Cybersecurity of network of connected devices and personal data security, concept on virtual interface with consultant in background
Did you know data breaches cost businesses 4.24 million dollars last year? This is at an all-time high, according to IBM. Are you protected against prying eyes and high costs linked to data leaks?
Be it hackers or your bosses, you may be looking for a way to delete data from your company storage device. It’s not as simple as clicking “delete”.
Ready to learn how to erase data successfully off of storage devices or laptops? Keep reading to learn how to erase your data for good.
Check Your Rights
If you’re deleting files off of external storage devices, make sure you’re compliant. What you do with your data depends on the specific laws of each country.
It is advisable to seek legal counsel before deleting data from a company device. There may be potential consequences for doing so, whether it is the client or your personal data.
Deleting Data
The “delete” function on your keyboard will erase the data on your hard drive. If you want to sell your device, you can do so without worrying about your data leaking. It also means that if you’re getting a new computer, you can erase all of the old data before you set it up.
Remember that deleting a file normally isn’t enough to erase the file. It simply deletes the file index on your computer. Someone could still use data recovery programs to recover your files.
Deleting a file normally also doesn’t work for files stored on removable media. This means it won’t work for USB drives, memory cards, and disks. If you want to delete data from an external device, work with a module like Certus Software.
Data Destruction Programs
Data destruction programs overwrite your data with random characters. This makes it impossible for anyone who gets their hands on your hard drive to read any of it. If you are getting rid of highly sensitive material, this will be a better option for you.
Data destruction programs are generally slower than just data erasure. The programs take up hard drive space themselves which can be an issue if you’re low on space.
Physically Destroy the Device
Physically destroying the drive is one way to make sure your data is 100% unrecoverable. But it can also damage the rest of your computer. Plus, it’s a time-consuming process that may not be worth it if all you have is a few sensitive files.
You can destroy your device by hitting it with a hammer. You can also take a pair of scissors and cut through the data lines.
Delete Data From Your Company Storage Device
Deleting sensitive data from your company storage device isn’t just deleting files. That option works great if you plan to resell your device. However, if you have sensitive data, you’ll want to use software or destroy the device.
With these methods in mind, you’ll be sure to keep your data safe from unwelcome parties. Did you find this post useful? Keep learning more about technology by checking out our other articles on the site!
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