What is the proper way to destroy media?

[David Peacock]

We have to destroy some DDS3 tapes and zip cartridges.

What is the proper way to perform this task?

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

A bulk degausser works very well and takes only seconds per medium. You can get an inexpensive one from Radio Shack.

A hammer is also quite good for the DDS cartridges.

For all removable media, (diskettes, CD's, DVD's, zip cartridges) an old fashioned paper shear is hard to beat.

[Mel Burslan]

there are document destruction companies who handle tape and other magnetic/optic storage media in giant shredders they bring on trucks into your facilities' parking lot and under your security personnel's supervision, they carry the media out in boxes and dump them into shredder. Best way in my humble opinion.

You can go with the giant magnets I once have seen in a data center but they are only good for tapes and I still have a fuzzy feeling in my guts after the tapes get demagnetized.

[Alan Meyer_4]

We keep elephants out back for jobs like these...

And if they are on break, then the big degausser is used.

[Mahesh Kumar Malik]

Hi David

A Branded Degausser will be a good choice for subject job. After degaussing, break them physically as well

Regards
Mahesh