Exam CS0-002 topic 1 question 46 discussion

B. Ugh.. this verbiage. While Degaussing will "Sanitize" a HD and render is useless, it will not do the same to Flash or SSDs. So since we are not sure which it is.. I would lean to Shredding.

Degaussing does not work on SSDs, because SSDs do not use magnetic fields to store data like traditional hard drives do. Running an SSD through a degaussing machine will not destroy the device or the data on it. For destroying SSDs, shredding is recommended in order to physically destroy the device beyond the possibility of repair or recovery.

I've seen this question in other CompTIA exams. Although degaussing permanently and securely deletes data using the power of magnets that cannot be recovered with existing or future technology, the answer is always shredding because maybe there was an error with the degaussing and a part of the info is still readable. But if the disk is in pieces, recovery isn't possible.

I will choose A degaussing, best practice is that the disk should be overwritten or degaussed prior to destruction.

Based on the Storage Device Sanitization and Destruction Manual for NSA. Shredding is not included only Degaussing and Incineration.

This question is the split difference between the right answer and the most right answer. While degaussing is the right answer, shredding would be the most right answer.

Just throwing this out there but not storage devices are susceptible to degaussing such as SSD. Shredding gets the job done every time.

"so the drives CANNOT BE REUSED." B. Shredding (They will be destroyed making them unusable).

I am going with Shredding cuz, "storage media files" can be HHD, SSD, RAM, NVM, and CD.

chatgpt says Degaussing

Degaussing a drive will ensure you cannot reuse it. A

keyword is sanitize. Not physicaly destroy. it is degaussing

Straight from CompTIA Learn platform: Secure disposal means physical destruction by mechanical shredding or incineration. It leaves the media device unusable. The company, by policy, does not allow reusing hard drives. A secure erase (SE) utility is commonly available from vendors to perform sanitization of flash-based devices, especially those that use wear-leveling routines such as TRIM. The media is still usable after using this utility. In a cryptographic erase (CE), the media is encrypted by default. To apply the erase operation, the encryption key itself is destroyed. The media is still usable after a CE. Degaussing is an erase method for a hard drive disk (HDD). It rearranges the magnetic field on electronic media to completely erase it. The media is still usable afterward.

Leaning towards A. Reuse Degaussed Media Many people are unsure of what to do with degaussed disks, hard drives, tapes, et cetera. Since the devices don’t appear damaged, people often think they can reuse them. Unfortunately, degaussing usually renders the device unusable. Hard drives, disks, and more modern devices cannot be reused. However, older devices, such as reel tapes, can occasionally be reused after the process.

The best and most secure method of rendering hard drive information completely unusable is to completely destroy it through hard drive shredding

B, question doesn't specify if it's a HDD or an SSD Degaussing will only work on a HDD

It's hard drive shredding. Our company just purchased one... not cheap! https://legalshred.com/degaussing-vs-hard-drive-shredding/