Storage Device Types

SLS can catalog and destroy backup tape libraries and jukeboxes. Tapes can be degaussed or shredded, depending on client requirements.

Desktop Computer Hard Drives – Laptop Hard Drives – Zip Disks – Floppy Disks

Clients will typically elect to destroy any magnetic hard drives more than 4 years old. For newer hard drives, SLS offers on-site and off-site erasure, crushing, degaussing and shredding solutions.

External Hard Drives – USB Thumb Drives – Laptop Solid-State Hard Drives (SSD)

Thumb drives and external hard drives are common solid-state drives (SSD) used to store and transfer data. Solid-state drives are commonly used in desktop and laptop computers. These drives look similar to magnetic hard drives, but require specialized processing to ensure complete digital data destruction. If the data on SSDs are not properly destroyed, these drives can represent a potential security risk and introduce the threat of a data breach. For this reason, it is important to work with a service provider who has expertise and the specialized equipment to properly identify and destroy these devices.

SLS offers proven data erasure and data destruction options for solid state hard drives.  Data erasure allows for reuse of the drives, while shredding of solid state drives offers a proven solution when clients do not want solid state drives reused or resold.

Whether storage arrays and SANs are leased or owned, data on this equipment need to be destroyed. Like other data bearing devices, most companies are opting to destroy data on storage arrays and SANs while equipment is still within their custody.

Return to Lessor or Manufacturer – Returning leased equipment to lessors with live data presents security risks during transport. SLS offers on-site data erasure where multiple drives can be erased at the same time.  This service allows for efficient data wiping of SANs and allows companies to return leased equipment, data-free, eliminating any data security risks.

Prepare Equipment for Resale – If SANs and storage arrays are owned instead of leased, data erasure at your facility prepares the equipment to be reused or sold, with no data security risks.

Destroy Storage Media to Ensure Data Security – Destruction of storage media can be done at your location or at SLS processing facility.  Storage media destruction, through shredding, crushing or degaussing, is the fastest data destruction method, but eliminates any resell potential from the retired equipment.

Site Audit

The technology supporting networked storage continues to change and varies with each manufacturer.  SLS has broad experience and technical expertise in working with equipment from different manufacturers and companies who have a complex server environment.

SLS can perform a site audit which would include an equipment survey to identify your storage media infrastructure.  We can then develop a custom technical solution for effectively destroying data on all storage devices designated to be removed from your live environment.

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Cell Phones – Smartphones – Tablets

The convenience, size, and mobility of these devices make them a major threat to corporate data security protocols. The popularity, the availability and the data storage capacity of cell phones, smartphones and tablets increase potential data risks. Unlike servers and computers whose contents are subject to strict security policies, retired or broken mobile devices are often neglected, which leaves their valuable information at risk.

SLS offers a completely secure and environmentally responsible solution for mitigating the security and environmental risks associated with the improper disposal of these devices. Shredding provides organizations with an additional measure of confidence that the information stored on these items is safely destroyed. Memory from mobile devices can be erased and reused or destroyed through shredding if reuse is not desired.

Copiers – Printers – Scanners – All-In-One Devices

Advanced office equipment, including printers, copiers, and scanners as well as mobile devices, such as cell phones, can be the source of unexpected digital data breaches. Very often these items are equipped with embedded hard drives and nonvolatile memory chips that retain data until that data is destroyed.

Ensure all data bearing assets are identified and tracked. Most IT professionals are aware of the data security risks posed by these devices. However, if these assets are managed by facilities management or accounting department staff, they may be unaware of these risks when disposing of equipment.