It has been an interesting week here at Enviro Waste Management. I have been involved in a number of conversations about our secure data destruction services. Sometimes when you are around something every day you forget that others might not be aware of all the ins and outs of what something is 😄 .
When you are disposing of something with data on it, for example a laptop or PC, you have four choices for what can happen (when using a reputable waste management company).
1. Secure Data Destruction by Wiping – this is where a software, such as Blancco Technology Group‘s, is used to systematically overwrite and destroy all the data on the laptop or PC’s hard drives. The upside of this is that the laptop can be reused with no further “processing”. It is good for the environment, good for the second hand market, and good for charities and schools who are often recipients for donated goods.
2. Secure Data Destruction by Shredding Hard Drives – this is where the hard drives in your laptop/PC are removed, and put through an industrial cross-cutting shredding machine (like a giant scary version of a paper shredder). The upsides are that the data is absolutely destroyed with no possibility of anyone accessing it ever again. Also, with new, clean hard drives installed, the laptop/PC can then renter the reuse market as stated above. There is waste out of the process with the shredded hard drives, but it is possible to reclaim some of the elements of the hard drive for reuse.
3. Secure Data Destruction by Shredding the Laptop/PC. The upside is absolute destruction of everything contained in that laptop/PC – all the hardware, firmware, software and data, everything is 100% destroyed. The downside is that while some elements can be reclaimed, the rest if set for recycling and landfill, and nothing enters the reuse market.
4. If you know what you are doing you can always remove the hard drive or data yourself! We collect many laptops/PCs which have holes drilled in them or are damaged beyond repair. The upside is (if you do it correctly) no one can access your data, the downside is that if your laptop/PC can be disassembled, the hard drive if not destroyed can be transplanted into another machine and access.
When you are looking for a secure data destruction service it is worth asking how the company will destroy the data, and then match that with what you are comfortable with. Ask how wiping is achieved, and what checks and balances are in place.
Get in touch to find our more about our services.
