Data Erasure
What is Data Erasure?
Data erasure, also referred to as data wiping, is the process of permanently deleting or destroying data stored electronically on a hard drive or other digital media. This is done to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access and ensure compliance with a variety of laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data erasure can be done either manually by overwriting the data multiple times, or by using software tools that are designed specifically for this purpose.
Why do we need to focus on Data Erasure?
Data erasure is a process of securely and permanently erasing data from an electronic device or storage medium. It is important to ensure that data is completely erased so it cannot be recovered and misused, as it can contain sensitive or confidential information. Data erasure is often used when an organization is disposing of an old computer, laptop, smartphone, server, or any other electronic device. Data erasure is also commonly used to protect companies from data theft, malicious attacks, and compliance violations.
Why data erasure is important?
Data erasure is important because it ensures that sensitive and confidential information that is no longer needed is erased from a device or system completely. Not only does this help protect the data from being stolen or compromised, it also helps businesses comply with privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data erasure also helps to reduce the risk of data breaches and keeps information secure.
Data erasure compliance?
Data erasure compliance is the process of securely deleting, or erasing, all data stored on a device or other digital medium so that it is no longer possible to recover the information. It is a critical part of data protection and privacy regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, as well as best practices for IT security. By properly erasing all data on a device, organizations can avoid potential fines and other penalties for data breaches or improper storage of sensitive information.
GDPR Regulations for Data Erasure?
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulates the erasure of personal data in the European Union (EU). The GDPR requires controllers to erase personal data if one of the following conditions is met:
- The personal data is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or otherwise processed;
- The data subject withdraws their consent;
- The data subject objects to the processing and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing;
- The personal data has been unlawfully processed;
- The personal data must be erased in order to comply with a legal obligation;
- The personal data was collected in relation to the offer of information society services to a child.
In addition, controllers must also inform any third parties to whom the data has been disclosed of the erasure and must take reasonable steps to inform those third parties to erase the data.
Data controllers must also take measures to ensure that personal data is not further processed in a manner incompatible with the GDPR regulations. They must also implement appropriate technical and organisational measures for the data subject's right to have their personal data erased in an effective manner.
Ways to automate Data Erasure?
- Wipe utility software: Wipe utility software can be used to quickly and automatically erase data from a computer or other type of data storage device.
- Encrypt-and-delete: This method involves encrypting the data on the device using an encryption key, then deleting the encrypted data.
- Data destruction hardware: Data destruction hardware is designed to physically destroy data storage devices, rendering them unusable and preventing any further access to the stored information.
- Destroy hard drives: Hard drives can be physically destroyed by shredding or degaussing them, making it impossible for anyone to access any of the stored information.
- Remote wiping: Remote wiping is a process where a system administrator can remotely initiate a secure deletion of all data stored on a computer or other device.
- Automated data deletion: Automated data deletion is a process where data is automatically deleted from a system after a predetermined period of time. This can be used to ensure that data isn’t stored for longer than necessary.