A process or method to render access to target data on storage media infeasible for a given level of effort. Purge media sanitization enables secure removal of data but keeps the device in a reusable state so that it can be reused.

Storage sanitization refers to the process of denying access to data from storage media, ensuring that the data cannot be retrieved or reconstructed. This is crucial when storage devices are transferred, become obsolete, or are no longer usable, to prevent unauthorized disclosure of data.

Why is storage sanitization important? Storage sanitization is critical to maintain data confidentiality, especially for sensitive or regulated data. If not properly sanitized, residual data may be recoverable, posing a risk of unauthorized data access or disclosure.

What does the sanitization process involve? The sanitization process often involves identifying the type of storage involved (logical or media), selecting the appropriate sanitization method (clear, purge, or destruct), executing the chosen sanitization techniques, verifying the results to determine the level of residual risk, and producing evidence of the sanitization for compliance purposes.

What types of data need to be sanitized? If sanitization is intended to remove all instances of specific data, then all media on which that data has been stored also requires sanitization. This includes data stored as a result of caching, replication, mirroring or other redundancy, backup or point in time copies, swapping, and paging.

What are some of the challenges in data sanitization? The concept of data sanitization is straightforward, but its practical implementation can be challenging due to the inconsistent use of terminology and the technical complexities of ensuring all data copies are identified and eliminated.