There are more than 130 companies in the United States that are targeted by data breaches every year. And that number is growing by 27%.
Be it personal or corporate, data is one of the most valuable resources of any company. No company wants to leave behind sensitive information when their hard drives are no longer needed.
The demand for safe and secure data destruction methods is rapidly rising. And more specifically so, for companies in the retail and financial industry. This is because they handle a lot of sensitive information.
And making sure that information is safe is essential to the success of any company.
Read on as we outline three of the best data destruction tools you can use to safely dispose of your data.
1. Erase and Overwrite
Overwriting of data is writing a pattern of ones and zeros over the existing data. Overwriting is an effective tool which works well when done once. For very sensitive information, the company may decide to do the overwriting process several times.
Erasure is similar to overwriting. It destroys all data in a computer and even issues a certificate of destruction. It’s a convenient method for companies that own computers, hard drives, and any electronic device they plan to use in the future.
Erasure and overwriting are very simple and cost-effective for the company. But it may prove challenging when the device being overwritten has suffered damage or has advanced storage management components.
2. Degaussing
This is a method where data is destroyed by using a high-powered magnet. The magnet is placed close to the electronic device and this disrupts the devices’ magnetic field.
The disruption caused by the high-powered magnet is what destroys the data. It’s very effective and works fast.
Degaussing is suitable for electronic devices that have reached their end-of-life stage. This is because degaussing destroys the interconnect component of the hard drive. Thus, rendering it inoperable.
The major drawback of this method of data destruction is that it completely destroys the hard drive. Thus, making it hard to verify if the data within the hard drive has been destroyed.
3. Physical Destruction
You can physically destroy the electronic device that has stored all your data when it is no longer usable. Physical destruction needs to be done in a safe environment and in the proper way. The best form of physical destruction is shredding.
This renders the electronic device unusable. And leaves the data protected from outside parties. Physical destruction is a convenient way of getting rid of data and electronic devices that are no longer needed.
Physical destruction can also be used when the two above methods are not viable options. And also when you want total assurance that the data has been completely destroyed. Besides, physical destruction can be done by melting electronic devices.
Make Data Destruction a Success
Letting go is always tough. And when it comes to data it’s even tougher to destroy something that was at one point in time highly valuable. But it is a necessary evil to create room for more data and to keep the electronic devices safe.
Finding the best data destruction method is the best way to honor your clients’ data. And to keep their trust. Use the three methods above to help you destroy your sensitive data.
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