Data can be a sensitive thing. Whether it’s personal data, customer data, or company secrets, data needs to be properly destroyed when it’s no longer needed. Unfortunately, simply deleting data isn’t enough. Data can be recovered even after it’s been “deleted.”
Destroying data is important to keep it private and safe from compliance issues. By destroying outdated data, you can avoid any potential breaches or fines. The only way to ensure that data is truly gone is to destroy it. But how? Read on to find out the different ways you can destroy data.
Data Overwriting
One method of destroying data is overwriting. Overwriting involves writing new data on top of old. This essentially renders the old data unreadable because it’s buried beneath the new data. One thing to remember about overwriting is that you need to write over the data multiple times for it to be effective. A single pass might not be enough.
Since storage systems are now designed to avoid data loss, this means that rewriting is not as comprehensive of a process as it once was. In other words, the more sophisticated the storage system is, the more likely it is that data rewriting will not completely wipe out everything.
Degaussing
Degaussing is another way of destroying data. This involves using a degausser, which is a machine that uses magnetic fields to scramble the data on a hard drive or another storage device so that it can never be recovered. The data on magnetized domains are mainly destroyed as a result. However, the power of a degausser is based upon its magnetic field strength compared to the type of medium it is degaussing.
Degaussers are more effective than data overwriting, but high-quality machines can be expensive, and they only work on magnetic media (like hard drives). Some businesses specialize in securely destroying data. If data destruction is an occasional need, it may be wiser to outsource to someone with a degausser.
Physical Destruction
Physical destruction is perhaps the most surefire way to destroy data. This involves physically destroying the storage device so that it can never be used again. This could involve smashing a hard drive with a hammer, shredding a CD with a paper shredder, or burning a DVD. Physical destruction is usually the best option for sensitive data because it guarantees that the data can never be recovered or used again.
Several data security companies offer onsite data destruction. The advantage of having someone come onto your premises is that you can make sure it never leaves your sight. You will know the data is completely destroyed and that no one can recover it and use it against you.
Conclusion
Gone are the days when you could just empty your computer’s trash can and the files were gone forever. Though “deleting” data might seem like enough, it’s important to remember that deleted data can often still be recovered. If you want to make sure that data is truly destroyed, you need to use one of these three methods: overwriting, degaussing, or physical destruction. Choose the method that makes the most sense for you and your needs and rest assured, knowing that your sensitive data is truly gone.
