In the IT world, there is growing pressure on teams to cut costs and move faster across all aspects, which is why DIY data wiping is often a solution for many of these teams. However, DIY data wiping comes with an immense amount of hidden risks and long-term consequences. Organizations usually overlook how these decisions can affect their business over the long term. It’s essential to understand the risks of DIY data wiping and the alternatives, including engaging an ITAD provider to handle these services for you.
What is DIY Data Wiping?
Data wiping is an essential part of IT disposal, but DIY data wiping occurs when you handle it in-house rather than using a professional. Common DIY data-wiping methods include software-based wipes, manual resets, factory restores, and basic overwriting. Organizations choose a DIY approach over hiring a professional, such as an ITAD company, due to budget constraints, time pressures, and the limited understanding of the associated risks. Although data wiping is essential, it’s not worth the risks of DIY; it’s better to hire a professional to handle it.
In this case, most organizations will use methods such as a reset or factory restore and assume the data is no longer accessible, but this isn’t the case. “Deleted” does not mean “destroyed,” and therefore, the data can be recovered by those who know how to access it. IT Teams have misconceptions about this that can lead to data leaks and unprotected devices falling into the wrong hands, causing long-term damage to the company and its reputation.
Risks Associated with DIY Data Wiping
There are multiple risks associated with DIY data wiping that IT teams often don’t understand or overlook. These risks can lead to long-term issues within the company and reputational damage if the company experiences data leaks.
Data Recovery Risks
The most significant potential risk of DIY data wiping is that data may remain on the device, as the data was only deleted rather than destroyed. Data can still be recovered after improper wiping by those with the right tools, which can lead to data breaches and sensitive information falling into the wrong hands. In fact, SSDs, HDDs, and hybrid drives can be more difficult to erase, making them more susceptible to data breaches after improper data wiping.
Compliance Risks and Failures
As an IT company, there are many compliance and regulatory standards that you must meet, particularly when it comes to the ITAD portion of your business. HIPAA, NIST 800-88, and GDPR are a few of the standards that need to be met and maintained by an IT company. There are consequences for companies that don’t meet compliance requirements, including fines, shutdowns, and legal action. It’s also difficult to track data destruction for audits without a professional ITAD provider if you rely on in-house data wiping. This can make it increasingly difficult to prove compliance and ensure that every step of the process is accounted for during audits.
No Chain of Custody
Typically, with ITAD companies, the chain of custody is documented to show what happened to the device at every step of the process. This is important for auditing and demonstrating that devices are being appropriately wiped; however, DIY data wiping can lead to internal handling without tracking the device’s location or status. Again, this can lead to numerous compliance, legal, and liability concerns if sensitive data falls into the wrong hands.
Human Error
Human error is still a risk factor here, since those doing the data wiping are not professionals, which could lead to missed devices or drives, incomplete or rushed wiping processes, or other issues.
Why Should You Hire a Professional ITAD Service?
DIY data wiping might seem like a good idea at first, but it can pose significant risks to your company. Although organizations might think they are saving money by not hiring a professional ITAD company, this isn’t the case when considering the hidden costs of DIY data wiping. For example, there are high costs associated with data breaches, including potential fines, legal fees, and reputational damage, as well as internal labor used to complete the processes instead of outsourcing.
Professional ITAD services are more secure and offer a certified data destruction process that is properly documented for auditing purposes. They will also use industry-approved wiping and destruction methods to ensure that all data on the devices is completely destroyed, leaving no potential risks. Not only that, but ITAD services will grow with your company and be an asset to your business, regardless of how many devices you have or go through. ITAD services provide your organization with professional-grade data wiping, reduce-and-reuse standards, and documentation throughout the chain of custody, making it easy to prove during audits and stay in compliance with regulations.
Hire an ITAD Service Today and Avoid DIY Data Wiping Risks
If you are an IT company that hasn’t invested in a professional ITAD provider, it is time to consider what that integration might look like for your company. DIY data wiping can pose considerable risks to your business, employees, and reputation, making ITAD professionals a much better option. Data disposition is a security priority, and it’s a crucial part of any IT company, making it a nonnegotiable step in the process, but it must be done professionally. Contact us today to invest in an ITAD service to protect sensitive data even after it leaves your facility or is no longer in use, ensuring you eliminate risks that could negatively affect your business over the long term.
