Do You Need to Have Your Hard Drive Wiped? Here’s How to Tell

Keeping up with technological advancements can feel like competing against a cyclist while running a marathon. Just as you think you’re catching up, they fly ahead of you again. Companies, organizations, and individuals must continually update their hardware and software to ensure access to the latest and greatest forms of technology.

But what do you do with the old, outdated hardware once you no longer need it? If you’re planning to reuse, resell, or donate, should you have your hard drive wiped clean, or is deleting the information on the device enough?

In most cases, it’s best to have your hard drive wiped entirely rather than just deleting or formatting it. Below are some of the reasons why wiping your hard drive is the wisest choice, regardless of what you used it for previously.

Compliance

You’re likely legally obligated to wipe old hard drives if you’re running a business or organization in South Dakota. Data security regulations protect any devices containing customer data, patient records, or financial information. If your company is found to be noncompliant with these regulations, you could face fines, lawsuits, and even prosecution.

Security

The reason laws and regulations are in place for data protection is to provide better information security. Wiping your hard drives ensures compliance on your part and better security for all.

Identity Protection

Identity theft in South Dakota has become a more common occurrence as more and more information becomes available online to hackers. With a few clicks, knowledgeable individuals can gain access to passwords, social security numbers, and other information that would allow them to steal another person’s identity.

When your hard drives are properly wiped clean, customer and staff identities are no longer vulnerable to theft.

Confidential Information

When we hear “confidential information,” we usually think of social security numbers, passwords, and medical records. As important as it is to keep those details safe, you must also prevent many other types of information from getting into the wrong hands.

Perhaps your old computers have design plans, contact information, databases, or other personal information you don’t want to become public. The most efficient way to continue to have this information stay private is by getting your hard drive wiped adequately.

Resale or Donation

Sometimes our motivation for getting rid of old computers or other devices is to resell or donate them to a worthy cause. While this is an admirable action, you still want to ensure you do it with your company’s digital safety in mind. For instance, imagine what would happen if a hospital donated its old computers without first wiping all the hard drives containing patient information.

Those records could end up anywhere, and as a result, the hospital’s confidentiality (and trust with thousands of individuals) would be broken. Not only is the hospital now legally liable for what happened, but there is also no way to put that genie back into the bottle for patients.

SEAM Services Can Help

Whether you have one hard drive or 1,000 hard drives, SEAM Services provides certified, compliant, secure data destruction, electronics recycling, and value recovery of technology equipment throughout South Dakota. Get in touch with us today for more information on how we can help.