Requires safeguarding student education records. Any device storing personally identifiable information (PII) must be securely destroyed or sanitized before reuse or disposal.

Many states now require notification of data breaches involving student or staff information, with steep penalties for non-compliance.

Colleges and universities that administer student financial aid are considered financial institutions under GLBA. The FTC’s Safeguards Rule requires them to maintain a written information security program with administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including secure disposal practices, to protect student financial data.

Applies to educational websites, apps, and online services that collect personal data from children under 13. Schools and service providers must safeguard this information, ensure any third-party vendors do the same, and securely destroy it when no longer needed.

Defines accepted methods for wiping, purging, and destroying data on electronic media. Regulators across industries reference NIST 800-88 as the benchmark for secure sanitization.

Data privacy and electronic waste regulations exist at every level—local, state, federal, and global. From local ordinances like the Sioux Falls landfill ban, to state privacy laws, to federal mandates, and even international frameworks like GDPR, organizations must demonstrate secure data destruction and compliant disposal practices.

The landscape is continually evolving, making it critical to work with a certified partner who can align your processes to these overlapping requirements.