In a world where digital data is everywhere, proper media destruction is critical to protecting your personal, business, and client information. What is media destruction? It is the complete and secure elimination of data from digital and electronic storage devices. If you have a computer in your home or office, you will need media destruction at some point. At CI Information Management, we are your trusted, local source of media shredding services. Let us share with you the importance of media destruction, what needs to be destroyed, whether you need it, and how to get started!
Why Media Destruction Is Important in the Digital Age
In today’s digital age, simply deleting files isn’t enough. Data can still be recovered, even after it has been “trashed.” With small businesses, in particular, being vulnerable to cyber threats due to improper media disposal, the risk of expensive and damaging data breaches is simply not worth the money you would “save” by tossing your old media in the trash. Just think of how much damage could occur if a single client’s credit card information were stolen…let alone all of your customers’ information!
Suppose you are a small to medium-sized business that collects client information or is a part of an industry that needs to comply with HIPAA, FACTA, GLBA, and SOX regulations. In that case, you need proper media destruction services. Here are a few examples of various industries within this framework:
- Healthcare
- Finance and accounting
- Insurance
- Real estate
- Legal services
- Government agencies
What Types of Media Need to Be Destroyed?
Digital data exists on more than just computers these days; it is everywhere. The devices you have in your office, home office, or even sitting in a storage room hold more comprising data than you would likely ever realize. There is a wide range of devices that require proper destruction, including:
- Optical media – CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays
- Zip disks – 100 MB, 250 MB, and larger
- Magnetic backup tapes – including DLTs and mini cartridges
- Floppy disks – 3.5” and 5.25”
- Hard drives
- USB drives
- SD cards
What Does Secure Media Destruction Involve?
When working with data of any kind, deleting, reformatting, overwriting, or “erasing” is a good start, but it is not enough. Savvy hackers can easily retrieve that information. Therefore, the only way to 100% securely destroy data is with the physical destruction of the device.
At CI Information Management, our media destruction equipment physically destroys hard drives by bending, breaking, and mangling the hard drive and its internal components beyond the point of repair. There is zero chance these items could ever be put back together again. Then, we personally check the device to make sure it is ready for disposal.
Benefits of Using CI Information Management for Media Destruction
As a NAID AAA Certified destruction provider, our trained, background-checked, bonded, and insured employees follow a strict chain of custody during the entire destruction process. We guarantee that your media devices will be securely managed until they reach our crushing machines.
Then, each destruction operation is accompanied by a Certificate of Destruction, ensuring compliance with state and federal privacy laws such as HIPAA, FACTA, SOX, and GLB.
By partnering with us, you gain access to a media destruction solution that meets the shredding industry’s highest ethical and security standards. Additionally, at CI Information Management, we collaborate with our customers to tailor our services to meet their unique needs. Whether they need to dispose of a single computer or a full office worth of data hardware, we will work with them to guarantee their data is securely taken care of.
How to Get Started with Your Media Destruction?
If you are ready to get rid of old data devices securely through proper media destruction, we at CI Information Management are here to guide you! The first step is to Request a Free Quote from us. By filling out our contact form with your information, preferred services, and location, we can provide you with a quote for your shredding service.
Next, you can decide whether you want on-site destruction services, where we come to you to perform the destruction, or if you would prefer to drop the items off at our shredding facility. Both methods result in the proper disposal of media and are accompanied by a Certificate of Destruction.
Then, all that’s left is to schedule your appointment and determine whether you want a one-time service, a purge, or routine visits. If you aren’t sure which option is best for you, our team will be happy to give you a recommendation based on the unique needs of your business. Don’t wait until you have a stockpile of old media devices; the risk isn’t worth it! Request a free quote today!
