Degaussing Hard Disk Drives - All You Need To Know

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Data in the disk is not permanently removed unless you intentionally remove yourself through overwriting, physical disk destruction, and degaussing.
When we create a file, the operating system just makes an index or directory of the data but, the file itself is hidden somewhere in the disk.
So when you delete a file and permanently remove it to your disk.
The operating system simply forgets the location of the disk to make way for new files.
So when you want your confidential data removed, overwrite, physically destroy, or degauss hard drives.
Degaussing is a process of reducing or eliminating unwanted magnetic field stored on the HDD.
Benefits of Hard disk Degaussing HDD degaussing is the preferred data destruction method by the US Department of Defense (D.
O.
D) and meets National Security Agency standards for removal of classified information.
Guaranteed removal of hard drive data.
No known method, can recover data from a degaussed hard disk drive.
Minimize security risk when storing classified or confidential data.
It also minimizes the amount of classified information am individual or company is accountable.
Can easily sanitize classified information and reduce the amount of procedures to store and manage classified information.
The HDD can safely be disposed on-site or off-site once it has undergone degaussing.
Meets HPA and GLB act requirements for device policies and procedures that relate to removal of hard disk and other storage media including: -Disposal -Media re-use -Accountability Advantage
  • Save money by erasing inoperable drives before you release it without voiding the original manufacturer warranty.
  • Save time by reducing the amount of labor and workforce to remove or destroy hard disks.
  • A guaranteed protection against Dumpster divers
  • Media loss during transport improper media destruction employee theft
Disadvantage
  • A hard disk containing servo tracks must not be degaussed since it can make the disk unusable.
    Disk with Servo tracks should be degaussed only when you want the media to be destroyed.
  • The magnetic strength of disk changes from time to time.
    Expect that a 2-year-old degausser will not work on today's drives.
  • HDD degaussers are very expensive and is not a recommended option for degaussing a single drive.
Common degaussing myths Formatting or permanently deleting files in a hard disk drive can safely remove all your data.
Only the preferred method in removing a hard drive data recommended by the US Department should be trusted like overwriting, physical destruction, and HDD degaussing.
All degaussers erase hard disk drives.
The magnetism of hard disk drives changes from time to time so expect that old degaussers won't work in modern drives.
To ensure complete erasure of the hard disk drive, the magnetic field strength must be two or three times the Coercivity of the hard disk.
Therefore, if the disk's magnetism is 2000 Oersted, the degausser must be 4000 Oersted.
Electromagnetic degaussers release a magnetic field that escapes the degausser.
Most low quality degaussers create a stray field of magnetic field.
Ensure that you are buying a degausser or using a hard disk destruction service from reputable companies.
Electromagnetic degaussers heat up hard drives.
Electromagnetic degaussers do not heat up drives.
When a magnetic media like a hard disk with enclosed aluminum are exposed to a degausser for longer periods of time, the temperature of the sdisk will rise.
This is a common occurrence for table top degaussers but most degaussers nowadays are made differently.
You just put the disk in the chute, wait for a few seconds, and the job is done.
Types of Degausser These are the common types of degausser.
Over time, there are new technologies being made but these basic degaussers are regarded as one of the most effective models.
Pulse Degausser.
A pulse degausser is a fast and efficient degausser which can degauss disks in a matter of seconds.
An effective tool to remove several hard disks but not recommended for a small number of disks because the degausser itself is very expensive.
Table Top Degausser.
A large disk degausser that lets you degauss drives by putting it in a platform of the tabletop degausser.
You will have to move the disk in counter-clockwise motion for a more effective degaussing procedure.
The tabletop requires a lot of work compared to pulse deguausser.
Permanent Degausser.
The permanent degausser uses rare earth magnet to degauss drives.
It does not require electricity to degauss hard disk drives.
These are an ineffective method to destroy data in hard disk drives.
Conclusion Hard disk degaussing is a one hundred percent procedure in securely erasing files in the hard disk drive.
Although the device is a bit expensive, a degaussing service can compensate for it.
Ensure you get the most trusted degaussing service by asking first, what kind of degausser they have and how strong it is.
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