What does shredding modify in records to make it unreadable by any means?

The process of shredding modifies personal information within records, making it unreadable or irretrievable. This is achieved by physically destroying the documents or data storage devices in a manner that ensures that any sensitive personal information cannot be reconstructed or accessed, thereby protecting privacy and preventing identity theft. Shredding is a critical practice in data security, especially in contexts where confidential information is involved.

While document structure, data retention policy, and legal compliance are all important aspects of managing records, they do not specifically pertain to the act of making personal information unreadable. Document structure refers to how information is organized within a record, data retention policy deals with how long records are kept and when they are disposed of, and legal compliance involves adhering to laws and regulations regarding information management. However, none of these factors directly relate to the specific action of shredding, which targets personal information directly to eliminate any chance of it being recovered or misused.