To what size shall a cross-cut shredder reduce information?

A cross-cut shredder is designed to enhance security by reducing documents to very small pieces, making it difficult to reconstruct the original text. The standard for secure shredding typically requires that the shredded pieces be no larger than five square millimeters. This size offers a sufficient level of confidentiality, ensuring that sensitive information is thoroughly destroyed and cannot be pieced back together easily.

In comparison, larger sizes, such as one square centimeter or ten square millimeters, do not meet the security standard necessary for high-risk information. Those sizes might still allow for some reconstruction of the original document, leading to potential information breaches. Therefore, the specification of five square millimeters is what makes it the correct answer, as it clearly aligns with industry standards for secure document shredding.