IT destruction terms and definitions

hard disk next to ssd disk (solid state drive) blue technological background

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New to the idea of IT device destruction? We understand. Below we’ve provided the definitions to a handful of the more common industry terms, so you know what you’re dealing with.

Sanitization: The process that renders access to target data on the media infeasible for a given level of effort, rendering it indecipherable and non-negotiable in a professional manner.

Magnetic media: A method of storing media that uses different patterns of magnetization to store data and is a form of non-volatile memory. Also known as IT or mixed media.

*Limited to CDs, DVD Diskettes, LTO/Ultrium tapes, 9840/9940 data tapes, 3480/3490 data tapes, 3590/3570 data tapes, Travan data tapes, 8/4mm or DDS data tapes and optical platters, unless otherwise agreed to in writing and approved by Shred Right.

Disk Drive (HDD): A data storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information using rapidly rotating discs (platters) coated with magnetic material and commonly used as a computer main data storage device. Also known as a hard drive.

Solid-State Drive (SSD): A data storage device that uses integrated flash-based circuit assembly. These contain no actual “disk” and are also known as solid-state or electronic disks.

Microfilm: Film bearing a miniature photographic copy of printed or other graphic material, usually of a document, newspaper, book pages etc. made for a library, archive or the like. Also known as Microfiche.

Flash Media: Any data repository or storage system that uses flash memory. The size and complexity of such systems range from portable USB drives and memory cards to enterprise-class array-based memory systems.

Project Inventory: A documented list of volser number (for data tapes) or serial numbers (for hard drives) relating to the destruction. It provides a detailed record of each item being destroyed and links them directly to a certificate of destruction.

Shred Right was the first shredding company in Minnesota to take on large scale hard drives destruction projects, making us an expert. Contact us when you’re ready to safely and securely dispose of IT material containing sensitive information.