In this digital age, deleting one’s data is not a one-step process. It’s not as easy as shredding a piece of paper or burning it down. Your hard drives hold sensitive files that require protection, away from prying eyes. If you want to protect your data, you will need to do more than press “Delete” on your keyboard. One of the ways to secure this is through safe hard drive degaussing.

Safe hard drive degaussing makes sure that once you erase your data, it stays deleted. It’s a method to prevent possible data leaks and attacks on personal information. However, it would be best to consider some factors before you degauss your hard drive. And if not done correctly, your precious documents and other confidential information are vulnerable to a data breach. 

What is Degaussing?

Degaussing is the process of wiping out data by eliminating a magnetic field. It ensures that you empty your hard drive by removing magnetic debris. Unlike digital destruction methods, it meticulously erases everything from the hard drive. And degaussing is not limited to hard drives only. You can also use it with tapes, diskettes, cassettes, reels, or other storage devices that use magnetic data.

When you delete data off your computer, it’s still retrievable without safe hard drive degaussing. Degaussing guarantees that your files no longer exist, regardless of form. It erases every bit of information and makes it impossible to retrieve data.

Furthermore, degaussing is a strict requirement in some states before hard drive disposal. These measures are put in place to reduce the risk of data breach and/or information leaks. Companies who dispose of used hard drives improperly without degaussing may be subject to penalties. The importance of data security is imperative nowadays, with everything being online. And this reason explains why more tech companies are opting for degaussing services to protect confidential data.

But while you can degauss on your own by buying a degausser, it’s recommended to leave the process to the specialists. Experts know what degaussers to use for different hard drives, which ensures diligence in deleting one’s data. 

Benefits of Safe Hard Drive Degaussing

Whether it's for a company or personal use, safe hard drive degaussing is beneficial in many ways:

Saves time

It only takes a few seconds for a degausser to do its job. Time is saved compared to hiring IT staff, getting them to run a computer program, and overwrite data. This feature comes in handy, especially when you want to wipe out data from more than one computer.

Saves money

You can save on IT costs when you invest in a degausser or a degaussing service. It also helps to dispose of useless hard drives.

Guarantees protection

Safe hard drive degaussing protects confidential information. It assures that data theft is no longer possible. 

Why Businesses Need Safe Hard Drive Degaussing

Businesses hold classified secrets, secrets that are not available even to close partners. And if a company is doing well, some people will want to come after those confidential company secrets. Protecting personal information is crucial, which makes it an essential practice for every business.

Apart from this, below are a few reasons why a business needs safe hard drive degaussing:

Secure data destruction

At some point, a company will have to do away with unnecessary or unneeded information. In line with this, it’s necessary to choose the best way to dispose of that data. Keeping confidential business files is critical, so it’s essential to destroy hard drives of old files properly.

With safe hard drive degaussing, data vanishes into thin air. Old company files become irretrievable by anyone, especially competitors. It also ensures the safety of hard drives for disposal once the data is destroyed.

Avoid penalties

Improper data disposal can lead to paying a lot of unwanted fines. Data breaches can be costly and can hurt your business. The lack of secure data destruction also puts your customers’ information at risk, leading to possible data theft. Companies are then responsible for these leaks if the information is not disposed of properly.

You can avoid future data fines with safe hard drive degaussing. Destroying the data eliminates the risk of data leaks. This way, your business is in-line with proper disposal procedures while protecting confidential company and customer information.

Destruction is not enough

Movies might make destroying data look easy by crushing hard drives. However, in reality, crushing hard drives does not guarantee total data elimination. Experts can still retrieve files from broken hard drives with the use of digital imprints. Technology is so advanced that it can still detect data even with just a fragment of the imprint.

Safe hard drive degaussing makes retrieving impossible by erasing a hard drive’s magnetic remnants. This makes old data inaccessible and protects sensitive information from leaking out. 

Peace of mind

While some people trust the security of storing data in drives, some are not thrilled about this idea. Printed copies of files are still labeled as a more reliable storage of information since you can put it in a safe. However, it is more challenging to look for files if it is printed out and filed in binders.

With a hard drive degausser, the user will have nothing to worry about. Gone are the days of wondering where data goes and how to get rid of them. You won’t have to worry about data breaches or information theft. All is secure with a safe hard drive degaussing system.

Common Questions About Degaussing

Safe hard drive degaussing is the most reliable way to get rid of data without leaving any trace of it for your competitors.

To understand this more, here are some frequently asked questions about safe hard drive degaussing:

What to consider when choosing the best degausser?

Degaussers are not equal. The most crucial factor in choosing a degausser is its compatibility with your storage device. Its compatibility determines how efficient the degausser is at erasing the media. Different types vary in magnetic field strength. The higher the magnetic field strength, the more efficient it is at wiping your drive. The magnetic value of tapes and hard drives are also measurable.

To find the perfect degausser, make sure it is suitable for the hard drive or the tape’s magnetic value. A higher magnetic value requires more powerful magnetic field strength.

Can I reuse tapes and hard drives after degaussing?

Unfortunately, degaussed hard drives are non-reusable. Wiping all the startup files mess up with the storage. However, safe hard drive degaussing can still make a hard drive beneficial for the user. 

Can a degaussed storage device be recycled?

Degaussed hard drives are recyclable. That is why there are companies who are seeking and willing to buy degaussed hard drives. The metals and components of the device are still worth something. It is more valuable to sell degaussed media than a shredded one.

Also, there is no need to worry about the buyer retrieving your old data. There is nothing to be worried about because safe hard drive degaussing wiped away everything already. It only means that you can earn money without compromising your privacy. The price of the deals differs depending on location and the hard drive’s condition. It is better to keep it because otherwise, you cannot make money out of it.

Destroy Your Data with Abtron

Nowadays, a lot of tech companies offer degaussing services. But you have to choose the right one where you can entrust your hard drives to. At Abtron Computer Services Inc., we make sure to destroy all traces of hard drive information with safe hard drive degaussing. We use a vast stock of degaussers to cater to a wide range of hard drives for degaussing. You can rest easy knowing that your files will be out of sight and out of mind. Contact Abtron today!