Data Erasure with HOBI’s Data Erasure Tool: HOBI Shield

Data Erasure

Data security is a crucial part of business. Yet many people are unaware of the importance of data erasure and how it can help maximize asset value and prevent data theft. A common misconception is that data is removed from a device once reset; however, data remains on IT assets until properly erased, which means irresponsible IT asset management can lead to data breaches even after asset retirement. 

Proper IT asset management includes having a disposition plan in place, and data erasure is a facet of IT asset disposition when you partner with an ITAD provider like HOBI International, Inc. Data erasure not only prevents data breaches after disposition but also enables IT assets to be reused rather than immediately disposed of. This maximizes asset value and contributes to a circular economy. 

HOBI’s Director of Engineering, Rick Vernam, recently discussed the data erasure process and the tool he engineered specifically for HOBI. 

How it works

IT equipment has changed over the years, making some devices’ erasure process a little easier. According to Vernam, depending on the device, the data erasure process takes several different approaches.“Older drives required a more manual process to address each data sector individually, whereas newer drives typically have a built-in function to conduct erasure,” Vernam said. “For drives that support built-in erasure functions, there are different interfaces, which have different means of instruction, and some of these have different approaches as well.”  

For example, some hard drives require the input of a unique key on the drive’s label in a QR code to conduct erasure, while drives that internally encrypt data can clear the encryption key as a means of data erasure. The process can take a minute or so for solid-state drives to a day or more for larger disk drives. 

HOBI understands the critical importance of safeguarding corporate and customer data in today’s global business environment. Data security has come a long way, but it was not always so. 

HOBI Shield

Vernam began working on HOBI’s data erasure tool, HOBI Shield, in 2004, when the type of existing solutions HOBI needed were unavailable. “It has changed quite a bit over the years, but the basics are still the same. A key aspect of HOBI Shield is its integration into our existing operational control systems. This wasn’t the case in the beginning, but segues to another key aspect, which is our ability to transform Shield as we see fit and on our schedule.” Shield allows HOBI more flexibility in making what we want when we want it, which enables us to respond quickly to our clients. Creating an in-house solution has allowed HOBI to meet clients’ needs proactively so we are ready when they need us. 

Another unique feature of HOBI Shield is the built-in erasure validation, which runs on each drive. Vernam spoke about the early days when the built-in function to conduct erasure was new and only partially reliable. “There were some drives that would claim to support that function but then do nothing when instructed to conduct erasure, so it was important to validate the results.” HOBI Shield’s built-in erasure validation ensures clients that their data has been completely erased. 

Data erasure is one of three steps of data security that HOBI takes to ensure no data leaks occur during the disposition process. 

HOBI adheres to the most stringent data security protocols, compliant with NIST 800-18 and DOD standards, throughout the entire lifecycle of your IT assets. This includes both on-site and off-site services. Our thorough and traceable data security and erasure practices ensure that your vital IT assets are fully protected, leaving no room for data vulnerabilities.

For more information about our data security or ITAD services, call 817-814-2620 or contact HOBI at sales@hobi.com.