Hard Drive Destruction
Shredding by Serial Number
Wiping a hard drive is not enough, because data often remains recoverable. We shred your hard drives physically.
The drives can be included in the same collection as your paper or archive.
20% off all collection rates. See the pilot deal →
Format, Overwrite, Degauss or Shred
There are four methods available for a hard drive and they differ sharply in what they actually deliver.
Formatting removes only the table of contents. The files themselves are still there afterwards and can be recovered with free software in an afternoon. For confidential data this is not a serious option.
Overwriting writes new data over the old and is technically adequate on a healthy magnetic drive. It just takes hours per drive, it does not reach sectors the drive itself has marked as bad and it leaves you nothing tangible as proof. On a drive that no longer powers up you can forget about it entirely.
Degaussing erases the magnetic field with a powerful coil. That works on an HDD, but you cannot tell from the outside whether it succeeded. On modern drives with high data density the field strength has to be exactly right. On an SSD degaussing does nothing at all, because no magnetism is involved.
Shredding physically reduces the drive to particles, so the magnetic platters break and can no longer be read. It works regardless of whether the drive still spins, it takes seconds rather than hours and the serial number goes onto the certificate. That is why shredding is our standard. Read more about the burden of proof in the data destruction certificate explained.
From the Cupboard to a Shredded Drive
Tell us about your drives
Let us know how many hard drives, SSDs or tapes are involved. We quote a fixed price in advance and schedule the collection.
Collect and register
We collect the drives and register each one by serial number, so the chain of custody is watertight.
Straight to destruction
The drives go to destruction without interim storage. No one can access them along the way.
Shredding and certificate
Shredded to DIN 66399 H-5. You receive a Certificate of Destruction with all serial numbers on it.
Why H-5 and Not H-3
Within category H of DIN 66399 the number determines how small the particles become. That difference matters more than it looks, because on a magnetic platter data remains on every surviving fragment. The larger the fragment, the more a specialist lab can still pull off it.
| Level | Maximum particle size | Intended for |
|---|---|---|
| H-3 | 320 mm² | Ordinary business data |
| H-4 | 160 mm² | Sensitive data |
| H-5 | 30 mm² | Personal and confidential data, our standard level |
An SSD does not belong in category H. There the data sits on memory chips rather than on a platter, so a coarse shred can leave an intact chip behind with everything still on it. SSDs, USB sticks and memory cards therefore go to E-level, ground fine enough that the chips themselves are destroyed.
Also clearing backup tapes or USB sticks? Read clearing backup tapes and LTO and disposing of USB sticks and memory cards. All six material categories of the standard are on data destruction.
Certificate with Serial Number as Proof
With a hard drive it is all about proof. From collection to shredding, every drive stays registered by serial number, so at an audit or data breach you can demonstrate that the data really was destroyed.
- Registration by serial number. Every drive is recorded at collection.
- Straight to our facility. No interim storage, no transfers.
- Shredding to H-5. The magnetic platters are made unreadable.
- Certificate with serial numbers. Date, order number and all serial numbers on it.
Not sure which data media really need to go? Read 7 data media you cannot just throw away.
Drive Collection Throughout the Netherlands
We collect hard drives throughout the Netherlands. In the Amsterdam region we drive out at no collection cost. Beyond that we combine your collection with a trip in the area, for which we allow at least 2 weeks. If you are in a hurry, a faster collection is possible against a per-kilometre charge.
If it is a single drive, it can also be included free of charge in an existing collection of paper or archive. See the full service area →
Frequently Asked Questions about Hard Drive Destruction
What is the difference between wiping and shredding a hard drive?
Wiping or formatting often leaves behind data that can be recovered with recovery software. On a faulty drive, wiping sometimes does not work at all. Shredding a hard drive physically reduces the drive to particles, so the magnetic platters are no longer readable and recovery is impossible.
To what level do you destroy a hard drive?
We destroy magnetic hard drives to DIN 66399 H-5. SSDs and USB sticks go to a finer E-level, because the data sits on small memory chips. That way the chosen approach always matches the medium.
Can you destroy a faulty drive as well?
Yes, and that is exactly where shredding adds the most. A drive that no longer powers up cannot be overwritten, while the magnetic platters are still perfectly readable to a specialist lab. A faulty drive comes along in the same way, is registered by serial number and shredded to H-5.
What does destroying a hard drive cost?
Hard drives are priced per unit, depending on the quantity. Let us know how many drives are involved and we will quote a fixed price in advance. The drives can be included free of charge in an existing collection of paper or archive.
Do you collect the hard drives?
Yes. We collect the drives, register them by serial number and take them to destruction. We collect throughout the Netherlands, and in the Amsterdam region we drive out at no collection cost.
Plan Your Hard Drive Destruction Now
Book online right away or call us for a fixed price within 5 minutes.