Is Your Data Destruction Policy Up To Par?

When it comes to data security, many businesses think that this means putting up firewalls and having employees use strong passwords to access information. While these are necessary steps, some forget that data destruction is also an integral part of keeping a business secure. An essential part of this process is having a data destruction policy. Is your business’ data destruction up to par?

The first thing that your data destruction plan should consist of is an overview of all possible areas where a data breach may occur. At this level, many security plans forget to mention the disposal process of IT equipment. Old computers, hard drives, and memory sticks for example that are merely lying around are high-security risks for any company. Even if files have been deleted from a computer or hard drive, it does not mean that all the data is gone. Even if files have been removed, they can quickly be restored by any low-level hacker. Therefore, the next step in the data destruction plan is to figure out the desired method of destroying data. There are a few options to consider.

One option is to wipe the hard drive with strong magnets, which scrambles data rendering it unreadable. Another option is to use a program to overwrite the data with code. If the data is written over several times, the original data will become unreadable. While these work, with enough time and effort, it may be possible to uncover data still. The most secure way to keep data safe is to destroy the electronic equipment physically. Companies may offer onsite pickup, which means they will safely and securely pick up all items for you and then take it to headquarters where the data will then be destroyed. Be sure to choose a company that has been certified by a third party organization such as the National Association for Information Destruction. When a company has been given a certificate from the NAID, you can feel safe handing over data them as you will be in good hands. When creating a security plan for your business, make sure that a data destruction policy is added to make sure your company can remain secure.

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