Frequency of data destruction
Over 76% of respondents use data destruction.
The majority do so more often than once a year (34%), followed by every year (21%) and once every five years (18%).
“Over 76% of respondents use data destruction.”
Types of data carriers
When asked “What data sources have you ever had destroyed?” over 96% gave the answer hard drives.
Also popular are CD or DVDs (43%), USB sticks (31%) and smartphones or VOIP phones (25%).
Memory cards and tapes are also named as data carriers for data destruction.
“Hard drives are the most popular data carriers to have destroyed.”
What kind of digital data sources?
When we look at the nature of the type of data, most cases involve data destruction of commercial data (51%) and financial data (45%).
Many companies also do not know because it is third-party or customer data (25%).
Where do we let data destruction take place?
Companies do not appear to have a clear preference for on-site data destruction, or to take data sources and then have them destroyed.
In fact, both choices received 50% of the vote.
Responsibility data destruction
When asked “Who is responsible for data destruction within your company?” we saw many different answers: ICT manager, Security Officer, privacy coordinator, Facility Management, IT department, environmental coordinator or several people.
I’m going in 2021…
Most companies will use data destruction equally in 2021 (over 58%).
Strikingly following this is no use of data destruction (20%).
17% say they will use more and only 2% will use less.
About the survey
This survey was conducted among customers and contacts of IT Recycling. Most of the respondents are employed in the IT sector, in business services, financial services and healthcare.