Hard Drive Destruction in Heathrow

With 5,881 people and 29 active companies, Heathrow uses an estimated 4,980 electronic devices a day, including 1,294 laptops and 1,725 computers meaning Heathrow uses a lot of electronics and therefore data consumption.

At the end of the equipment’s life if not managed correctly the accessible data causes a potential security risk for individual and/or companies in Heathrow, who annually are responsible for generating 1,660 pieces of electronic waste.

Carrying out the hard drive erasing yourself is a risk as the information erased is not permanently deleted, meaning anyone who knew how could easily retrieve your information. The only way to ensure the security of your data is to use a specialist hard drive destruction service in Heathrow.

For companies in Heathrow who have more stakeholders at risk it is key to use a specialist hard drive destruction company to mitigate all associated risk, by ensuring the process is carried out by experts with specialist software who also recycle the device after completing the destruction/wiping process.

The 29 companies in Heathrow have the following options available when looking for hard drive destruction services:

1. Hard drive wiping

Overwriting data using specialist Blancco software which ensures the permanent destruction of the data stored. To wipe hard drives this is the only way to fully guarantee the process as it destroys data to international standards, that have been tested, certified and approved by over 15 governing bodies including National Cyber Security Centre, ADISA, BSI etc

2. Degaussing

Using a high-powered magnet to disrupt the magnetic field of the device which destroys the data. However, as the hard drive becomes inoperable proving the information inside the hard drive has been destroyed cannot be done. It also is not very environmentally friendly either.

3. Physical destruction

Which fully destroys the hard drive however, when performed by a destruction company externally simply receiving a certificate of destruction does not prove the process fully.

Operating under a secure end of life process by hiring a professional hard drive destruction company is now a critical for IT and Asset Managers as it is a legal requirement for any business. Tracking inventory sent for destruction requires a system that details the specifics of the data destruction process. Making sound decisions when choosing a destruction partner to carry out hard drive destruction is key to protecting your company from risk.

Mitigating associated risks:

1. Secure Chain of Custody

Specialist hard drive destruction service providers provide a chain of custody from collection to destruction to disposal.

2. Hard Drive Wiping

Specialist hard drive destruction service providers that use Blancco software will ensure to have mitigated all risks at this stage.

3. Certification and reporting

Specialist hard drive destruction services will provide certification of destruction, as well as an inventory report which links the wiping licence number with the serial number of the equipment to prove the wiping through Blancco.

See the benefits of using Blancco software below.

INSERT DATA TABLE

Blancco is the only way to fully prove the destruction of a hard drive and their data erasure reports provide information that helps companies comply with regulations such as FISMA, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, GLBA, PCI, DSS and more.