Data Destruction & Media Sanitization Services in Cincinnati

NIST 800-88r2 Data Destruction in Cincinnati

At Core Asset Solutions we adhere to the NIST SP 800-88 Rev 2 Standard for all data destruction. CAS offers secure hard drive wiping (Media Sanitization) to ensure that all your data is untraceable. We have other customizable wiping data destruction options which are available upon request. A single unwiped drive represents regulatory exposure, legal risk, and reputational damage. Core Asset Solutions' data destruction programs eliminate that risk with NIST 800-88r2-aligned methods, individual certificates of destruction, and complete chain-of-custody documentation.

Whether you need logical sanitization for asset reuse, cryptographic erasure for flash media, or physical destruction for end-of-life devices — CAS provides the right method for every media type with the verification and documentation your security and compliance teams require. On-site services are available across Cincinnati and throughout Southern Ohio, with off-site processing at our Cincinnati, OH facility.

NIST 800-88r2 Standard

Clear, Purge, and Destroy methods and techniques matched to media type and security requirements.

Certificates of Destruction

Individual, serialized certificates of destruction with method, technique, verification, and date.

On-Site & Off-Site Options

Witnessed sanitization at your facility or high-volume data destruction at our Cincinnati processing facility.

Audit-Ready Documentation

Destruction records with storage-to-asset matching and formatting for compliance requirements.

NIST 800-88r2: Clear vs. Purge vs. Destroy

The proper sanitization method and technique depends on the media type, data sensitivity, and your organization's security requirements. Core Asset Solutions applies the appropriate method for every storage device.

Clear

Logical sanitization

Applies logical techniques, overwrite patterns or block erase, that protect against non-invasive data recovery attempts. Suitable for assets remaining within organizational control or being redeployed internally.

Single or multi-pass overwrite

ATA Secure Erase

Block erase for flash media

Verification read-back

Use case: Internal redeployment, low-sensitivity assets

Purge

Media-specific sanitization

Applies media-specific techniques, cryptographic erase or OEM sanitize commands, that protect against state-of-the-art laboratory data recovery. Appropriate when leaving organizational control.

Cryptographic Erase

ATA Enhanced Secure Erase

NVMe Format / Sanitize

Manufacturer-specific commands

Use case: Asset resale, third-party transfer

Destroy

Physical destruction

Renders the storage media physically unusable through mechanical or thermal processes. Required when Purge cannot be verified, media is damaged, or regulatory requirements mandate physical destruction.

Hard drive physical destruction

SSD crushing / disintegration

Tape degaussing + shredding

Witnessed destruction available

Use case: High-security, classified, regulatory mandates

Media Types We Sanitize for Organizations in Cincinnati

Hard Disk Drives (HDD)

SATA, SAS, and enterprise HDDs. Overwrite, secure erase, degaussing, or physical shredding based on security requirements.

NVMe & SSD (Flash)

NVMe, SATA SSD, and M.2 drives. Crypto erase, sanitize commands, or physical destruction. Manufacturer-specific protocols.

Enterprise Storage Arrays

SAN/NAS drives, all-flash arrays, and storage appliances. Controller-level and individual drive sanitization.

Magnetic Tape

LTO, DLT, and enterprise backup tapes. Degaussing followed by physical destruction with documented verification.

Embedded & Mobile Storage

Laptop drives, mobile device storage, USB media, and embedded flash in equipment controllers and instruments.

Damaged & Failed Media

Drives that cannot be sanitized via software methods undergo physical destruction with photographic or video documentation.

Why choose Core Asset Solutions for Secure Data Destruction in Cincinnati?

Compliance Support

Secure handling for all data-bearing assets moving through ITAD, recycling, reuse, or destruction.

Verification & Escalation Requirements

Successful verification results with physical destruction escalation for failed sanitization methods.

Erasure at Scale

Applies across PCs, laptops, HDDs, SSDs, NVMes, servers, removable media, and any data-bearing devices.

Certificates of Sanitization

Certificates issued per serial number with final documentation to support a complete audit trail.

Defined Sanitization Techniques

Clear workflows help high-volume projects move faster without losing visibility into data security outcomes.

Streamlined Workflows

Streamlined data-bearing asset tracking, processing status, exceptions, certificate generation, and final disposition records.

Chain of Custody & Tracking

Pickup Manifest

Serialized equipment manifest at point of collection with authorized signatures and condition notes.

Sealed Transport

GPS-tracked, sealed transport with tamper-evident controls. Chain-of-custody handoff documented at every transfer point.

Facility Intake

Manifest reconciliation and individual device scanning with storage-to-asset matching at our secure processing facility.

Processing Tracking

Real-time status tracking through sanitization, verification, and disposition with technician-level logging.

Certificate Generation

Individual certificates of destruction generated upon verified sanitization with exception & escalation reporting and full audit trail.

Exportable Reports & Documentation

Final reporting and certificate packages exportable for your organization's file retention platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between NIST 800-88 Clear, Purge, and Destroy?

NIST 800-88r2 defines three sanitization levels. Clear applies logical techniques (overwrite, block erase) that protect against simple non-invasive data recovery — suitable for assets staying within organizational control. Purge applies media-specific techniques (cryptographic erase, sanitize commands) that protect against laboratory-level data recovery — appropriate for assets leaving organizational control. Destroy renders the media physically unusable through disintegration, shredding, or incineration — required when Purge cannot be verified or when regulatory requirements mandate physical destruction.

What compliance frameworks does Core Asset Solutions' data destruction support?

Core Asset Solutions' NIST 800-88r2-aligned data destruction processes support compliance with HIPAA, SOC 2, PCI DSS, GDPR, CCPA, FISMA, NIST 800-171, and industry-specific requirements. Documentation packages can be formatted to align with your specific audit and compliance framework requirements.

What chain-of-custody controls does Core Asset Solutions maintain?

Core Asset Solutions maintains serialized chain of custody from the moment equipment is collected: manifest documentation at pickup, GPS-tracked transport, facility intake verification, individual device scanning during processing, sanitization verification logging, and final disposition confirmation. Every handoff is documented with timestamps and authorized personnel only.

Does Core Asset Solutions provide individual certificates of destruction for each device?

Yes. Every storage device receives an individual certificate documenting: serial number, manufacturer, model, capacity, sanitization method applied (Clear, Purge, or Destroy), verification result, date, time, and technician ID. Certificates are serial-number-specific, not just batch-level summaries.

Can Core Asset Solutions perform on-site data destruction?

Yes. Core Asset Solutions provides on-site sanitization and physical destruction services for organizations that require data destruction before equipment leaves the facility. On-site services include on-site media sanitization and witnessed destruction with real-time certificate generation.

When should organizations choose Destroy instead of cryptographic erase?

If an organization's data classification assumes sensitivity that must remain protected for a long time horizon (often 10+ years), Core Asset Solutions will recommend Destroy as a forward-looking posture as computing capabilities evolve. Core Asset Solutions can help scope method selection based on your risk model, retention expectations, and the device class.

Does Core Asset Solutions provide Certificates of Media Sanitization and exception reporting?

Yes. Core Asset Solutions provides documentation outputs aligned to your organization's requirements, which commonly include individual outcome records, exception reporting, and final disposition documentation that supports audit readiness, vendor oversight, and internal governance.

How does Core Asset Solutions handle magnetic media like HDDs or tapes?

Magnetic hard drives can be sanitized via overwrite (Clear), secure erase commands (Purge), degaussing (Purge/Destroy), or physical shredding (Destroy). Magnetic tapes undergo degaussing or physical destruction. Core Asset Solutions selects the appropriate method based on media type, sensitivity classification, and your security requirements.

What does Core Asset Solutions do if a drive fails sanitization?

If media cannot be sanitized as scoped (e.g., device faults, command restrictions, security state limitations, or failed verification), Core Asset Solutions will document the exception and escalate to the next approved method (often Destroy) based on your scope and policy requirements.

Does Core Asset Solutions offer on-site data destruction in Cincinnati and Southern Ohio?

Yes. Core Asset Solutions provides on-site data destruction services for organizations in Cincinnati, Dayton, Southern Ohio, and the broader Midwest region for large projects. For organizations that require witnessed destruction or cannot allow media to leave their facility, we can perform NIST 800-88r2-aligned sanitization and physical destruction on-site with serial-specific certificates issued at the point of destruction. Off-site processing is available at our secure Cincinnati, Ohio facility.

Data Destruction & Sanitization Services