What is Data Destruction?
We’ve talked about e-waste recycling before and why it’s such an important process, but we haven’t really unpacked it. We want to help you better understand the various services that support safety and security for those looking to dispose of their electronics and we’re going to start with data destruction.
Data destruction is all about securely handling and safely destroying important and personal information that lives on your electronics. Cell phones, tablets, computers and/or laptops are all guaranteed to contain information that’s personal to you and/or your business, and that you wouldn’t want to get into the wrong hands – are we right?
We’ve often heard customers tell us that they’ve “wiped” their computers or that they’ve transferred all of their data from one device to another, so why do they need data destruction? What makes the process that a large e-waste recycling company (like us!) provides any different? Also, what’s important to look for in an e-waste recycling company?
We’d be happy to share our insights:
First of all, a good electronics recycling company should have a secure chain of custody when dealing with your e-waste. You should literally be able to see who handled your devices when and exactly how they made it from your company or organization to their final destination. If your service provider can’t show you this that is a red flag and you should be concerned for your security. At Greentec we have a process in place that certifies that all electronic data devices are received at our facility exactly as they were originally acquired.
Next up, when physically destroying data (either on site or at their secure facility) they should use specialized software to sanitize and wipe data from devices. This process completely destroys all information while maintaining the physical integrity of the product, which means it can be reused or re-sold. At Greentec we call this service Certified Data Destruction.
Finally, you should look for a service provider that can show you evidence that your data has been completely destroyed. We don’t mean to keep tooting our own horn, but we offer a video of the destruction process and a Certificate of Destruction once the process is done. We want you to know exactly how we handled your information, so you can sleep at night.
There you have it. These three steps, when followed and tracked properly by e-waste recycling companies that offer data destruction, will ensure your data is completely destroyed and the integrity and security of your business is maintained.
As always if you have any questions or comments leave it in the comment section below or reach out!
