An IT technician is tasked with disposing of retired magnetic backup tapes containing confidential enterprise data according to organizational security policy. Place the steps of the data sanitization and chain-of-custody process in the correct chronological order from first to last.
- 1Log the serial numbers of the magnetic tapes in the asset inventory tracking system for decommission.
- 2Expose the magnetic tapes to an industrial degausser to render the recorded data unrecoverable.
- 3Place the degaussed tapes into a locked, tamper-evident container for transport to an off-site shredding facility.
- 4Obtain and archive a signed Certificate of Destruction provided by the disposal vendor.
Answer
The correct sequence for magnetic backup tape disposal is: 1) Log the serial numbers in the inventory tracking system, 2) Expose the magnetic tapes to an industrial degausser, 3) Place the degaussed tapes into a locked, tamper-evident container for transport, and 4) Obtain and archive a signed Certificate of Destruction.
Establishing a secure data disposal workflow requires serial number logging first to record asset custody. Next, degaussing purges the magnetic tape data on-site. Securing the media in locked containers preserves physical security during vendor transport. Finally, once physical shredding occurs, receiving the Certificate of Destruction completes regulatory compliance reporting.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Data Sanitization and Chain-of-Custody Lifecycle