Data Erasure

In today's digital landscape, data security is paramount. Greenbridge specializes in secure data wiping and destruction

Data Erasure

In today's digital landscape, data security is paramount. Greenbridge specializes in secure data wiping and destruction

Types of Data Erasure

In an era where data breaches and identity theft are growing concerns, simply deleting files or performing a factory reset is not enough to ensure that sensitive information is completely removed from a device. Many consumers and businesses mistakenly believe that a factory reset restores a device to its original, data-free state. However, this process only removes user-accessible files and settings while leaving deep system data and recoverable traces intact. Advanced forensic tools can often retrieve data from factory-reset devices, posing a serious security risk.

Software-Based Data Wiping
To guarantee complete data removal, specialized software-based wiping solutions are required. Greenbridge utilizes industry-leading tools such as Blancco, Certus, Phone Check, and Piceasoft, which follow internationally recognized data sanitization standards, including NIST 800-88, GDPR, and ISO 27040. These solutions overwrite all storage sectors of a device multiple times with randomized data, making recovery impossible. Additionally, certified wiping software generates detailed reports that serve as proof of successful erasure, an essential requirement for businesses handling sensitive customer or corporate data.

Physical Destruction
While software wiping is the preferred method for data erasure, there are cases where it is not possible. Devices that are damaged, fail to power on, or have encrypted storage that cannot be accessed for wiping require a more definitive approach. In such instances, Greenbridge ensures complete data destruction by physically dismantling the device and targeting its storage components, such as hard drives and onboard storage chips. These components are fed into a specialized electronics shredder, reducing them to tiny fragments and rendering any remaining data irrecoverable.

Standards & Compliance

Greenbridge follows strict industry standards to ensure complete data sanitization and destruction, meeting legal and security requirements for businesses and individuals.

NIST 800-88: Data Sanitization Levels

The NIST 800-88 guidelines define two key levels of data erasure:
Clear – Logical data removal using software-based overwrites, making recovery difficult but allowing device reuse.
Purge – A more secure method using multiple overwrites or cryptographic erasure, ensuring forensic-level data removal.

Greenbridge uses Blancco, Certus, Phone Check, Piceasoft and other providers to comply with both standards, providing audit-ready PDF reports.

DIN 66399: Shredding Standards

For devices that cannot be wiped, Greenbridge follows DIN 66399, ensuring physical destruction of data-bearing media. With our onsite shredder we are able to shred hard drives, SSDs, and onboard storage to P-4 to P-7 security levels, guaranteeing that data fragments are unrecoverable.

60%

Used devices have data

$4M

Average Cost of Data Breach

4%

Turnover GDPR Fines

10%

Businesses Use Certified Erasure

Our Reporting

Greenbridge provide itemised product manifests along with individual data erasure or data destruction reports per line item. This provides a full batch reconciliation back to products received into processing through the full life cycle.

Environmental Benefits

The most sustainable way to handle old electronics is to wipe and repurpose them rather than sending them to landfill or recycling prematurely. Many devices, including MacBooks, laptops, iPads, and iPhones, still have years of usability left, and by securely erasing data using certified wiping software, Greenbridge ensures they can be safely reused. This not only protects sensitive information but also:

Reduces electronic waste – Extending the lifespan of devices prevents them from becoming waste too soon.
Lowers demand for new electronics – Reuse helps reduce the need for new manufacturing, which consumes significant resources.
Minimizes environmental impact – Electronics production requires mining for raw materials, energy-intensive manufacturing, and generates pollution. Repurposing existing devices helps mitigate these effects.

By securely wiping devices and preparing them for reuse, resale, or donation, Greenbridge promotes a circular economy where technology can be used for as long as possible before reaching the end of its lifecycle.