If you’re not familiar with a certificate of destruction, you’re not alone. Many people don’t need to know what one is until they’re ready to get rid of old cell phones, laptops, and other electronics that contain sensitive data.
Hard drives contain a ton of private information that most folks want to keep private.
Hard drives are also common electronic devices that people want destroyed securely. Much like cell phones and computers, hard drives contain a ton of private information that most folks want to keep private. For that peace of mind, certificates of destruction can help. Let’s dive into what hard drive certificates of destruction are, why they’re important, and how to find an electronics destruction provider who offers them.
What Is a Certificate of Destruction?
A certificate of destruction is an official statement summarizing the details of your electronics destruction project. Be it for hard drives or other electronics, this certificate is issued by your service provider when your destruction project is complete. The document serves as verification of proper destruction in compliance with data privacy laws and regulations.
There are many rules and regulations governing data destruction.
When you trust a company to handle your hard drive destruction project, it is important to know the process will be documented and reported to you. Be sure you are using a certified company that offers a detailed certificate of destruction with every job.
What Does a Certificate of Destruction Include?
For legal compliance and effective record-keeping, a certificate of destruction should contain the following information, regardless if it pertains to hard drives, laptops, cell phones, or other devices.
- Transfer of custody showing when and where the client turned over materials for destruction
- Confirmation from the destruction company accepting the materials and agreeing they are private and confidential
- A reference to terms and conditions for the client and the company
- A time and date stamp for collection and destruction
- The location of destruction
- Witnesses of the destruction process
- Chain of custody details
- Serialized transaction number
Based on laws and regulations for your industry, the requirements for documentation may vary. Talk with your chosen provider about the details they include to ensure you are covered.
How Do Certificates of Destruction Support Compliance?
Hard drive destruction should be completed via methods that are in compliance with all relevant data privacy laws. Your certificate of destruction will help your business maintain legal compliance and be prepared in the event of an audit.
There are many rules and regulations governing data destruction. These laws secure your private information by preventing companies from throwing away accessible information. Verify that your destruction provider complies with the following laws:
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)
- Fair and Accurate Transactions Act (FACTA)
- Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
- Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002
- Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)
Most states have additional data privacy laws regulating data disposal. It’s important to know what laws are relevant to where you reside or where your company does business. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) maintains a list of laws that you can use to verify which are applicable to you.
Data privacy laws exist to protect your private information from being misused. Hard drive destruction mitigates the risks of your data being stolen or leaked to protect you and your business reputation. The certificate of destruction is an additional layer in the protection provided with hard drive destruction services.
Data privacy laws exist to protect your private information from being misused.
A certificate of destruction will prove that you went through the proper channels to dispose of your data and protect yourself in the event of an audit or legal action.
Certified Hard Drive Destruction With ShredTronics
ShredTronics partners with certified and reliable hard drive destruction providers throughout the United States. Our providers offer certified data destruction for hard drives and other devices, along with data center decommissioning and disposal, IT asset disposition (ITAD), and corporate e-waste and IT asset recycling. If you’re looking for IT asset value recovery and remarketing, we can also help you recover as much value from your electronics as possible.
Contact us by calling (844) 648-4908 to learn more about our providers and secure hard drive destruction. Whether you’re in Pittsburgh or Phoenix, we will connect you with local providers and send you free quotes on services within minutes.
