Digital Media Recycling Standard

Introduction

The Digital Media Recycling Standard defines the requirements and procedures for erasing, recycling, and destroying digital media equipment to ensure privacy and security.

Purpose and Applicability 

All types of digital media equipment follow the process described in the Standards and Procedures process flow. The disposal policies shall apply to all hardware or electronic media that stores or has stored Protected Health Information (PHI) or Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Media that cannot be cleared is stored until it can be properly destroyed. Media that can be cleared is evaluated for redistribution or destruction. This standard applies to all PSU employees, including faculty and staff.

Definitions

Standards and Procedures

Computer hardware with storage devices that are no longer needed should be sent to OIT for proper erasure and recycling. 

• Drives received by OIT are to be physically labeled with the date for destruction and the ticket number for the drive.
• Unlabeled drives are to be wiped one month after being found.
• Otherwise, drives are to be wiped one month after the date that they were received.
• After wiping a drive, it should be documented in the Drive Wipe spreadsheet.
   

Digital Media Recycling Procedure

• OIT removes the hard drive and tags the hard drive with a ticket number and date for destruction.
• OIT determines if hard drive is functional:
  • If functional, the drive is securely wiped and then can be:,
    • Stored to await possible reuse in another system.
    • Given to facilities and installed in surplus equipment.
    • Stored to be destroyed by an outside vendor.
  • If the drive is not functional it is stored for physical destruction by an outside vendor.

Points of Contact

• Contact the Helpdesk for assistance with digital media recycling.