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When the delete key simply won’t do…
Have you absorbed some of the internet myths about how to destroy a hard drive? Depending on where you click, and most specifically if you click on ‘advice’ websites, you will be encouraged to give fire, saws, magnets, hammers and screwdrivers a go. And it’s true, these methods, with a bit of welly on your part, will break a hard drive so you can’t use it again.
Don’t believe the hype!
This might suit the hard drive from that old PC you used as a gaming machine 25 years ago, but it won’t cut the mustard with your company’s redundant IT assets. While you might not be able to use a burnt, sawn, magnetised, hammered or scratched hard drive, data and identity thieves and blackmailers certainly do have the technology and with it they can access what should be protected personal and business information. Blackmail and reputational damage don’t sound like much fun as the outcomes of failing to dispose of a hard drive correctly (through methods such as secure hard drive shredding), but they are a real and present danger.
Here’s what we recommend to avoid that danger:
Do tackle your hard drive stockpile.
Think of the valuable space a stockpile occupies in both your office environment and in your consciousness, weighing on your peace of mind.
Do give priority to compliance.
Part of a complete management cycle, complying with data protection regulations means you are protecting your customers, your colleagues and your company. Simply pressing the delete button, after following some instructions you found online, is not enough to erase data fully from a hard drive. Take the weight off your mind by placing your business’ data security at the top of your list.
Do use secure data destruction professionals.
Restore Datashred’s certified professionals utilise industrial-grade shredders that reduce your hard drive to unrecognisable particles, rendering any data recovery efforts utterly futile. This ensures the highest level of security for your sensitive information, giving you peace of mind and exceeding even the most stringent data protection regulations.
Secure destruction professionals, like Restore Datashred, will destroy hard drives using methods based on your needs, ranging from data sensitivity to statutory compliance and environmental factors and, for most of our customers, needs that encompass all three.
If your organisation handles extra-sensitive information, we will use data wiping software that overwrites all information on the disc with zeros and ones to securely clean hard drives that are earmarked for potential refurbishment and re-sale, or shredding – as you need.
If you are looking for a compliant end of life for your assets, we will use a method called degaussing to randomly change the magnetic fields on each disc. We then send that de-magnetised unit to the shredder. Jumbled data and 4mm shreds are not worth any bad actor’s effort to try to reclaim sensitive information and, along with an unbroken chain of custody and certificate of destruction, offer you a double indemnity over simply destroying a unit.
You want compliance and security with a guaranteed environmental benefit? Restore Datashred is committed to sending none of the materials we shred to landfill and thus we play a significant role in the recycling industry, sending thousands of tonnes of securely decommissioned and shredded plastics for recycling and re-use every year, with all the sustainable benefits that brings.
So, the best way to destroy a hard drive?
Is to use a professional secure, hard drive shredding service from Restore Datashred, of course! We place our teams of vetted secure collection operatives, our GPS-tracked vehicles, CCTV-monitored and password-protocoled facilities, chain of custody audit software, certificates of destruction and years of experience at your service. We earn your trust with our customer service excellence and are backed and supported by all the accreditations and memberships that we have worked hard to achieve and maintain.
Restore Datashred’s secure hard drive destruction process
What is hard drive shredding?
It sounds impossible to shred a hard drive, doesn’t it? Well, we simply mean destroying it beyond any form of use. Plus, it sounds cool. At Restore Datashred, we understand shredding hard drives and the importance of thoroughly destroying retired hard drives to prevent any possibility of data recovery. So, here are the key options we offer:
Hard drive shredding: The physical destruction of hard drives into tiny, irretrievable fragments using our powerful industrial shredders.
On-site shredding: We bring our mobile shredding vehicle directly to your location, offering immediate and visible destruction of your assets.
Off-site shredding: We securely collect your hard drives and transport them to our fortified shredding facility for processing under strict security protocols.
How do you shred a hard drive? A step-by-step process
1. Initial contact and service arrangement
One of our experienced representatives will walk you through a short needs assessment, where we gather details such as:
- The quantity of hard drives that require destruction
- Your preferred service type (on-site or off-site)
- Any compliance or security specifications
- Your business location
Based on the details shared, we’ll provide a tailored quote and arrange a convenient date and time for the service. Whether we’re arriving for on-site shredding or scheduling a collection for off-site processing, we’ll make the process seamless.
For larger volumes or ongoing needs, we may propose a formal service agreement that outlines scope, pricing and terms. This agreement is signed before commencing any services for added transparency and clarity.
2. On-site hard drive shredding process
You prepare the hard drives ahead of our visit, placing them in a secure, designated area or a collection receptacle ready for transfer.
At the agreed time, our GPS-tracked mobile shredding unit arrives. Our uniformed and security-vetted SCOs will introduce themselves on arrival.
The hard drives are securely transferred by our team from your premises to the shredding truck. If desired, you are welcome to witness this handover for extra peace of mind.
We encourage you or an authorised representative to observe the shredding from a safe distance. It’s an added layer of confidence as your drives are rendered into unrecognisable metal fragments.
Using our powerful shredder, we destroy the drives beyond recovery. Multiple shredding grades are available depending on your data sensitivity requirements – just ask.
The shredded material is collected and stored securely before being transported for responsible recycling.
We issue a Certificate of Destruction, including the date, method of destruction and confirmation of compliance. This is a key document for your audit trail and records management.
Our team departs with the destroyed material, transporting it securely to our operations centre for final processing.
3. Off-site hard drive shredding process
Before collection, we recommend compiling a list of serial numbers and preparing the drives in a secure area.
Our SCOs arrive on time with lockable, tamper-evident containers.
Your hard drives are placed inside the secure containers, which are then sealed in your presence and loaded onto our secure vehicle. A chain of custody is established at this stage.
Your drives are transported to our secure operations centre. Our facilities are equipped with access control, round-the-clock surveillance, and trained personnel to maintain security.
If immediate shredding isn’t scheduled, your drives remain sealed in our secure holding area until destruction.
Just like our on-site process, drives are shredded in high-powered industrial machines to guarantee irretrievable destruction.
You receive a comprehensive Certificate of Destruction with details such as collection date, destruction date, method and confirmation of secure disposal.
If requested, we’ll provide a documented audit trail from collection to destruction, giving you full transparency and reassurance.
Key considerations for all services
Security: All personnel are subject to background checking and trained to handle data securely.
Compliance: Our processes align with all relevant UK data protection laws including GDPR.
Environmental care: All shredded materials are sent for sustainable recycling.
Audit-ready documentation – Every service includes certification to support your compliance and governance frameworks.
Restore Datashred delivers destruction services that you can trust, with secure handling at every stage, reliable reporting, and a commitment to protecting both your data and the planet.
To reach out about our market-leading shredding and data destruction services, request a free quote today and a dedicated member of our team will be in touch!
Getting in touch with one of our friendly, knowledgeable customer service team on 0333 060 0187.
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