Everything you need to know about P-1 to P-7 shredders for home, office, SME, corporate and PDPA compliance.
Understanding Paper Shredder Security Levels (DIN 66399): A Complete Guide for Malaysians
When choosing a paper shredder for your home or office, one of the most important things to understand is the security level. Not all shredders offer the same level of protection — some are suitable for basic home use, while others are designed to destroy highly confidential company documents.
In this guide, we explain the DIN 66399 security levels (P-1 to P-7) in simple terms so you can choose the right shredder for your needs.
Introduction: Why Document Security Matters More Than Ever in Malaysia
In today’s digital world, most businesses rely on cloud systems, emails and computers. However, there is one thing that hasn’t disappeared — physical documents. Companies in Malaysia still print invoices, contracts, HR forms, photocopies, customer records, and sensitive files every single day.
This means paper-based information leaks are still one of the biggest risks for businesses.
Whether you run an SME, corporate office, home office, retail shop, clinic, or accounting firm, you likely handle documents containing:
- Customer information
- Employee data
- Payment details
- Salary slips
- Contracts
- Supplier invoices
- Internal memos
- Confidential business strategies
If these documents fall into the wrong hands, they could lead to:
- Identity theft
- Fraud
- Data breaches
- Competitor leaks
- Legal issues
- PDPA penalties
That’s why choosing the right paper shredder security level is essential.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through:
- What DIN 66399 is
- The difference between P-1 to P-7
- Which shredder level suits your business
- Why most Malaysian offices use P-3, P-4 or P-5
- How to stay PDPA compliant
What Is DIN 66399 Security Level?
DIN 66399 is an international security standard that classifies how small the shredded particles must be in order to protect different types of information.
Paper shredders are rated from P-1 (lowest security) to P-7 (highest security).
The smaller the shredded particles → the higher the security.
For example,
| Level | Cutting Type | Security |
|---|---|---|
| P-1 | Strip Cut | Lowest |
| P-3 | Cross Cut | Medium |
| P-5 | Micro Cut | High |
| P-7 | Ultra Micro Cut | Maximum |
Understanding these levels helps you choose the right machine for your usage.
Detailed Breakdown of Security Levels (P-1 to P-7)
Below is an easy-to-understand explanation of each shredder level.
P-1 — Basic Security (Strip Cut)
- Large strip-cut pieces
- Very low level of protection
- Suitable for junk mail or general non-confidential papers
- Not suitable for business documents
Common uses:
Home users who only shred simple papers.
P-2 — Low Security (Narrow Strip Cut)
- Slightly narrower strips
- Still low security
- Can be reconstructed with effort
Common uses:
Basic household or simple internal documents.
P-3 — Medium Security (Cross Cut)
Example size: 5 × 42 mm (≈ 210 mm² particle area)
- Most common for Malaysian offices
- Provides a good balance of security & speed
- Suitable for confidential documents
- Cannot be easily reconstructed
Recommended for:
- SMEs
- Clinics
- Tuition centres
- Small offices
- Retail outlets
- Basic HR files
Browse P-3 Shredders → insert your link
P-4 — High Security (Cross Cut)
Example size: 3 × 25 mm (≈ 75 mm² particle area)
- Higher confidentiality than P-3
- Popular among companies dealing with sensitive data
- Good choice for offices taking PDPA seriously
Recommended for:
- Corporate offices
- Finance departments
- HR departments
- Legal firms
- Accounting firms
- Schools & universities
Browse P-4 Shredders → insert your link
P-5 — Very High Security (Micro Cut)
Example size: 2 × 15 mm (≈ 30 mm²)
- True micro-cut shredding
- Pieces are extremely small
- Suitable for highly sensitive information
Recommended for:
- Financial institutions
- Auditor offices
- Legal firms
- Government contractors
- Document-heavy businesses with confidentiality needs
Browse P-5 Shredders → insert your link
P-6 — Ultra High Security (Micro Cut)
- Extremely fine particle size
- Used for top-secret materials
- Overkill for normal business use
Recommended for:
Government agencies or military-grade confidentiality.
P-7 — Maximum Security (Ultra Micro Cut)
- Highest standard in the world
- Used by military & intelligence
- Almost dust-like shredding
Only necessary for:
National security documents
(Not used in commercial businesses)
P-3 vs P-4 vs P-5 — Which One Should You Choose?
Most Malaysian businesses only need one of these three:
✔ P-3 = Normal office work
Good for: general daily shredding
✔ P-4 = Confidential business documents
Good for: HR, finance, contracts, payroll
✔ P-5 = Highly sensitive information
Good for: audit files, legal documents, personal identification records
P-3 vs P-4 vs P-5 — Most Common in Malaysia
| Security Level | Cutting Size (Approx.) | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|
| P-3 | ~5 × 42 mm | Normal office documents |
| P-4 | ~3 × 25 mm | Confidential files, HR & finance |
| P-5 | ~2 × 15 mm | Highly sensitive or private data |
Most companies in Malaysia choose P-4 for office use, while customers who want better privacy (e.g. financial, legal, medical) upgrade to P-5 micro-cut shredders.
Why Shredder Security Level Matters for PDPA Compliance in Malaysia
With Malaysia’s stronger focus on PDPA compliance, businesses must ensure that customer information, invoices, contracts, and employee files are properly destroyed.
A proper security-level shredder helps you:
- Prevent data leaks
- Protect customers’ personal information
- Avoid PDPA violations
- Maintain business reputation
- Reduce risk of identity theft
If your printed documents contain:
- IC numbers
- Phone numbers
- Home addresses
- Customer details
- Employee information
- Salary data
- Medical records
- Contract details
- Invoices or receipts
Then failing to properly destroy them can result in:
- PDPA investigation
- Financial penalties
- Business reputation damage
- Loss of customer trust
Using the right shredder level is one of the easiest ways to avoid these risks.
Which Paper Shredder Level Is Suitable for Your Business?
Let’s make it simple:
🏠 Home Use
- P-2 or P-3
- For bills, receipts, personal documents
🏢 Small Office / SOHO
- P-3
- Good for invoices, reports, general documents
🏬 SME / Retail / Clinics
- P-3 or P-4
- Handles HR files, customer data
🏣 Corporate Offices
- P-4
- For sensitive internal documents, finance & HR
⚖ Legal & Accounting Firms
- P-4 or P-5
- For confidential contracts and financial documents
🏛 Government Contractor / High Security
P-5, P-6 or P-7
Recommended Shredder Models
Recommended Shredder Models
| Model | Level | Example Size | Security | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-3 | ~5 × 42 mm | Medium | SMEs, SOHO, general office | |
| P-4 | ~3 × 25 mm | High | Corporates, HR, finance | |
| P-5 | ~2 × 15 mm | Very High | Legal, accounting, audit | |
| P-6 | Micro | Ultra High | Government | |
| P-7 | Ultra Micro | Maximum | Military |
📝 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right shredder security level helps protect your business, your customers, and your reputation. Whether you need a simple home shredder or a high-security micro-cut machine, understanding P-1 to P-7 ensures you make the right decision.
If you need help choosing the best shredder for your office in Malaysia, feel free to contact us — we’re happy to recommend the right model based on your usage.