Hard Drive Shredding vs Degaussing

On Site Hard Drive Shredding Versus On Site Degaussing as a Data Sensitisation Tool.

By Mark Browne, Cyclone Shredding – December, 2013

Both hard drive shredding and degaussing are viewed as effective methods of data sanitisation where computer hard drives and media tapes are concerned. Both solutions will meet with outside auditor requirements for disposing of digitally stored information.  The choice of approach is entirely an internal decision based upon data security preferences, economics and the available options.

 In this article we will compare the two processes.

On Site Hard Drive Shredding: The Details.

On site shredding occurs in a mobile shredding truck parked outside your facility.  It is fast becoming the default preference for reasons of transparency. For security reasons it is recommended that an employee supervises this process and witnesses the destruction activity.  Mobile hard drive shredders can shred several hundred tapes/drives per hour. Hard drives are fed directly into the shredder where they pass through shredding blades and are shredded into small shredded particles. There is no possibility that information can be retrieved from a shredded computer hard drive or tape. The shredded particles must be disposed of in an environmentally appropriate manner. On site hard drive shredding leaves no doubt that all data has been destroyed and includes the disposal of the shredded material.  The primary reason on site shredding is not commonly used is economic but the cost of onsite hard drive shredding has come down significantly in recent years and is now increasingly common.  

               Degaussing: From This                                       To This.

                                                     No Noticeable Difference.

Degaussing: What it does and how it works;

Degaussing machines are small magnetic devises. The process of degaussing a drive/tape takes roughly 1-2 minutes. Insist that the degaussing process is performed within your facility and thus your control.  It is hugely important that degaussed hard drives are tagged as “processed” because a degaussed hard drive looks exactly the same as a non degaussed hard drive.  There is no simple or inexpensive way to test the efficacy of the degaussing process other than regularly testing. It is generally accepted that degaussing is effective provided that each drive/tape is processed properly and tested afterward. The main concern is that a tape could slip through without being processed which is the primary reason why degaussing is falling out of favor.

Watch our Hard Drive Shredding video HERE.

An Interesting Year

Best Foot Forward

After 25 years in business, these last few years have been difficult but hopefully the country has turned a corner and we are back to growing the economy and our businesses.

This last year the Cyclone Group have been working towards the recovery, redeveloping existing websites, creating new related businesses and investing in our online presence using social media, the  web as well as Google Adwords for PPC and Video Advertising.

Read more

25 Years in Business

The story so far.

25 years ago three people decided that Dublin couldn't survive any longer without a cycle courier company. Cyclone was conceived and lived it’s early years in a back lane off Lower Mount Street which at the time was the hub for most of the companies associated with Advertising, Marketing and PR. It was 1988 and the founders hadn’t realised that they were starting a fledgling business in a recession. But it was just 3 people on bicycles eking out a living.

(Very) Fast forward to 2013 and a vastly different Cyclone looks back and wonders what happened to the intervening 25 years. Cyclone has grown up a lot and even matured (a little). Cyclone still deals with many of those clients who helped Cyclone grow during it’s fledgling years. Fortunately, positive demands from clients have subsequently led to the setting up of four divisions – Cyclone International, Cyclone Archive and Cyclone Shredding. 

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8 Tips to help you improve your company’s document security

 8 Tips to help you improve your company’s document security.

Cyclone Shredding are experts in document, information and product destruction services. We offer customers a certified information destruction service and guidance to all types of organisations to help ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act.

The following 8 tips are designed to help protect your organisation's data and information. This in turn should help protect your business reputation and avoid an unnecessary data security breach which are becoming increasing frequent and are very costly to businesses when they occur.

1.      Destroy data properly – Securely shred all confidential data. Arrange for a reputable contractor to securely destroy your business information. Onsite shredding is regarded as the most secure way to destroy confidential files.

2.     Check your shredding provider – What do you know about the company who you trust to shred your confidential files. Do they have a good reputation? Have they got a proven track record and is there evidence that there may be flaws in their processes? Did you search on-line for negative articles and news stories? You may be surprised who the cowboys are.

3.     Make sure you have an audit trail – Does your provider certify the Destruction of all shredding work carried out. Insisting on a Certificate of Destruction leaves you with a permanent record of the destruction taking place.

4.     Check identities & Paperwork – use credit reference agencies to verify the identity of your preferred suppliers and ask for a copy of their waste collection permit. A waste collection permit is essential for all companies offering confidential shredding services.

5.     Create a confidential data policy – if you don’t have one in place you are already in the high risk category for being a victim of data theft. 

6.     Store data securely in your offices – use lockable shredding containers and bins to store your confidential waste in when it's on your site. A large proportion of data theft is committed by employees.

7.     Train & Inform staff – train staff, and contractors such as cleaners, on how to deal with confidential data properly and monitor their behaviour. Remember, most fraud is committed by people who work within the organisation.

8.       Be weary of carrying large amounts of unnecessary confidential data – Purge outdated files at regular intervals. If documents no longer need to be stored they should be securely destroyed. Once destroyed they pose no risk to your organisation.

Follow us on twitter @cyclone_shred or call us if we can be of assistance. 1800 30 30 66.