Do you know the real benefits of certified data destruction services? A lot of businesses assume that once a computer is unplugged, wiped, or thrown away, the data is gone. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Hard drives, SSDs, and even office printers can store sensitive information long after you think they’re “dead.” If the wrong person gets ahold of those devices, your business could be at risk.
According to the 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report by IBM, the average data breach costs businesses $4.45 million in damages, legal fees, downtime, and lost trust.
Source: IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report
And it doesn’t just happen through hackers breaking into computer networks. Physical hardware still plays a major role. The Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report notes that device theft and improper disposal continue to cause data exposure incidents every year.
Source: Verizon DBIR
So let’s break down why certified data destruction matters—and why trying to handle it yourself can be risky.
Drilling Holes Doesn’t Actually Destroy Data
This one surprises a lot of people. Drilling holes through a hard drive, smashing it with a hammer, or deleting files does not fully remove the data. With the right recovery tools (the kind cybersecurity criminals and data scavengers use), information can still be pulled from the remaining data plates.
This is why simply “damaging” a drive isn’t enough—the data has to be destroyed to the point where it’s irrecoverable.
Certified Data Destruction = Peace of Mind
When you use a certified data destruction service, you’re not just shredding electronics—you’re ensuring they’re destroyed according to strict federal data security standards.
At Recycle IT, we follow NSA and NIST 800-88 compliant procedures, which are considered the gold standard for complete data sanitization.
Reference: NIST 800-88 Guidelines
We use a Pure Leverage Disk Crusher to physically crush the internal components of each hard drive. This process doesn’t just damage the drive—it destroys the data plates and circuitry so completely that data recovery becomes impossible.
In other words:
Even if someone found the device later, there’s nothing left to steal.
It Saves You Time, Risk, and Stress
Trying to destroy hard drives in-house often leads to:
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Unsafe handling of sharp metal or components
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Devices not being fully destroyed
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Liability concerns if something goes wrong
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Wasted time doing trial-and-error destruction methods
Certified professionals handle everything—from secure chain-of-custody to documented proof of destruction—so you can stay focused on running your business.
Environmentally Responsible Recycling
After the data is destroyed, we recycle the remaining material. Hard drives contain valuable metals like aluminum, copper, and rare earth materials. By recycling the crushed components, we reduce landfill waste and support sustainable material reuse.
Your data stays safe and your company stays environmentally responsible. Win-win.
Let Us Handle It For You — Free Pickup Available
We make data destruction easy. Just schedule a pickup, and our team will come to your business, collect the equipment, and certify the destruction.
Schedule a free pickup here