Top Five Questions Business Owners Ask About Hard Drive Disposal

Today, almost every business owner knows how important it is to shred papers that contain sensitive personal information. However, not everyone is aware of the importance of proper hard drive disposal. Hard drives from your computer and other electronic devices also contain sensitive data. Improper disposal of hard drives can put employees, clients, and customers at risk for identity theft and put your business at risk for hefty fines for non-compliance. Such a security breach could also tarnish your business’s reputation, making clients hesitant to deal with you in the future.

Deleting electronic documents or wiping a hard drive isn’t always enough to ensure the secure disposal of data. The following explanations will help you understand why and how you should handle unwanted hard drives.

1. What Information on a Hard Drive Is Vulnerable?

Hard drives are often full of confidential information, such as social security numbers, banking or credit card information, personal contact information, and passwords. Hackers and identity thieves can use this information to steal money and set up fraudulent accounts.

2. What Exactly Is Hard Drive Shredding?

When you contract with a shredding service, you can usually have your data shredded at your facility or taken to the shredding facility. Either way, the drive is ground down much the same way paper is shredded. The process leaves the hard drive destroyed and safe from data thieves.

3. Is Hard Drive Shredding Regulated?

Yes, a reputable shredding service maintains the chain of custody and provides you with a Certificate of Destruction and Recycling. When searching for a contractor, ask about their environmental certifications and third-party auditing procedures.

4. Which Is Safer, Mobile or On-Site Shredding?

Both options are equally secure disposal methods. Many business owners prefer mobile or on-site shredding because they have the added peace of mind of witnessing the process. Either way, your electronic data will be destroyed and recycled to protect the data and the environment.

5. When Should I Dispose of Hard Drives?

Typically, when a business is upgrading laptops, computers, and other media storage devices, or when a data center is being decommissioned, there will be outdated hard drives, USB drives, or other forms of electronic data that require disposal.

Retirement, going out of business, or selling a business are other reasons you might need to dispose of unneeded hard drives. In today’s climate of cyber threats and identity theft, every company needs to have a plan for data protection. Even small companies with only one or two employees can be a target for hackers. Don’t take a chance on mishandling your electronic data. Protect your business and your reputation by safely disposing of hard drives and other media storage.

SEAM provides secure and convenient hard drive disposal to businesses throughout North Dakota. We maintain strict no-landfill and no-export policies and ensure all devices that we handle are properly reused, resold, or recycled. We believe our clients deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing their sensitive data will be processed with the highest environmental, ethical, and security standards. For more information about hard drive disposal, contact SEAM today.