Monday, July 28, 2014

Dude! Where’s My Hard Drive?


Let’s rip this one from the headlines.  This isn't about politics, but utilizes it as a backdrop to emphasize the need to never take your eyes off the ball where your sensitive business data is concerned.


IRS Commissioner John Koskinen has stated before Congress that Lois Lerner’s hard drive was scratched and then shredded.  When pressed, Commissioner Koskinen could not state the hard drive had definitively been shredded, only that it had potentially been shredded.  He could not identify the chain of custody for the hard drive in question nor provide documentation as to whom had physically destroyed the drive and who had witnessed the destruction.  Someone told Commissioner Koskinen the hard drive had been shredded and that was good enough for him.  For a situation as politically pressing as the whereabouts of Lois Lerner’s hard drive, Koskinen’s actions would lead people to believe he actually has no idea as to what actually happened to the drive.  

Data is Money



I spent many years dealing directly with data.  It was drilled into everyone within the industry that data is money.  If you took possession of records (data) you were responsible for what happened to the records.  Individuals were keenly aware any misuse of the data would result in additional charges, fines and potential lawsuits.  If, God forbid, the records contained credit card or social security information they were treated like unstable nitroglycerin.  Regulations and potential lawsuits drove many service bureaus out of storing volatile databases.  The risks outweighed the rewards.

So, What’s It to Me?



As a business owner you have an obligation to protect your patients, customers, clients, and employees from potential harm from the misuse of their information.  The improper handling of obsolete hard drives can cost clients substantial income, reveal patients private information, and put customers and employees at risk of identity theft.  It is critical your business has an established procedure for the destruction of sensitive information when you retire obsolete computers and servers.

What Should I Do?



Digital data sanitization is the best method you can take to insure your business does not inadvertently share private information.  By performing this task in-house before entrusting used equipment to a recycling contractor protects you and your business from accusations and potential losses in the future.  

Implementing the use of WipeDrive by WhiteCanyon™ Software can insure hardware doesn’t leave the office with your data.  The three-pass wipe uses several wipe patterns and is approved by the U.S. Dept. of Defense.  Data sanitization is a safe, easy method of data security that gives your customers the peace of mind that you are watching out for their security.  WipeDrive is a permanent solution for data sanitization.

Common Sense



I know some of this information is common sense for a business or practice handling sensitive data and using storage devices.  The current coverage of the Internal Revenue Service and the Lois Lerner hard drive show common sense is not always commonly practiced.  An organization handling some of the most sensitive information of individuals and businesses cannot definitively state what happened to a hard drive or confirm the data was destroyed.  It is imperative to learn from the IRS' error in data sanitization to protect you and your business.



For more information about utilizing WipeDrive to protect your sensitive information, contact WhiteCanyon Software at 801-224-2952.

If you have questions regarding your practice's marketing strategy, feel free to contact me at darrensomsen@gmail.com.

#whitecanyonsoftware #systemsaver #datasanitization




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