What Kind of Information Is at Risk? A Quick Guide to What Needs to Be Destroyed
Data breaches are expensive, and many of them trace back to information that should have been destroyed and wasn’t. Understanding what information is at risk and what needs to be securely destroyed is critical. Whether it’s data at a bank, hospital, or business, improper disposal can lead to identity theft, regulatory fines, or even national security threats.
So, what types of information are at risk, and how do you ensure it is properly destroyed?
Which Industries Are Most at Risk?
Certain industries handle data that’s particularly vulnerable to breaches:
- Financial Institutions (Banks, Credit Unions, Investment Firms): Customer account details, credit card numbers, and transaction records fall under the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which requires proper data destruction to protect sensitive information. Noncompliance can result in fines, legal liabilities, and loss of customer trust.
- Healthcare (Hospitals, Clinics, Insurance Providers): Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Social Security numbers, and billing details fall under Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), which require Protected Health Information (PHI) to be completely unreadable and unrecoverable before disposal. Noncompliance can result in millions of dollars in fines and significant reputational damage.
- Government and Defense: Classified documents, personnel records, and sensitive data must be destroyed in compliance with National Security Agency (NSA) standards to eliminate national security risks. These strict guidelines ensure data is rendered completely unreadable and unrecoverable, safeguarding against breaches that could compromise national security.
- Education Institutions: Student and faculty information, tuition payment details, and administrative records are protected under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Improper disposal of this data can result in noncompliance penalties and legal repercussions, making secure destruction essential.
- Businesses (All Industries): Proprietary data, employee records, customer information, and contracts are at risk of breaches, leading to intellectual property theft, fines, and reputational damage. Proper data destruction, like degaussing or physical destruction, is critical. For guidance, refer to NIST’s Media Sanitization Guidelines or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
What Devices Store Data That Needs Destroying?
Data exists in many forms, and each type must be securely destroyed to prevent recovery. Below are examples of what to target during data disposal:
Hard Drives
- Found in: Computers, servers, and external storage devices.
- Why Destroy: Deleting files or formatting drives doesn’t erase the data. It can still be recovered unless the drive is degaussed.
Solid-State Drives (SSDs)
- Found in: Laptops, tablets, smartphones, and modern storage systems.
- Why Destroy: SSDs cannot be degaussed. Physical destruction, ATA Secure Erase, or cryptographic erasure is required to render the data unrecoverable.
Magnetic Tapes
- Found in: Backup systems and archival storage.
- Why Destroy: apes store data magnetically, which makes degaussing highly effective.
Smartphones and Tablets
- Found in: Offices, hospitals, schools, and virtually everywhere.
- Why Destroy: These devices store a wealth of personal and professional data. A simple reset, or even physically damaging the device, is insufficient, as the data can often still be retrieved. This information must be destroyed.
Medical Devices and Internet of Things (IoT) Devices
- Found in: Hospitals, labs, and connected workplaces.
- Why Destroy: Devices like insulin pumps and smart thermostats have memory and therefore store patient or organizational data that must be wiped before disposal.
Secure Your Data with Confidence
Since 1985, Data Security, Inc.® has been the leading American manufacturer and supplier of degaussers and destruction devices. Our team of trained experts understands the regulations, know what works best for your needs, and are here to answer your questions about why and how data destruction is critical. Whether it’s degaussers or destruction devices, we ensure your data is permanently unrecoverable.
Protect your business by contacting Data Security, Inc.® today. Let us help you choose the right digital data destruction methods with confidence and expertise.
——————————
For more resources on data destruction regulations and compliance, visit our Resource Library.
Updated: August, 2026