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Data Destruction

What is Data Destruction?

The process of permanently and irreversibly eliminating data stored on electronic media so that it cannot be recovered. Methods include degaussing, physical destruction, and cryptographic erasure.

Information Security

What the standards actually require on data destruction

Requirements naming data destruction across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

Keep approved procedures for securely disposing of equipment used away from company premises, and where equipment is not physically destroyed, apply a data destruction method that makes recovery impossible. Review at least annually.

CCM-DCS-01 · Off-Site Equipment Disposal Policy and Procedures

Article 6(1) sets the recoverable damage categories: (a) death or personal injury, including medically recognised damage to PSYCHOLOGICAL health; (b) damage to or destruction of any property other than the defective product itself;

PLD-Art.6 · Categories of damage covered (PLD Article 6)

HKMA C-RAF Domain 3 PROTECTION + Domain 4 DETECTION. DOMAIN 3 PROTECTION (6 sub-areas): (1) ACCESS CONTROL - identity + access management + privileged access (PAM) + MFA + zero trust + just-in-time access + role-based access + access reviews + offboarding;

HKMA-CRAF-Domain3-4-Protection-Detection · HKMA C-RAF Domain 3 (Protection) + Domain 4 (Detection) - Access, Data, Infrastructure, Application, Monitoring, Testing, Threat Intel
ISO/SAE 214341 control

The organisation defines and communicates end of cybersecurity support and decommissioning conditions for items including data destruction.

21434-14 · End of Cybersecurity Support and Decommissioning

Apply pseudonymisation and de-identification under Sections 14-4610 and 14-4611 to enable lawful internal research + product improvement + aggregated reporting while protecting consumer privacy.

MD-MODPA-Pseudonymisation-De-Identification-Section-14-4610-4611-Internal-Research-Aggregated · Maryland MODPA Pseudonymisation + De-Identification + Section 14-4610 + 14-4611 + Internal Research + Aggregated

Questions people ask about data destruction

What is Data Destruction?
The process of permanently and irreversibly eliminating data stored on electronic media so that it cannot be recovered. Methods include degaussing, physical destruction, and cryptographic erasure.
Why is Data Destruction important for compliance?
Data Destruction is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding data destruction helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Data Destruction?
Data Destruction appears in the requirement text of Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) v4.0.1, EU Product Liability Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/2853), HKMA Cyber Resilience Assessment Framework (C-RAF), IRS Publication 1075, ISO/SAE 21434. Across these standards we have identified 6 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Data Destruction?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how data destruction applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Data Destruction applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.