Guidelines for Media Sanitization

As data moves across increasingly complex systems, organizations face mounting risks from improperly handled storage media. NIST’s latest guidance outlines how to ensure sensitive information is irretrievable—whether through clearing, purging, or destroying media—based on confidentiality needs. The document emphasizes that modern devices, including cloud and solid-state storage, require tailored sanitization methods rather than outdated overwrite practices. Without a formal sanitization program, agencies risk data breaches through disposal, donation, repair, or transfer of media.