Erase instead of destroy. We overwrite your media to recognised standards — audit-proof, verifiable, with certificate. The hardware stays usable: ideal for IT refurbishing, site moves, device swaps or internal reassignment.
Not every data carrier needs to be shredded. In many cases, software-based erasure is not just sufficient but the more economical and more sustainable choice.
Our procedures follow the recognised standards: BSI TL-03420, DIN 66399-2, NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 and the requirements of Art. 17 GDPR ("right to erasure"). Every erased data carrier is verified and logged.
The result: the data can no longer be reconstructed with reasonable effort — and the hardware can be resold, given away, reassigned to employees, or refurbished within our IT refurbishing loop.
Data erasure isn't a marketing word — it's a technically defined procedure. We work to the four authoritative frameworks, individually or combined depending on the use case.
The Technical Guideline for secure erasure of magnetic media. Defines which procedures are permitted for each confidentiality level — from single-pass for "open" to combined procedures for "confidential" and above.
Defines software-based erasure procedures as an annex to DIN 66399 (known for security levels 1–7 in physical destruction). Sets requirements for overwrite patterns, verification and documentation.
Guidelines for Media Sanitization. The international standard, applicable to HDDs, SSDs, mobile devices, cloud storage. Distinguishes Clear, Purge, Destroy — we deliver Clear and Purge.
The "right to erasure". Obliges controllers to irreversibly remove personal data — including backups and redundancies. Our certificate delivers the evidence auditors need.
What you need depends on data classification and intended reuse. Both paths are DIN 66399-compliant. Both require evidence. The difference: does the hardware stay alive — or not?
We choose the procedure based on media type, confidentiality level and intended reuse. A single procedure is often enough — for sensitive data we combine two approaches.
The entire data carrier is overwritten once with zeros (or a defined pattern). The fastest procedure, sufficient for non-confidential data (e.g. internal machines without special protection requirements, public kiosk devices).
The data carrier is overwritten multiple times — e.g. with the DoD 5220.22-M pattern (three passes: 0x00, 0xFF, random) or the stricter Gutmann method. The established standard for confidential data on classic magnetic drives.
On modern Self-Encrypting Drives (SEDs) and SSDs with hardware encryption, the media encryption key is destroyed. Result: billions of encrypted bits remain — but the key is gone. Extremely fast, ideal for SSDs (where classic overwrite is unreliable).
Uses the ATA standard command "SECURITY ERASE UNIT", implemented directly in the media firmware. Also wipes reserved areas (HPA, DCO, reallocated sectors) that classic overwrite cannot reach. Excellent for both HDD and SSD.
A drive that can no longer be addressed? No problem: we combine software erasure (as far as possible) with physical destruction of the affected sectors. Most common case: SSDs with dead controllers, RAID disks with firmware failure.
The right procedure for every media type. Not every method works with every medium — SSDs, for example, require different techniques than classic HDDs.
Classic magnetic drives, as found in servers, desktops and older notebooks. Clearly defined sectors, easy to overwrite.
Wear-levelling and internal remapping make classic overwrite unreliable. We rely on firmware-native procedures.
Low capacity, often without a firmware erase command. We overwrite the whole medium and read it back for verification.
Vendor-side factory reset procedures on modern devices (iOS, Android ≥ 6) already use crypto-erase. We trigger this in a controlled manner and verify.
Enterprise erasure with parallel wipe of multiple disks at once. Full reporting per slot / per serial number. Chassis retention on request.
CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays cannot be erased in software — the data is physically burned in. For these media we recommend data destruction.
From the first data carrier to the signed erasure certificate: a clearly structured process with unbroken documentation.
Inventory with serial numbers, type, capacity, required confidentiality level.
Collection or delivery in sealed containers. GPS-tracked for sensitive loads.
Procedure chosen by media type and confidentiality — automated, parallelised, logged.
Read-back test confirms: expected pattern present, no residual data readable. Automatically documented.
Erasure certificate per data carrier. Return of the reusable hardware or handover to refurbishing.
Every erased data carrier gets its own erasure certificate — with all the information auditors, data protection officers and supervisory authorities require. Audit-proof archive. 10 years.
Every certificate is designed to answer audit questions without follow-ups — and to give supervisory authorities an unbroken chain of evidence in the worst case.
Two paths to certified data erasure — depending on volume, sensitivity and your compliance requirements. Both with an unbroken chain of evidence.
Tell us what you have (type, quantity, confidentiality level) — we recommend the right procedure, quote transparently and get back to you within 24 hours. No sales theatre. Honest assessment.