If you have data on your hard drives, you should seek the expertise of a professional hard drive destruction service. With data storage, even if you delete it yourself, that data could potentially be recovered by somebody with software capabilities. It doesn’t make sense to take the chance. Choose a data sanitization professional.
WHAT IS SECURE HARD DRIVE DESTRUCTION?
If you’re attempting to delete potentially sensitive data, make sure recovery isn’t possible. A good data destruction service will take extensive measures to ensure that your data is properly erased. However, not every data destruction service and e-waste recycling company is the same. Some will simply overwrite data blocks with random nonsensical data; others may physically destroy the hard drive.
FINDING THE RIGHT HARD DRIVE DESTRUCTION SERVICE
So how exactly can you find a secure data destruction service that is reputable and trustworthy? Here are seven things to look for when comparing data destruction services:
- How do they destroy the data?
A good data destruction service will offer several options when it comes to erasing your data. At RAKI Electronics Recycling, we offer two methods for eliminating your data:
Wiping the hard drive — If you need the hard drives back, then you’ll want to have them wiped clean. Our process follows the DOD (Department of Defense) Protocol, which means that we will wipe the hard drive three separate times, using a specialized software to verify the wipe each time.
Shredding the hard drive — If you no longer need the hard drive, we will shred the hard drives with our top of the line shredder. Our shredder is mobile and can be used at our facility or on a client’s premises. As a trusted Houston hard drive destruction company, we will not only effectively destroy your hard drive, we will ensure that it is properly disposed of so that you are in compliance with local, state, and federal e-waste disposal regulations.
- How can they prove that your data has been properly erased?
Since you are giving the company sensitive data to be erased, you’ll want to be sure that they do exactly that. Some companies will allow a witness to be present during the destruction process (like someone who works for your company)—but every service should provide a certificate of destruction as proof that they performed the duty for which you hired them.
- Do they provide on-site data erasure and hard drive destruction services?
A good data destruction service should be able to provide on-site data destruction if you want your hard drives wiped or shredded.
Your hard drives should be locked up in a tamper-proof container and be traceable in case they disappear on their way to the company’s facility. Once at the facility, the hard drives should be stored in a locked and monitored area until the data is wiped clean or the hard drives are destroyed.
- Are their employees trustworthy?
Ask the company what their hiring process is like. Work with a hard drive destruction service that does in-depth background checks on all its employees to ensure that your sensitive data is in safe hands.
- What kind of certifications do they have?
Certifications speak to the quality and trustworthiness of a e-waste disposal service. For example, at RAKI Electronics Recycling, we have the following certifications:
- OSHAS 18001 Certification
- Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp Certification
- R2 Certified Electronic Recycler
- ISO 14001 Certified Electronic Recycler
- Facility approval by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Recycling operations performed under EPA, Federal, State and Local guidelines.
- How much do they charge?
The cost of secure hard drive destruction shouldn’t make or break the deal for you—especially if the cost ensures that your data is properly erased. For example, do not choose the cheapest data destruction service you can find if the service doesn’t have any certifications or hasn’t been in business long.
At RAKI, we generally charge between $5 and $10 per hard drive for our DOD data sanitization services, depending on the volume. The cost for shredding can vary between $3 to $8.
- What is their reputation like?
All the previous are good indicators of the quality of a data destruction service—but also look into the company’s reputation with their customers. Check out online reviews and visit the website of the Better Business Bureau to find out if any complaints were filed against the company. Data destruction is sensitive; do not work with a company that has let previous customers down through incomplete destruction of their data.
These are some of the things you should find out about a data destruction service before you decide to hire it. This kind of information shouldn’t be difficult to find; a reputable data destruction service will provide you with plenty of references and other reassurance. A lot of it should be available on the service’s website.
To inquire about our data destruction services, contact us today.
Sources:
http://ictcompliance.com/blog/right-data-destruction-company