We\u2019ve come up with a list of 4 points that will be the most helpful if you\u2019re trying to dispose of your hard drives. So read on to know all about it.<\/p>\n
4 Points to Consider Before Safely Disposing of Hard Drives<\/h2>\n\n- Ensure the data on it is fully wiped<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
No matter the kind of business you’re managing, data is an indispensable part. And as a business owner, the onus of handling customer data is on you.<\/p>\n
So when it comes to the end of the life cycle for media devices, it is vital to wipe the drive before you dispose of the hard drive. And it\u2019s not just a simple matter of \u201cshift + delete\u201d. Data stays on a hard drive even after that. It\u2019s just stored in an inaccessible part of your drive.<\/p>\n
No data traces should be left on the device after you\u2019re through with it. And the easiest way to do this is with data erasure software. But, you should ensure you use trustworthy hard drive data eraser software<\/a>. And this is where BitRaser Drive Eraser comes into play.<\/p>\n![\"Bitraser](\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/bitraser-interface-screen.jpg\")
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BitRaser<\/a> is a NIST-compliant software that makes it undeniable that your data has been fully erased. It achieves this by generating a tamper-proof report post-erasure. Here\u2019s an example.<\/p>\n![\"BitRaser](\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Bitraser-Summary.png\")
<\/p>\n
![\"BitRaser](\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Bitraser-summary-2.png\")
<\/p>\n
BitRaser Drive Eraser works on all major hard drive types. This includes SATA, PATA, SCSI, SAS, USB, etc. So you wouldn\u2019t have to search for a different tool for each drive you\u2019re trying to erase. This tool does it all in one. You can simultaneously erase up to 32 hard drives with BitRaser.<\/p>\n
\n- Choose the right Hard Drive disposal method<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Different countries have different hard drive data disposal regulations. The standards that companies have to follow while destroying data change on various parameters. One of these is the type of business you\u2019re dealing with.<\/p>\n
You can also choose between the physical, overwriting, and degaussing methods. Here\u2019s a brief overview of these data destruction methods.<\/p>\n
\n- Physical Destruction:<\/strong> When you use this method, techniques like hard drive shredding are used to render the storage media useless. So it becomes close to impossible to access the information on the device.<\/li>\n
- Overwriting:<\/strong> In this method, the data is destroyed by superimposing the existing 0\u2019s and 1\u2019s with non-sensible data. You can overwrite a device multiple times to reinforce the destruction.<\/li>\n
- Degaussing:<\/strong> Data is stored on a magnetic plate in the storage media. Degaussing demagnetizes the plate, therefore deleting the data stored within.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The following image tells you which data destruction method works best for which disk types.<\/p>\n
![\"Data](\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/data-destruction-type.png\")
Image Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\nAll of these methods work well depending on the storage media in question. All of these are applicable for the purpose of hard drive disposal. So it\u2019s up to you to choose the best method for the media you\u2019re trying to dispose of.<\/p>\n
You can also consider using two different methods of destructing data. In the first step, you can overwrite the hard drive. Then you can use physical destruction methods to fully ensure that your data is deleted. This will give you another level of security before hard drive disposal.<\/p>\n
\n- DIYs aren\u2019t effective<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Some people, when they\u2019re trying to cut costs, decide to handle hard drive data destruction by themselves. They take the heaviest weight they can find and drop it over the storage media. Some people even set fire to the device.<\/p>\n
In theory, yes, this would work. But the danger is that you can\u2019t verify if the data destruction was successful. So you may end up with a device that looks destroyed from the outside, but the magnetic plate (refer to point two) would still be intact.<\/p>\n
This would negate all of your strenuous efforts. So don\u2019t trust DIYs. Go with hard drive data destruction<\/a> methods that verify the destruction process.<\/p>\n\n- Be aware of the regulations involved<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
One of the biggest regulatory guidelines for companies is the rules they have in relation to data management. There are plenty of norms and data eraser standards<\/a> that tell us how to properly manage your hard drive disposal.<\/p>\nThe better you enforce them within your organization, the more trust you can build with our customers. So don\u2019t become lax about your data management plan. Ensure that the data\u2019s complete lifecycle is taken care of in your IT asset management plan.<\/p>\n
Most governments encourage you to recycle old devices rather than throwing them in the bin. So ensure you make provisions for that as well. The following is the typical lifecycle of a hard drive. Even though hard drive disposal is the last step,<\/p>\n
No matter the kind of business you’re managing, data is an indispensable part. And as a business owner, the onus of handling customer data is on you.<\/p>\n
So when it comes to the end of the life cycle for media devices, it is vital to wipe the drive before you dispose of the hard drive. And it\u2019s not just a simple matter of \u201cshift + delete\u201d. Data stays on a hard drive even after that. It\u2019s just stored in an inaccessible part of your drive.<\/p>\n
No data traces should be left on the device after you\u2019re through with it. And the easiest way to do this is with data erasure software. But, you should ensure you use trustworthy hard drive data eraser software<\/a>. And this is where BitRaser Drive Eraser comes into play.<\/p>\n BitRaser<\/a> is a NIST-compliant software that makes it undeniable that your data has been fully erased. It achieves this by generating a tamper-proof report post-erasure. Here\u2019s an example.<\/p>\n BitRaser Drive Eraser works on all major hard drive types. This includes SATA, PATA, SCSI, SAS, USB, etc. So you wouldn\u2019t have to search for a different tool for each drive you\u2019re trying to erase. This tool does it all in one. You can simultaneously erase up to 32 hard drives with BitRaser.<\/p>\n Different countries have different hard drive data disposal regulations. The standards that companies have to follow while destroying data change on various parameters. One of these is the type of business you\u2019re dealing with.<\/p>\n You can also choose between the physical, overwriting, and degaussing methods. Here\u2019s a brief overview of these data destruction methods.<\/p>\n The following image tells you which data destruction method works best for which disk types.<\/p>\n Image Source<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n All of these methods work well depending on the storage media in question. All of these are applicable for the purpose of hard drive disposal. So it\u2019s up to you to choose the best method for the media you\u2019re trying to dispose of.<\/p>\n You can also consider using two different methods of destructing data. In the first step, you can overwrite the hard drive. Then you can use physical destruction methods to fully ensure that your data is deleted. This will give you another level of security before hard drive disposal.<\/p>\n Some people, when they\u2019re trying to cut costs, decide to handle hard drive data destruction by themselves. They take the heaviest weight they can find and drop it over the storage media. Some people even set fire to the device.<\/p>\n In theory, yes, this would work. But the danger is that you can\u2019t verify if the data destruction was successful. So you may end up with a device that looks destroyed from the outside, but the magnetic plate (refer to point two) would still be intact.<\/p>\n This would negate all of your strenuous efforts. So don\u2019t trust DIYs. Go with hard drive data destruction<\/a> methods that verify the destruction process.<\/p>\n One of the biggest regulatory guidelines for companies is the rules they have in relation to data management. There are plenty of norms and data eraser standards<\/a> that tell us how to properly manage your hard drive disposal.<\/p>\n The better you enforce them within your organization, the more trust you can build with our customers. So don\u2019t become lax about your data management plan. Ensure that the data\u2019s complete lifecycle is taken care of in your IT asset management plan.<\/p>\n Most governments encourage you to recycle old devices rather than throwing them in the bin. So ensure you make provisions for that as well. The following is the typical lifecycle of a hard drive. Even though hard drive disposal is the last step,<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Hard](\"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/hard-drive-lifecycle.jpg\")