When it comes to hard drive destruction, there is a lot of myths and unknowns. Data destruction or IT equipment disposal is one of the most important security measures for businesses, yet many myths about it lead to misconceptions about the process.
Hard drive destruction is physically destroying a hard drive or other media device to prevent the data stored on it from falling into the wrong hands. However, there are a few myths about hard drive destruction that are not true.
Hard drives are where more people than ever before are saving their private data. After a hard drive’s useful life has ended, businesses cannot afford to ignore safeguarding the information about customers, workers, and intellectual property, especially given how easily accessible it may be.
The only foolproof way to guarantee that data is unrecoverable and to stop data thieves from obtaining any data is to shred hard drives. It would help if you didn’t let one of the hard drive destruction myths affect your company.
Recycling on Your Own Is Enough
While we are all trying to conserve the environment and ensure we are doing our part for future generations, recycling your hard drives does not ensure that the data they contain is lost and unavailable.
To ensure that your hard drives have been securely discarded, you should employ a reliable hard drive destruction service that offers both on-site and off-site hard drive shredding (depending on the needs of your business). The service should also provide hard drive destruction paperwork.
Information On A Hard Drive Can Be Deleted To Erase It
You can be confident that the data is no longer accessible by deleting the files from a hard disk. Even after the data has been erased, data thieves can still use certain programs to restore it.
A Hard Drive Works Well As A Magnet
Magnets affected a hard drive’s ability to read data in the early days of personal computing. Modern hard drives are constructed differently than older generations and are far more resistant to magnets.
Hard Drives Are Protected By Being Locked Up and Stored
Contrary to general recommendations, many firms lack a hard drive destruction policy.
Therefore, it is essential to store the drives in a closet or other conveniently accessible location. It doesn’t take much to recognize that doing so puts your organization in grave danger.
Businesses should have a hard drive shredding or retention policy, just like they do with paper.
Targeting Small Businesses Is Not The Goal
This may be one of the most widespread misconceptions about hard drive damage. Although large corporations frequently make the news, small business owners are frequently the targets of data theft, contrary to what might seem to be the case.
According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report, small businesses were the target of 61% of breaches in 2017, up from 53% the year before.
Information Will Be Removed If a Drive Is Formatted
This means that formatting a hard disk is the same as destroying it because it is still possible for data thieves to recover information from an erased hard drive using the software. Depending on what was kept on the device, this may include anything from email addresses to credit card information.
Hard Disk Damage Will Prevent Robbers
A hard drive can be destroyed in various ways, such as being repeatedly hit with a bowling ball, being run over by a car, being dropped from a very high building, or even being broken with a hammer.
Remember that the same drive may be corrected no matter how unbeatable they all seem. A few scratches on the drive won’t stop data thieves from trying to access the crucial data they hold.
Conclusion
The importance of data destruction, and the myths associated with it, is something that should not be overlooked. Using the right methods and tools is essential to ensure that the data stored on hard drives is completely and securely destroyed.
While some popular myths, such as the idea that erasing data or overwriting data is sufficient, have been debunked, other misconceptions can lead to data breaches. Physical destruction of hard drives is the most secure method of ensuring that data is destroyed. Professional electronics recycling specializing in data destruction can provide the most effective and secure hard drive destruction methods.
Beyond Surplus offers a convenient, secure, and cost-effective IT Equipment Disposal & Electronics Recycling. Beyond Surplus Offers Data Destruction, Electronics Recycling & IT Equipment Disposal To Businesses, Schools, Medical Facilities & Residential Customers. Learn more about hard drive shredding by scheduling a pickup with us today!
