Close the Gap insists on the importance of a qualitative data wipe for reused computers
Posted on 13/01/2012
On 12/01/2012, the Flemish television broadcasted a news item in the documentary “Koppen” where the secondhand computer market was pointed because of the potential lack of professionalism in the data wipe procedures. The journalists demonstrated how easily old data can be found or recovered in computers, even after so called ‘formatting’. They concluded that individuals and enterprises should be careful when making their used computer equipment available for re-sale, donations, or in the latter case final recycling.
Close the Gap takes notice of this TV broadcast and understands how important the data erasure process is for people/enterprises willing to give a second life to their computers. For this reason, once the IT equipment is collected, the refurbishing process starts, including a strict and externally audited data wipe procedure. To ensure this qualitative data wipe, Close the Gap’s logistical partner in the different logistic hubs (Antwerp, Utrecht, Paris and Berlin) makes the equipment collected from Western companies ready for reuse. This process starts with the data wiping of all components which include data (hard disk, SIM cards, RAM memory,…). For all involved hard drive disks, all data is erased on a non-recovery modus. In order to guarantee a professional and reliable data wipe, we use the Blancco certified data wiping process. This data removal process complies with the strictest requirements of NATO and the U.S. Ministry of Defence. A Blancco data wipe certificate is always reported to the donors, and this on a serial number level for each IT hardware asset. That way, we guarantee that all personal and/or other confidential files have been erased. In case a hard disk would be technically damaged, the data wipe via Blancco can’t take place. The hard drives are then physically destroyed by a special purpose shredder for hard disks.
Close the Gap guarantees her donors that all data on the computers ready for reuse have completely been erased on a permanent non-recovery basis.
Close the Gap takes notice of this TV broadcast and understands how important the data erasure process is for people/enterprises willing to give a second life to their computers. For this reason, once the IT equipment is collected, the refurbishing process starts, including a strict and externally audited data wipe procedure. To ensure this qualitative data wipe, Close the Gap’s logistical partner in the different logistic hubs (Antwerp, Utrecht, Paris and Berlin) makes the equipment collected from Western companies ready for reuse. This process starts with the data wiping of all components which include data (hard disk, SIM cards, RAM memory,…). For all involved hard drive disks, all data is erased on a non-recovery modus. In order to guarantee a professional and reliable data wipe, we use the Blancco certified data wiping process. This data removal process complies with the strictest requirements of NATO and the U.S. Ministry of Defence. A Blancco data wipe certificate is always reported to the donors, and this on a serial number level for each IT hardware asset. That way, we guarantee that all personal and/or other confidential files have been erased. In case a hard disk would be technically damaged, the data wipe via Blancco can’t take place. The hard drives are then physically destroyed by a special purpose shredder for hard disks.
Close the Gap guarantees her donors that all data on the computers ready for reuse have completely been erased on a permanent non-recovery basis.
