FOI002815 FOI Information Technology

Follow up of FOI002692

Thank you for your response.

To reduce the scope of the request and avoid the Section 12 cost limit, I would like to clarify that my enquiry relates only to the disposal of end of life IT equipment and associated storage media (for example laptops, desktops, servers or other storage devices), rather than all systems processing personal data.

To avoid any misunderstanding, I would also like to clarify the distinction I am drawing. I am not questioning the adequacy of your processes or suggesting anything is being done incorrectly. My enquiry relates solely to the type of recorded assurance held by the organisation.

A certificate or record confirming that an erasure process was applied demonstrates that a recognised method was used. What I am seeking to understand is whether your organisation holds any recorded evidence of the outcome, namely evidence that the data on a specific storage device is irrecoverable following erasure, rather than confirmation that the erasure process was executed.

With that distinction in mind, please confirm:

Do the IT asset disposal certificates or related contractual terms held by your organisation constitute an explicit outcome based warranty or guarantee that the personal data on each specific storage device has been rendered irrecoverable as a final data state, or do they primarily confirm that a certified erasure process was followed?

Beyond reliance on supplier accreditation, recognised standards including but not limited to ADISA certification, ISO accreditation, HMG IA Standard No.5, NCSC guidance, or confirmation that an erasure process was completed, does your organisation hold any recorded, device specific documentation evidencing independent verification, testing, or validation that the data on the particular storage media processed has been rendered irrecoverable in practice?

For clarity, this request relates specifically to recorded outcome evidence demonstrating irrecoverability of data on the individual storage device, not documentation confirming that an accredited or certified method was applied.

If no explicit outcome based warranty or device specific outcome evidence is held beyond certification, accreditation, or confirmation of process completion, please confirm accordingly.

I am not seeking technical configuration detail, only clarification of the recorded assurance basis relied upon when concluding irrecoverability of the final data state.