Data Destruction Services

Some data should remain unreadable. Thus, for the sake of user protection, some companies provide assured data destruction services. It is easy to believe that data destruction is a simple matter of reformatting a hard drive, scratching furrows in a DVD, or zeroing a jump drive. This is not a factual viewpoint. Existing records prove that a qualified computer forensics expert with a talent for data recovery can recapture the data from almost any type of media damage. This is not always a good thing.


The Skills

High impact hard disk damage, dog-chewed cell phones, and even wine on the keyboard do not ensure data destruction. Recorded events of successful data salvage operations include the recovery of data from a RAID server that fell through the floor during a huge company fire. The hard drives, coated in melted plastic, smelling of burnt electrics, and still wet from the fire controls arrived at the recovery center in plastic bags. Within weeks, the company’s data was returned intact and on new drives.


A Storehouse of Private Information

Computers enable companies to store and access sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, medical history, and bank account details. Protecting that information is a critical concern to both individuals and companies. Yet it is not at all uncommon to discover a used computer that still retains the complete data of the previous user.

Improper disposal of data is one of the most common ways that sensitive information gets breached. It often happens when users get new computers or updated records on DVD. Too many users think that pressing the “delete” key strips the data from the storage media. Yet even fire is not a sure method of data destruction. 


The Facts

Schools and other government agencies are a prime resource for used computers. In March 2011, various state agencies in New Jersey disposed of numerous used computer systems. Seventy-nine percent of the tested equipment proved to contain confidential information. 


Protect Your Private Data

Companies that specialize in data destruction services know that only two existing methods can guarantee the complete removal and elimination of data from computer storage media. The simple method uses special software that sanitizes a storage device. The second method involves a full physical destruction of the storage media. We have already seen that it is very difficult to destroy computer storage components to a point that is beyond reconstruction.

When the time for data destruction is at hand, a qualified data destruction service can help ensure that your business and personal records are fully eradicated from your used digital storage equipment. Avoid the risks of identity theft and profit losses. Protect yourself and your company.