CompTIA Server+ (SK0-005)Security and Disaster RecoveryEasy
A technician is decommissioning an old server that contains sensitive customer data. The company policy dictates that all data must be rendered unrecoverable before disposal. Which method would ensure the highest level of data destruction for the server's hard disk drives?
- APhysical destruction
- BDegaussing
- CZero-fill wipe
- DLow-level format
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Physical destruction
Physical destruction, such as shredding or incineration, is the most secure method for ensuring data on a hard drive is absolutely unrecoverable, meeting the highest level of data destruction requirements.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Degaussing works for magnetic media but can leave data recoverable with advanced techniques and is ineffective for SSDs.
- C. A zero-fill wipe overwrites data with zeros, but data remnants might still be recoverable with forensic tools.
- D. A low-level format can be reversed with specialized tools and does not guarantee data unrecoverability.
Physical Destruction
The most secure method of data destruction, involving shredding, pulverizing, or incinerating storage media to render data completely unrecoverable.
- Renders data absolutely unrecoverable.
- Applicable to all types of storage media.
- Meets the highest security compliance requirements.
Memory trick: To truly destroy data, you must physically destroy the media.