At least 40% of second-hand devices still have personally identifiable information on them. Pressing the delete button isn’t enough to get rid of addresses, usernames, passwords, and more.
These personal details create a risk of cybercrime. It earns $6 trillion every year and would have the world’s 3rd largest economy behind China and the US if it were a country.
Protecting sensitive information from cybercriminals is essential for the health of your business and the privacy of your customers. Read on to learn how data erasure removes it forever and how it can keep your data safe.
What is Data Erasure?
Data erasure turns your data into an unreadable, inaccessible format that cybercriminals can’t use. There are 2 common ways to do it, and deciding between them depends on what type of information you want to protect.
Secure overwrites encrypt your data by covering it with a mix of 1s, 0s, and senseless characters. It passes over the data 3-7 times, depending on how sensitive it is. It’s affordable and doesn’t destroy the original storage media.
Degaussing scrambles the magnetic fields on hard disks. It destroys the data and the storage media and is best for highly sensitive data.
What Happens Without Data Erasure?
Following data security laws is a serious issue. The GDPR or General Data Protection Regulations regulate data protection in the European Union. Violations come with fines of €20 million or 4% of a business’s revenue.
HIPAA in the US regulates the protection of healthcare data. Any disclosure of personal information, willful or not, is against the law. Penalties range from $100-$50,000 for each violation and come with fines of $50 million or 1-10 years in jail.
Failing to protect customer data causes them to lose confidence in your company, and they may never return. Half of all cyberattacks affect small-to-midsized businesses, and 60% of them go out of business within 6 months.
What Are the Benefits of Data Erasure Services?
Enacting a data erasure policy is one of the best ways to protect your business. It should include steps like secure passwords, monitoring every data request, and penalties for in-house leaks. Doing this on your own is difficult, so you’ll need to hire a professional like Certus Enterprise.
They have high-quality data erasure software and tools. They know how to use them in a way that’s affordable and eco-friendly. They can remove sensitive data from anywhere it may appear, including servers, external hard drives, desktops, smartphones, and laptops. They’ll also help you follow data privacy laws and provide a data destruction certificate.
How Can I Get My Data Erased?
Internet users create staggering amounts of data every day, and businesses have some of the most sensitive information of all. Putting your customer’s identifying details into a device’s recycling bin isn’t enough to get rid of it and protect it from hackers.
Data erasure is a more permanent and effective solution. It keeps sensitive information safe from hackers, protects your business from legal penalties, and maintains its positive reputation. Hiring a professional ensures it’s affordable, eco-friendly, and permanent.
Read the rest of our content for more tips on protecting your business data.
