With the importance of data stored on modern devices now increasing across the marketplace, hard drive destruction has become a critical consideration for the modern company. What happens with company data once the device is no longer functional is a high-value consideration. It’s the reason that so many companies are now taking on the process of creating a hard drive destruction policy. In this latest post, our experts look at the importance of an effective hard drive destruction policy and how to create the ideal policy for the business.

1. What is a Hard Drive Destruction Policy?

Before creating a policy, your team should know what the policy involves, and the value that the policy can bring to the organization. An effective hard drive destruction policy tells the employees within your company what to do with their electronics once the system no longer has a viable function within the organization. The details included within the hard drive destruction policy might be the following:

• Which items to dispose of
• When to dispose of these items
• How to dispose of them
• How to document the disposal process for the company

It’s important to note that while electronics recycling and hard drive destruction are connected services, they are not one and the same. The electronics recycling process will not ensure that data left on the devices is destroyed. And so, you may include the recycling process after the destruction has taken place, but the destruction should take priority before recycling measured are considered.

2. Why Create a Hard Drive Destruction Policy?

A hard drive destruction policy is not just important in terms of protecting your company’s data and the data of your customers, it’s also important in preserving information for the company and ensuring that the right data is selected. It means that the company is not disposing of data that could be used in the coming years and it ensures the company is upholding its legal responsibilities, both in terms of data removal and in terms of data retention.

The ramifications of not creating a policy are clear. One possible problem would be that the company doesn’t know where its most important data is stored and then critical financial information is left on an unattended hard drive with a third-party firm. Without a policy, employees may not have a clear understanding on the current laws regarding data removal, potentially leaving the company liable in cases of customer data loss and theft.

3. Tips for Creating Your Hard Drive Destruction Policy

When it comes to creating the ideal destruction policy for your business, it’s critical to take into consideration the company’s current assets and their value. Take on the following processes when creating your policy:

• Take inventory of all serial numbers
  The serial numbers of each of the hard drives within the company’s possession should be noted and reviewed as part of the policy. This will help ensure that single hard drives are tracked and prioritized according to the type of data they hold.
• Guide employees
  Employees should be given information on the hard drive destruction process, and their role in all procedures. Make sure that employees are able to ask questions about the policy to clear up any confusion. One mistake companies make is creating a policy without the input of technical team members. And this might mean that critical data is not considered and is left on devices that are then sent to a third-party recycling company.

Working with a respected hard drive destruction firm can help ensure that the policy you create is followed with precision. Contact local experts in your area today and begin securing the data on your company devices alongside trusted professionals.