The When and How of Data Destruction
Posted on 21st February 2024 at 11:19
Data, it has been said, is the new currency. Your business can thrive upon the value of the data you hold. Not unlike actual currency, the longer you hold onto it, the less value it has. But we still don’t like to let it go.
Let’s face it, at heart, many of us are hoarders. When we store data, we don’t want to let go of it. No matter how long a customer’s details have been hovering in our CRM, we hold onto hope that it is still relevant and useful to our business. Of course, there comes a time that the data is no longer relevant, or you have no arguable use for keeping it, and then, per GDPR, you need to let it go.
But when, and how, should you be considering destroying your data?
The time has come:
Before selling or donating a device: It doesn’t matter if it’s an old Sony Vaio, a trusty mobile, or even a USB stick, don’t just hand it over without a bathing your data in a cleansing fire. Hackers are cunning and well-versed in managing to dredge up data that you think has been erased. In fact, they wouldn’t even break a sweat doing it. Think of all the data you have held on that device. Would you want it getting into the hands of cyber-ne’er-do-wells?
When getting rid of paper documents: Shredding documents is the best way to destroy any written-down data. It could be that your document contains personal details, like bank statements, passports, or tax details. Don’t just ball it up and cricket bowl it into your wastepaper basket, have it shredded (cross-cut if possible).
Regularly for business data: It is a businesses responsibility to protect customer data. This means regularly reviewing, assessing, and deleting any information you no longer need. Your business should have a thorough data retention policy that is compliant with GDPR. Follow this to the letter and don’t keep any customer data that you need.
Now, the how to destroy data securely:
For electronic devices: There is software specifically designed for data overwriting is the safest option when deleting data on electronic devices. Look for tools that meet standards like NCSC-approved methods or i-SIGMA certification. Read reviews, you can’t be too rigorous in your research when it comes to data.
For physical media: Paper documents, CDs, or DVDs can all be shredded. It might seem a little less elegant than finding glitzy software, but with physical media, brutality is key. Make sure your shredder can handle the type of media you’re destroying.
For hard drives and other storage devices: For technology such as hard drives, the best option is usually degaussing. This method uses powerful magnets to scramble the data making it virtually unrecoverable. When needing to destroy sensitive data that has been kept on a hard drive, degaussing provides an elegant solution for data destruction.
Bonus tip: Don't forget about cloud storage! Securely delete files you no longer need and follow the provider's specific instructions.
A necessary evil
Data destruction isn’t just a decluttering exercise. It’s important that you remember it’s about protecting your business and your stakeholders. Knowing when, and how, to destroy your data helps keep your digital environment safe and sound.
If you’d like to discuss more about looking after your business data, call 01327 300 311, or email [email protected] with your enquiry.
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