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IT Support & Hardware · Intermediate

Media Sanitization

Removing data from storage so it cannot be recovered, using clear, purge, or destroy methods.

Definition

NIST SP 800-88 defines Clear (logical overwrite), Purge (such as cryptographic erase, block erase, or degaussing of magnetic media), and Destroy (shredding, pulverizing, incinerating, drilling). SSDs require secure erase or crypto erase because overwriting may miss remapped blocks. Third-party vendors should provide a certificate of destruction.

Example

Use the SSD's ATA Secure Erase or cryptographic erase before repurposing a laptop.

Exam tip

Degaussing does not work on SSDs; formatting is not sanitization.

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