When it’s time to dispose of old computer hard disk drives, many people wonder if hard drive shredding services are truly secure. The thought of your personal or business data being at risk during the process is unsettling. In this article, we’ll look at the methods reputable shredding companies use and how they ensure hard drive shredding is completely safe.
Data Wiping Standards
Before physical destruction, quality hard drive shredding services wipe all data from the drive first using software that overwrites the data to Department of Defense standards. This renders the data unrecoverable already before shredding the hardware.
Destroying Platters and Components
The shredded remains need to be small enough that no components can be identified or pieced back together. Industrial hard drive shredders pulverize the platters and components into tiny shards only a few millimeters wide to prevent reconstruction.
Employee Screening and Tracking
Background checks are run on employees that handle drives to prevent theft. Only authorized staff transport drives in tamper-proof sealed containers from customer sites to the shredding facility. The chain of custody is tightly controlled.
Locked Facilities and Secure Transport
Reputable companies only allow hard drive shredding in guarded, secure facilities. Trucks with GPS monitoring provide locked transport from pickup to final shredding services. This prevents any possible data compromise.
Certificates of Destruction
Once complete, customers receive a certificate of destruction detailing each hard drive serial number and confirming shredding. This provides documentation that your hard drives were properly destroyed.
Compliance with Standards
Quality providers comply with government standards like NIST 800-88 for data sanitation and media destruction. They also conform to NAID AAA certifications for the highest data security when shredding.
Conclusion
When done properly by an experienced and accredited company with all the right protocols in place, hard drive shredding is extremely safe and secure. Trust only the most reputable industry leaders in hard drive shredding to guarantee your data never ends up in the wrong hands.