What Is Data Remanence?

When information on an IT system is modified or erased, some or all of the original data may still be stored on the system in some form. This is an inherent characteristic of data storage systems and is referred to as data remanence. The data that remains on a disc may then be recovered by unauthorized individuals or organizations using various tools, which may cause serious security risks and/or privacy issues.

Specialized processes and tools are needed to safely remove and secure sensitive and classified data from computers and network components. The procedure to remove information stored on discs is valuable when a need arises for system upgrading, decommissioning, reassigning, or discarding data storage components. Although the physical destruction of discs is required for some types of classified data, data bits may still be recovered by various means such as examining shredded hard drive platters with electron microscopy. {Applying a data overwriting method using an approved software tool, as well as destroying the storage media, if called for by operational requirements, represents the most secure form of data sanitizing.|Applying the data overwriting method using an approved tool, in addition to destroying the storage media if called for by operational requirements, represents the most secure form of data sanitizing.
|Applying method using an approved tool to overwrite the data, in addition to destroying the storage media if called for by operational requirements, represents the most secure form of data sanitizing.
|Applying a method using an approved tool to overwrite the data, as well as physically destroying the storage media if called for by operational requirments, represents the most secure form of data sanitizing.
|Applying a method using an approved tool to overwrite the information, as well as physically destroying the storage media if called for by operational requirements, represents the most complete form of data sanitizing.

Some ares of concern that should be considered are:

Data storage characteristics, issues and risks of handling and decommissioning data.

Current trends and best methods in electronic data sanitizing.

How to remove secure sensitive and classified data safely.

Processes and tools recommendations.

These tools are valuable for government data, bank records, financial data, corporate intellectual property, medical records, etc, and have been evaluated and are in use by major banks, information technology corporations and government agencies in the U.S. and around the world.

There are onsite data destruction services offered by various companies who are providing the very latest methods and processes to ensure complete, safe and certifiable sanitizing of hard drives. Whether data destruction is done in house or out of house can best be determined by the nature of the data or how detrimental its unauthorized use would be to the company or agency.

Kevin is VP of Marketing and Sales at Tabernus - a leading provider of data erasure software and on site data destruction services.