April 29, 2024

Your computer’s hard disk is essentially its information hub. It is the location of your operating system (OS) and your data. Your hard disk probably contains sensitive data if you use your laptop for activities other than simple web browsing. It may be IP, trade secrets, financial data, or even health-related data. This is the kind of information that should not end up in the wrong hands. This is why, in some circumstances, erasing a hard drive is necessary. If you intend to sell or donate the computer for reuse, you might not want to destroy the hard drive. But you should eliminate it if you’re going to sell your computer’s components or throw them away. Why? Because even if you remove files using your convenient recycling bin, they still exist; they are simply less convenient to access. This implies that you must still take additional actions to guarantee that no one can recover the data. We’ve got you covered, so don’t worry. The key is to correctly erase data, and there are numerous ways to do it by deleting information from hard drives. Why Should You Destroy a Hard Drive? You do not want your hard drive to get lost or stolen, along with the data it contains. You can save everything, including financial information, contact information, sensitive data, and more, as was previously indicated. Therefore, you’ll want to delete the hard disk and all that company data before selling your computer or throwing it away (note: don’t do that; there are safer and more environmentally friendly ways to dispose of your computer). Regardless of the motivation behind your need to destroy your hard drive, the key lesson is that you don’t want it to get into the wrong hands. This indicates that an important part, destruction time, has arrived! The Best Ways To Destroy A Hard Drive The goal is to render the drive’s platters so they won’t spin; do not microwave, roast on a spit, soak in acid, or place it near a mighty magnet. The key is to correctly erase data, and there are numerous ways to do it by deleting information from hard drives. So, the following are some techniques for physically destroying a hard drive: Degaussing Hard Drives Hard disk degaussing is a very efficient sanitization technique. In truth, some degaussing methods for high-security data destruction on magnetic media have been certified due to their effectiveness. Degaussers are highly tuned magnets that will obliterate any data’s magnetic trace when they come into contact with other magnetic media, like hard drives. Equipment used to destroy data that is measured in oersted is called a magnetic degausser. A degausser’s efficiency is affected by various factors, but generally speaking, the higher the oersted rating, the more potent the degausser. Magnetic degaussers come in a wide range of types and prices. Disintegrating Hard Drives Hard disks can be destroyed using disintegrators, a form of data destruction equipment frequently employed in the recycling and data destruction sectors. Disk Drive Disintegrators have been created to handle harder-to-manage hard drives. The hard drive is sliced into bits by hard drive disintegrators using knife milling technology until the pieces are tiny enough to pass through the disintegrators’ screen. Hard drive disintegration produces a far more refined residue and a lot greater level of security than hard drive shredding, albeit slightly slower. Even in the minor hard disk fragments, the fragments could include thousands of potentially damaging pieces of data. Producing a higher level of destruction is probably the most important when dealing with data storage devices like hard drives. Shredding Hard Drives Hard drive shredding requires a specific kind of shredder designed to handle the heavy metal parts involved with hard drives. Hard drive shredders use timed conveyor belts and reinforced steel cutting shafts with enlarged gap settings to prevent overfeeding. Hard drive shredding residue is far from having the same fine consistency as paper shredding residue. Significant bits of metal make up the hard drive shredder residue, which varies considerably from drive to drive depending on how it hits the shredding head. As a result, we frequently advise hard drive destruction to clients who are not attempting to satisfy NSA or other official security standards. Two similar options would be to run the hard drives through for a second pass or consider a hard drive disintegrator that produces a more minor and consistent residue. Shredding is your best option if you don’t intend to sell hard drives and want to be confident that the data is unrecoverable. Working with a professional service is brilliant for this endeavor since they provide specific tools and trained professionals for shredding hard drives. Wiping Hard Drives Wiping is a great way to delete data if you don’t want to destroy the hard drive permanently. However, it would help if you did it correctly, or some data may still be present. For data to be destroyed, it must be overwritten, frequently more than once. The best action is to hire a pro, particularly if you intend to restore and resell hard drives. Final Words Several aspects, such as how sensitive your data is, how many hard drives you need to destroy, and how much you can spend on a solution, must be taken into consideration when deciding which technique of hard drive destruction is appropriate for you. eScrap Canada Inc provides the best solutions for your hard drive destruction needs. We will give you a certificate of data destruction of all media that has been destroyed. eScrap Canada Solutions specializes in hard drive destruction. For more information, please fill out the form below or Contact us through email or phone.  

Cybercrime has increased dramatically over the last decade as a result of increasing global connectivity and increased use of cloud services and IT devices. Businesses must create a robust cybersecurity ecosystem rather than relying on simple firewalls and antivirus software to protect their data. When business executives consider cybersecurity, they typically consider what practices and technologies to add to their arsenal. Examples include email encryption, firewalls, network and endpoint security, employee awareness programs, AI and machine-learning technology, etc. Which items should be removed is a topic that is not frequently thought about. Data destruction, or what to do with data when the company no longer requires it or when it gets into the wrong hands, is almost as crucial to an organization’s security posture. As more businesses turn to cybersecurity, the demand for skilled and qualified cybersecurity experts rises dramatically. Professionals who understand the complexities of information security and cybersecurity are in high demand today. It is a popular career path that offers both high annual pay and job satisfaction. What is data destruction and Why is it important in Cybersecurity? When you hear the phrase “data destruction,” you probably wince and picture a gadget being broken or destroyed without a backup, losing the data it holds. However, in this case, data destruction refers to the deliberate action your organization takes when it no longer needs the information or the storage device. Data that hasn’t been appropriately deleted is a potential data breach, so data destruction is vital for your protection. Your company probably already destroys data daily by removing emails from an inbox or clearing old files from a database to make space. However, current data destruction can be challenging, given the variety of modern data storage options, including tape, disks, hard drives, USBs, and other physical and mobile devices. Before discarding, recycling, reusing, selling, or replacing any physical hardware, you must effectively destroy all data on it. For organizational and security best practices, it is advisable to routinely erase outdated data stored on networks and in the cloud. Types of data destruction Simply removing a file is insufficient for data destruction. The file is most likely still kept in the device’s hard drive or memory chip, even though it might not be accessible in a specific folder. Organizations must therefore go above and beyond to ensure that an operating system or application can no longer read the data. When selecting how to erase their data appropriately, businesses have the following as the best options: Degaussing Overwriting Physically destroying the storage medium Degaussing One of the best choices is degaussing. A powerful electromagnet, in this instance, passes over the storage device. In essence, these magnetic fields will scramble all the information, making it impossible to read. The only issue in this situation is that the device itself might be harmed by such a method. The most popular and economical way of information ablation is still degaussing. Overwriting Overwriting data entails adding new information (often in the form of 0s and 1s) on top of old data, as the phrase already suggests. The fundamental objective is to protect the hard drive from harm while concealing the data it holds. It should be emphasized, though, that this method can occasionally be rendered useless by a person with a lot of technical expertise. For instance, there is no certainty that data overwriting would erase information from sections of the device that are host-protected or otherwise unavailable. Additionally, it’s crucial to remember that overwriting only functions if the storage medium is undamaged and hence still writable. Physically destroying the storage medium It is possible to destroy the device physically. Chemicals or shredding of the unit can be used to do this. The only potential issue is that even a physically destroyed hard drive or device might still hold a sizable quantity of data. As a result, many businesses opt to outsource these solutions to competent outsiders. Reasons to consider Data Destruction in Cybersecurity There are many reasons to consider data destruction in cybersecurity. Some of the important ones are: Legal Requirement Numerous laws, on both the federal and state levels, mandate that companies safeguard the private information of their customers. When data deletion methods are insufficient (or nonexistent), and customer information is compromised, a company will face sanctions from the relevant regulatory bodies. Additionally, it risks high-priced company litigation from aggrieved customers. To protect the reputation of a Company Data breaches, particularly those attributable to corporate recklessness, can harm a company’s reputation for good. Anyone may use your customers’ and employees’ personal information in identity theft schemes and other fraudulent actions. Nobody wants to work with a company that can’t safeguard their data. Data are always under constant threat Every day, your data is constantly threatened by fraudsters, corporate espionage, and hackers who hold your information for ransom money. It would be best if you were proactive regarding protecting your data. Which cybersecurity risks does data destruction tackle? When considering a cybersecurity hazard resulting from insufficient data destruction, most individuals probably first consider a breach. Most businesses, for instance, gather and maintain sensitive or personally identifying data about their clients and workers. Companies may retain customer or employee data after they leave, but they eventually want to delete it from their systems to avoid liability in the event of a breach. For this same reason, cybercriminals target businesses to breach them and don’t just target information that an organization is actively using. Data in transit, storage, or at rest is all in danger. Threat actors also know that individuals and businesses frequently get rid of physical devices without completely erasing their data. According to the BBC, one in ten used hard drives still have customers’ old data. The data collection process could also begin innocently. A person might purchase a USB drive from a third-party vendor and discover it still contains data after plugging it into a computer, for instance. A person could get private information by spotting that a business is disposing of specific

A data centre is a digital collection of your company apps, data and valuable information. All the essential data required to keep your organisation running as well as your client data is stored in these servers & storage equipment. Therefore, it is vital to maintain the security and confidentiality of data during the run time and once the equipment has been retired. There will come a time when you will be required to perform data center decommissioning on your Data Center. It is crucial to plan this stage effectively to maintain the integrity of your data. Data centre decommissioning is the process of removing (and possibly disposing) of an organisation’s IT infrastructure so there is no risk of sensitive data falling into the hands. As we know, data is the most essential component of company trust, so experts should carry out the data centre decommissioning process. You should break down the steps into time stages and carry out each step carefully so that the process is carried out smoothly. Steps in Data Center Decommissioning Process Data centre decommissioning requires cautious thinking and planning, and execution. Only experts should perform the process. Follow the below steps to ensure proper data centre decommissioning: Initial Set up and planning. During the initial phase of the Data centre decommissioning process, the project manager creates a draft of the end-to-end process. The project manager will create a data centre decommissioning checklist and will mention the established goals and expected outcomes for the process to be successful. The project manager has to distribute the entire process into different timelines and divide the time accurately. We must establish various milestones, and the workflow has to be set accordingly. Creating a proper plan at the beginning will help to avoid the risk of time management and possible data loss during the data centre decommissioning process. Here is the list of things the project manager has to take care of during the initial phase of plan creation: Communicate with Stakeholders and Decision makers associated with the project List out all the decision makers and stakeholders associated with the project and assign tasks that they need to fulfil on their part. Create a communication channel and regularly update the progress throughout the completion of the process.   Set a Budget Set a budget by collaborating with a qualified auditor to evaluate the entire process and provide you with the appropriate valuation of the hardware and assets required during the decommissioning process.   Establish a Timeline and set milestones Divide the entire process into smaller segments and carry out each accordingly. Set milestones for tasks. Creating smaller targets will make it easier to carry out the operation.   Identify necessary workflow and Backup systems. Create a workflow according to the timeline and prepare critical backup systems to avoid losing crucial data.   Set a date to start the process After preparing everything mentioned above, set a date to start the data centre decommissioning process. It is ideal to begin the process during off hours so that the usual workflow of the organisation is smooth. Asset Inventory It is unthinkable to start a decommission without a detailed list of assets, locations, and serial numbers. Having this information captured at the beginning can ensure all IT assets and data centre equipment are accounted for at the end, which is vital for financial and legal recordkeeping. In this step, you will need to create a detailed list of the assets in the data centre. Create a list of inventory you will work on during the process. Use network discovery tools to identify assets in the data centre. Later you can follow up with a physical review to ensure everything is in place. Create an inventory list with the correct numbers of servers, racks, hard drives, SSDs, computer routers, and other hardware in the data centre. Also, keep a log of the locations of the assets and all the licences associated with the assets. Creating Backups The next step in the Data centre decommissioning process is to create backups of all your data and crucial pieces of information. It is easier to perform data backup when working outside business hours. Careful attention should be taken while working in a live environment in migration scenarios. Creating backups is a crucial step in the data centre decommissioning process, as company data is like digital gold.   Gathering Required Tools and Manpower After creating all the necessary backups, the next step would be disconnecting all the assets and removing everything from the data centre. But before doing that, you will need to gather all the necessary tools and equipment to complete the task. Make sure you have everything you need and proceed with the process. The tools that you could require during the process are as follows: Forklifts Hoists Degaussers Shredders Hand Tools Packing Foam Labels Crates Boxes Helping hands   Disconnecting Assets and Tearing Up After collecting all the tools and equipment, the next step would be disconnecting all the assets from the data centre. The first and foremost thing to do is to remove servers, storage and networking devices than other accessories like cabling before you can proceed with the remainder of the process. As per the requirement, you will need to remove the following from your data centre: Removing Servers, computers, switches, other accessories etc Removing Cablings, UPS, HVAC and generators Disposing of storage devices like hard drives, SSDs, CDs and others Removing and safely disposing of waste materials are hazardous. After successfully doing the things mentioned above, you can proceed to the next step. Make sure that nothing is left behind in the data centre.   Disposition of Assets After shutting the equipment down, the next step is the packaging. Carefully pack away everything in boxes or pallets. Wrap fragile items in foams so that they are safe. Remember to label the boxes. Labelling the boxes will ease the unpacking process. Prepare a checklist that lists each item in a box, its detailed