7 Best Practices for Secure & Compliant Data Erasure

Every organization needs to erase data from devices. Yet, most don’t do it properly.

In compliance-driven industries, data must be wiped securely before devices are repurposed or disposed of. In India, regulatory bodies like RBI, SEBI, CERT-In, and MeitY mandate that organizations sanitize data properly and submit erasure certificates.

And even if compliance isn’t the concern, data erasure is a security necessity.

When should organizations wipe data?

Here are some real-world scenarios where secure data wiping is needed:

• Reissuing laptops or desktops to new employees

• Upgrading data center hardware

• Disposing of old servers or storage devices

• Clearing unused Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs)

• Deleting unused Virtual Machines (VMs)

• Securely decommissioning breached systems

The wrong ways to erase data

Many CISOs and IT teams still rely on outdated, ineffective methods like:

• Formatting / Factory Reset – Looks clean but doesn’t remove data permanently. Data can still be recovered.

• Degaussing – Demagnetizes hard drives but is ineffective for SSDs.

• Physical Destruction – Expensive, no reuse possible and still requires proof of destruction.

To ensure safe, compliant, and secure data wiping, follow these 7 essential practices

1/ Use software-based data erasure

The best method for secure data wiping is certified software-based erasure.

• Ensures data is permanently erased

• Compliant with industry standards (NIST, EAL2, GDPR, PCI-DSS, RBI, SEBI)

• Hardware destruction no compulsory if reuse is encouraged

• Generates audit-ready reports for compliance

• Even if disks need to be junked, working parts are segregated by agencies to reduce overall e-waste

2/ Choose an EAL2 & NIST-compliant solution

• EAL2 Certification – Ensures the erasure software is independently tested & validated.

• NIST 800-88 Compliance – The industry gold standard for secure data erasure.

• Indian Compliance Standards – RBI, SEBI, and IT Act guidelines mandate secure wiping with proof.

3/ Define a retention & erasure policy

• Create a checklist for when and how to erase data.

• Identify which data needs to be backed up before erasure.

• Set policies for retention periods before wiping.

4/ Maintain an inventory of assets that require data erasure

• Laptops, desktops, servers, storage devices, USBs, VMs - everything must be accounted for.

• Maintain a real-time dashboard tracking which devices have been wiped and which still contain data.

5/ Store & audit every erasure report

• Regulations require proof of data erasure.

• Store certificates for each device wipe for audits.

• Retain reports for a specified compliance period (as per industry mandates).

6/ Choose the right erasure method

• Single-pass wipe – Quick but may not meet strict compliance.

• Three-pass wipe – More secure; often required by regulations.

• Cryptographic erase – Recommended for SSDs and modern storage.

Choose a method based on security policies, compliance needs, and device type.

7/ Create a team of certified data erasers

• Train IT/security teams on secure data wiping procedures.

• Assign accountability for handling reports & compliance logs.

• Ensure processes are standardized across departments.

The Bottom Line

Secure data erasure isn't a task - it’s a business-critical security practice.

In India, compliance mandates require companies to:

• Use verified, software-based erasure methods.

• Maintain proof of erasure (certificates) for regulatory audits.

• Ensure environmentally friendly data disposal methods.

The best approach? Software-based permanent data wiping.

If your organization still follows outdated erasure methods, it’s time to upgrade.

Want to explore certified software-based erasure solutions? Need a discovery session on secure data wiping?

Fill this quick 4-field form & we’ll guide you: https://lnkd.in/d_m29RqA

Hi, I’m Rajeev Mamidanna. I help mid-market CISOs strengthen their Cyber Immunity.

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