Data Deletion Processes & Standards

Creating Data Deletion Practices Is Just As Important As Choosing A Storage Strategy

Even with widespread awareness of data storage and data deletion practices, the numbers from a recent Kroll Ontrack survey are eye-opening. The information management firm found that of the 49% of businesses that are systematically deploying a data erasure method, 75% don’t delete data securely, leaving them susceptible to data breaches.

Only 19% of those surveyed use data deletion software and even fewer, 6%, use a degausser to erase media. When asked if and how businesses verify that data has been deleted, 16% noted that they rely on a product or service for confirmation, but 22% simply reboot the drive and look to see if data is still there.

“The survey results don’t surprise me at all,” notes Jeff Pederson, manager of Ontrack Data Recovery operations at Kroll Ontrack (www.krollontrack.com). “A lot of people believe their data is erased, but they don’t have a way to check that’s very effective. Or they don’t have a system in place that really works. This is a challenge for many enterprises, and it’s putting them at risk.”

Major Problem
At a former employer, Pederson found that the IT department often tried to repurpose machines as soon as an employee had left. This can be a major issue, because if that person is involved in any litigation with the company, the data involved needs to be saved until those issues are resolved. These “litigation holds” are very common, and an enterprise that deletes data when one is in place could face significant penalties.

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Source: processor.com
By: Elizabeth Milard