Global Computer Specialists Recycling Utilizes state of the art equipment for their data destruction and eradication services. When an individual or company makes the decision to upgrade their computer network, the older equipment is often restructured to work in another area of the business, sold on the secondary PC market, donated to charity or otherwise destroyed. In any of these scenarios, it is of the utmost importance that the existing data residing on the hard drives of the computers are effectively erased (sanitized).

Data  is the process of deliberately, permanently, irreversibly removing or destroying the data stored on a memory device. A device that has been sanitized has no usable residual data. Sanitization processes include using a software utility that completely erases the data, a separate hardware device that connects to the device being sanitized and erases the data, and/or a mechanism that physically destroys the device so its data cannot be recovered.

The data destruction industry adheres to two specific sets of standards – D.O.D 5220.22-M and NIST publication 800-88. Both of which Global Computer Specialists Recycling utilizes for our minimum requirements for our data destruction policy.

D.O.D 5220.22-M:

The Department of Defense Standard 5220.22-M, Section 5, Subsection 8.5.3 states that to effectively overwrite the data on recordable media, each section of the disk must be overwritten three times, or what’s known as three passes. On the first pass, the data in each sector is replaced with a character. On the second pass, the character is replaced with its complement. And, on the third and final pass, the sector is filled with a random character. In addition, items which have been cleared must remain at the original level of classification and in a secure, controlled environment. It is important to note that 5220.22-M DOES NOT recommend the three pass system for sanitization of “top-secret’ information. In this instance or upon the customer/vendor’s request, Global Computer Specialists uses physical destruction methods to permanently destroy the media and/or data.

For disks sanitization to fall under the D.O.D standards, the information on the disk must be removed through a two-step process in which the three pass procedure is completed first, and then followed by the physical destruction.

The PD-4 Mobile Hard Drive Physical Destroyer automatically destroys all formats and sizes of hard drives in order to ensure the information contained on the hard drive is no longer accessible. It bends, breaks and mangles the hard drive and completely breaks, bends, mangles, and destroys the data platter(s) upon which data is stored. The machine destroys multiple hard drives with each pass, and this complete physical destruction easily identifies EVERY drive which has been destroyed and designated for disposal.

The PD-4 Mobile Hard Drive Physical Destroyer meets compliance standards for mandates requiring destruction of hard drives containing private and confidential information before hard drive disposal.

The PD-4 meets NIST, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, Department of Defense Standard 5220.22-M and GLBA compliance and guidelines requiring destruction of data.

Easily Transportable

The PD-4 Mobile Hard Drive Physical Destroyer is designed to physically destroy hard drives in order to prevent persons from being able to “spin” the hard drive up to retrieve data. It automatically bends, breaks and mangles the hard drive. Once destroyed, the data will no longer be retrievable.

Height Detection System Introduced

The new PD-4 Destroyer has been designed with an automatic height detection system. This permits the operator to save precious time when destroying today’s low profile or 1 inch hard drives, laptop hard drives, or multiple hard drives in a single sequence. Automatic sensors also will allow the operator to destroy taller half-height and network drives up to 2 inches in height with no additional user instructions. It only takes 20 seconds for the first drive to be destroyed (10 seconds for crushing the drive and 10 seconds to complete the cycle), and this completely satisfies the Emergency Destruction guidelines of NSA.

Handles a Variety of Media Formats

The PD-4 Hard Drive Physical Destroyer will automatically destroy all formats and sizes of hard drives including Network, SCSI, SAS, Servo, SATA and IDE drives up to 2 inches in height. The PD-4 doesn’t rely on software, so it will destroy all working and non-working hard drives in a matter of seconds. New security and privacy mandates now require complete erasure and/or destruction of hard drives containing private and confidential information prior to disposal.

Features

NIST Publication 800-88:

NIST describes disc sanitization as “the removal of data from storage media so that, for all practical purposes, the data cannot be retrieved. Currently, there are three primary methods for data sanitation: a) overwriting, b) degaussing and c) physical disc destruction.

a. Overwriting – overwriting consists of using software to write (1s, 0s and/or a combination of both) onto the media where the file to be sanitized is located. The number of times this is performed is relative to the sensitivity of the information being sanitized.

b. Degaussing – there are two types of degaussing machines that exist today, electric and strong magnet. Global Computer Specialists Utilizes a strong magnet type of Degaussser.

The Image MASSter 4000 PRO

WipeOut-DoD

The WipeOut DoD Operational mode provides a method of sanitizing a drive that meets the U.S. Department of Defense specification DOD 5220-22M for sanitizing drives. Using ordinary “DELETE” and “ERASE” commands, data on a hard drive remains accessible to a variety of intrusive procedures. The WipeOut DoD erasure technique provides a solution to this problem using a series of null-coded overwrites that completely removes all data from the hard drive. The process is performed in three iterations and two individual passes that completely over writes the drive connected to the internal drive position. Each iteration makes two write-passes over the entire drive. The first pass writes ONEs (Hex 0xFF) over the entire drive surface. The second pass writes ZEROes (Hex 0×00) over the entire drive surface. After the third iteration, a seventh pass writes the government designated code “246” (Hex 0xF6) across the entire drive surface, which is then followed by an eighth pass that inspects the drive with a Read-Verify review.

The WipeOut-Secure Erase option uses the drive’s own built-in firmware ”Secure Erase” function to erase data. The WipeOut-Secure Erase option offers two modes which are automatically selected if the drive supports the modes. Normal Erase and Enhanced Erase. Normal Erase will erase drives using the 0×00 pattern. The Enhanced Erase mode will erase drives with a predetermined pattern and will clear Relocation List Sectors.

Not all drives provide support for the Secure Erase command. Secure erase is recognized by NIST 800-88 as an effective and secure way to meet legal data sanitization requirements.

Global Computer Specialists utilizes the Degauss/ Destroy method of data destruction. Our TS-1 Degausser which is (NSA Approved) and our PD-4 Hard Drive Destroyer, which is (NSA, NIST, DOD, HIPPA Approved)

NSA AND DOD APPROVED DEGAUSSER; COMPLIES WITH NSA/DOD/CSS REQUIREMENTS FOR DESTROYING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION ON MAGNETIC MEDIA

Listed on NSA Approved Degausser Product List NSA EPL-9-12A-E Dated June 30, 2011. Certified to erase hard disk drives up to 5,000 Oersted and magnetic tape up to 2800 Oersted

It is the only degausser independently tested by a professional third party certified testing organization to meet stringent CE Government Standards.
The TS-1 DOD/NSA/CSS Approved Degausser is a ground-breaking design that takes proven solid degausser design, enhances the degaussing power, and delivers it in a new, concentrated, and streamlined ultra-portable package. In addition, a built-in calibration and redundant check system included with every system guarantees that each degauss cycle delivers the same constant power. There is no need for a separate instrument to check the power of the magnetic field. This sophisticated new design completely eliminates past requirements to continuously check equipment to see if degaussing continues to meet NSA standards.

Most NSA evaluated high security degaussers are tied to a single permanent structure because of their size, weight, or calibration requirements. Garner has perfected the portability of the TS-1 by adding retractable handles underneath each side for easy lifting. The new TS-1 degausser has received NSA approval and complies with all DoD requirements for destroying classified information on all magnetic media.

The TS-1 is the newest and most innovative product available. With two Tesla of power, the TS-1 erases the highest coercivity magnetic media available today–5000 Oe hard disk drives (laptop, desktop, and network up to 1″ high) and all magnetic tape cartridges up to 2800 Oe–including all formats of LTO (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5), SuperDLT I & II, AIT, and the 9940 and 3590 series, without requiring any additional adapters. With a continuous duty rating (no cooling breaks necessary), quiet operation and a 45 second cycle time, the TS-1 offers a fast, cost effective, reliable solution.

Features

The TS-1 Degausser will erase all hard drive and tape formats, including hard disk drives up to 5,000 Oe (laptop, desktop, and network up to one inch high), and all tape cartridge media up to 2800 Oe (LTO 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, SuperDLT I & II, AIT, 3590 series, and all other extremely high oersted media. No special adapters are ever required.

Government Mandate Compliance

The TS-1 NSA Evaluated Hard Drive & Tape Degausser exceeds data destruction requirements specified in NSA/CSS specifications and in legislative mandates (PCI DSS, NIST, HIPAA, GLBA, PIPEDA, etc.) by destroying data on hard disk drives and magnetic tape cartridges. This new degausser has received NSA approval and complies with DoD requirements for destroying classified information on magnetic media. The TS-1 Degausser meets compliance standards for the following government mandates that require complete elimination of sensitive information stored on magnetic media prior to re-use or disposal:

GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)
PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry) Data Security Standard
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Guidelines for Media Sanitization, including NIST 800-36, NIST SP 800-88
HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act)
PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act)