website can be accessed via the green tab at the top of the page.

Todd Busic Promoted to Vice President of Security and Intelligence Operations at Security Engineered Machinery

June 28, 2018 at 2:29 pm by Heidi White

Growing secure data destruction device manufacturer enhances government relations and client care with key promotion

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, is pleased to announce that D. Todd Busic has been promoted to Vice President of Security and Intelligence Operations. The announcement was made by Andrew Kelleher, President and CEO of SEM. Mr. Busic has been with SEM for 19 years and has targeted expertise in federal contract negotiation, federal BPAs, and green destruction facilities. He also has extensive experience with security and intelligence operations, global business development, project management, and international and domestic federal sales.

“Todd’s vision for the company, robust experience, and unparalleled integrity make him a perfect fit for a senior leadership position here at SEM,” said Mr. Kelleher. “I am confident that Todd’s business acumen and customer centricity will enable SEM to enhance relations with our extensive government client base while also expanding our commercial division.”

“I am thrilled to receive this promotion,” commented Mr. Busic. “I am very passionate about security and data privacy, which aligns perfectly with SEM’s mission and vision. I take pride in and truly appreciate the expansive government associations I have forged over the last 19 years. Relationships formed with integrity and trust are the cornerstones of building success. I look forward to the new challenge of expanding the business by augmenting product and service offerings as well as enhancing client relations.”

Mr. Busic will also be responsible for interactions with the NSA Center for Storage Device Sanitization. He will be working out of the company’s Virginia office.

Security Engineered Machinery Introduces Enterprise Line of Data Destruction Devices

June 26, 2018 at 3:05 pm by Heidi White

Secure data destruction device manufacturer becomes first to offer end-of-life solutions specifically for enterprise drives

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, announced the introduction of a line of hard drive destroyers specifically engineered for enterprise drive destruction. The Enterprise Line, which includes rotational and solid state shredders and a disintegrator, is the first of its kind in the data destruction industry.

“We engineered the Enterprise Line to address the needs of our data center clients,” said Nicholas Cakounes, Executive Vice President of SEM. “The overwhelming client feedback we received expressed an imminent need for data destruction devices that could easily handle the larger, thicker, denser enterprise drives commonly found in data center environments.”

The Enterprise Line includes the compact, quiet Model 0315 hard drive shredder designed for office use, as well as the high-volume Model 0305 and Model 0304 shredders. The 0315 shreds up to 90 enterprise rotational hard disk drives (HDDs) and up to 120 enterprise solid state drives (SSDs) per hour at 1.5” final particle size, whereas the industrial grade 0305 and 0304 destroy up to 800 HDDs/1,200 SSDs and 1,400 HDDs/2,000 SSDs per hour, respectively. All three models are available in multiple configurations to accommodate a variety of user requirements: rotational hard disk drive (HDDs) only, solid state drive (SSD) only, and a combo version that destroys both HDDs and SSDs utilizing separate feed openings and cutting chambers. Final particle size for HDDs ranges from 1.5” to 0.75”, and final particle size for SSDs is 0.375”. All shredders in the new Enterprise Line are noted on the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List (EPL) for HDD Destruction Devices as an approved solution for the “deformation of magnetic media hard drive platters” and are GDPR, NIST 800-88, SOX, FACTA, HIPAA, FISMA, NAID, and DoD compliant.

In addition to the three shredder models, SEM’s new Enterprise Line includes the Model 2SSD Disintegrator engineered to destroy SSDs to a nominal particle size of 2mm². This newly redesigned machine employs an industrial grade, dual stage cutting system with specially enhanced cutting blades and sizing screens to provide maximum throughput in an office environment. Designed with a custom, steel-insulated sound enclosure for maximum sound control, the 2SSD also features an internal carbon-based pre-filter and HEPA air filtration system for operator safety as well as odor and dust control. Click for video.

“After pilot testing the devices with our existing Fortune 50 data center clients, we realized that the Enterprise Line provides the ideal solution to organizations looking to safeguard privacy and mitigate risk in the data center and beyond,” added Andrew Kelleher, President of SEM. “In addition to data centers, security-focused organizations such as the federal government, healthcare providers, and financial institutions are facing increased compliance requirements in parallel with more frequent use of enterprise drives into their data centers. The problem becomes what to do with the drives at end-of-life to maintain privacy and compliance — we are providing that solution.”

All devices in the Enterprise Line are specifically designed for enterprise drive destruction with increased torque, industrial grade construction, and more rugged cutting heads, enabling the system to cut through multiple steel plates, carriers, and other enterprise drive constructed components such as heat sinks and cooling tubes.

Security Engineered Machinery Founder Honored as ASIS Life Member

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.”

SEM Shred

Category: Press Releases