Data destruction – necessity or unnecessary expense?
In the age of digitalization, when data has become one of the most valuable assets, the question arises more and more frequently: is investing in professional data destruction solutions truly necessary, or just another unnecessary expense generated by excessive caution?

Data destruction – what does that actually mean?

Data destruction is the process of permanently and effectively erasing data from digital media (e.g., hard drives, flash drives, servers) or paper documents so that it cannot be recovered by any method. In the case of digital media, simply “deleting” a file from the media does not guarantee permanent data removal – the information remains stored, and recovery is possible even in a less specialized laboratory.

Consequences of not properly destroying data

Businesses and institutional representatives often downplay the issue of data destruction until they experience a leak of sensitive information. Violations of personal data protection regulations, such as the GDPR, can result not only in reputational damage but also in significant financial penalties, reaching up to €20 million or 4% of the annual global turnover from the previous financial year (whichever is higher).

Data destruction – methods

Permanent data destruction can be performed in various ways, depending on the type of storage media. Here are the most common methods:

Degaussing
Advantages:

• Quick and effective data destruction from magnetic storage media (HDDs, tapes) using an easy-to-use device called a degausser.
• Impossible to recover data even with advanced tools.
• Enables data destruction even from damaged storage media.
• The procedure complies with data protection regulations.
• An effective data destruction method, recommended by the NSA (National Security Agency).
• The degaussing process is extremely easy to perform and takes only a short time. Furthermore, it poses no risk to the device operator.
• Eco-friendly – the storage media can be recycled.

Disadvantages:

• Does not work with solid-state storage media (SSDs, memory cards).
• After degaussing, the storage media is no longer suitable for reuse.

Physical destruction with a shredder
Advantages:

• A simple and quick method using a shredder.
• Physical destruction can be used with various types of media: hard drives, SSDs, discs, flash drives, etc.

Disadvantages:

• It does not guarantee complete data destruction – fragments of the media may still contain important information.
• Once destroyed, the media is no longer reusable.
• Physical destruction makes it difficult or impossible to recover valuable raw materials, such as rare earth elements (REEs), which are crucial for sustainable development.

Deflashing Process
Advantages:

• It effectively blocks access to data – permanently damaging the internal structures of the media. The energy pulse destroys the internal structures of integrated circuits, eliminating the risk of data recovery.
• The procedure complies with data protection regulations.
• The deflasher can be used in professional environments with high security requirements.
• Eco-friendly – the media can be recycled.

Disadvantages:

• The process can only be performed on flash media.
• High price for some customers.
• The deflasher is not widely available to smaller companies or individual users.

Data Wiping
Advantages:

• The data wiping process does not physically destroy the media.
• Wiping can be repeated on the same device, allowing for continued use.
• Various data wiping programs are available, including free ones.
• Eco-friendly method – the media can be recycled.

Disadvantages:

• The data wiping process can be very time-consuming.
• Wiping does not always guarantee 100% effectiveness.

Data Destruction: Cost vs. Risk

From a financial perspective, data destruction may seem like another unnecessary expense, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. However, when we compare the cost of a one-time investment in professional equipment with the potential losses resulting from a data leak, it turns out to be an expense that quickly pays for itself. Furthermore, owning your own device offers complete independence, security, and eliminates the need to engage third-party vendors.

However, if for some reason purchasing hardware is not an option—for example, due to the low frequency of data destruction—you can use the services of external companies specializing in this field. However, caution is needed, as many unprofessional companies operate on the market that do not meet basic security standards. When choosing a service provider, it’s worth ensuring that the company complies with applicable regulations, offers full process documentation, certificates confirming data destruction, and bserves industry standards.

In summary: the best solution – in terms of long-term security and profitability – is to purchase the appropriate equipment. However, if we decide to outsource, it is crucial to thoroughly verify the reliability and quality of the service provider.

When should you destroy data?

Data should be destroyed whenever it is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected, or when its continued storage is unlawful. There are many examples of such situations. Here are some:

• Decommissioning or replacing IT equipment – before selling, repairing, or disposing of computers, servers, hard drives, flash drives, or memory cards, the data stored on them must be permanently destroyed, even if the device appears to have been “wiped.”
• Expiration of the documentation retention period – legal regulations specify how long certain data must be retained. After this period, it not only can, but must be destroyed.
• End of a project or service – if data was collected for a specific project (e.g., a marketing campaign or a specific order), the data must be securely deleted after its completion, unless there are grounds for further storage.
• Requesting the right to be forgotten by an individual (GDPR) – anyone can request the deletion of their data if the company or institution no longer has a legal basis for processing it. In such cases, the data must be permanently destroyed.