Retired storage devices can still contain business and personal information. We help organisations plan how to identify, handle and destroy data-bearing media that will no longer be used. Tell us what equipment you have, where it is and what evidence your organisation needs; we will confirm the suitable service for the batch.
Identify the media before the equipment leaves
Start with the storage devices, including hard disk drives from desktops and servers, solid-state drives (SSDs), external drives and other media found in laptops or IT stores. Storage can be removable or built into a device. If you are uncertain what is inside the equipment, say so when you enquire. We will discuss whether identifying or removing drives forms part of the proposed job.
See the specific pages for hard drive shredding, SSD destruction, other storage media and server and NAS storage.
Choose a method that fits the media and policy
Physical destruction is an option when media will not be reused. Where equipment is to be reused, a suitable and verified data erasure process may be possible. The choice depends on the technology, condition of the device, your risk assessment and the records you need. Merely deleting files or formatting a drive does not establish that its data has been securely removed.
Different storage technologies require different approaches. Ask us to confirm the proposed method for each type of media rather than assuming a single process covers the entire batch. Our guide to choosing a destruction method explains the main questions.
On-site or off-site arrangements
If your policy calls for a member of staff to witness destruction, ask about on-site shredding. For other jobs, collection for off-site processing may suit the material and location. We will confirm what can be offered for your postcode, quantity and site access. Explain any restrictions on when equipment may leave your premises.
Plan the inventory and evidence
Tell us if you have an asset register and whether individual serial numbers, a handover record or a Certificate of Destruction are required. Agree what the records will identify and when they will be provided before booking. A certificate should be considered alongside your own inventory and handover process; it does not identify an unlisted drive by itself. Read our chain-of-custody and destruction records guides to plan the audit trail.
Clearing whole laptops or mixed equipment?
List complete devices separately from loose storage. If laptops are to be reused or recycled, decide what will happen to their data first. Our laptop recycling page explains the questions to ask about storage and the remaining equipment. If the batch also includes confidential paper, include its approximate quantity so we can discuss paper shredding as a separate process.
Request a data destruction quote
Send your postcode, approximate device counts, media types if known, whether storage is loose or installed, and any access, witnessing or documentation needs. We will confirm the scope and available method before you book.