CLEAR
Clear
Logical techniques that protect against simple, non-invasive recovery, such as overwriting where the media supports it.
Typical use
Lower-sensitivity reuse within a controlled environment, when policy allows.
Serialized media handling for enterprise and colo data centers, with Clear, Purge, or Destroy methods and a Certificate of Destruction for every drive.
Kansas City–based. Midwest colo + nationwide crews and freight.
NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2
Clear · Purge · Destroy
$1M
E&O / cyber liability
CODs
Serialized per drive
Direct
On-site or off-site
Overview
Retired drives are not scrap metal until the data is gone in a way your auditors can prove. Asset Decom provides white-glove media sanitization and physical destruction for colo and enterprise data centers: serialized tracking, NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 methods — Clear, Purge, Destroy — and a Certificate of Destruction (COD) on every drive, not a generic “wiped” checkbox.
We are Kansas City–based, focused on Midwest colo and enterprise floors, with nationwide crews and freight when the program spans regions. This page is about media. For full cage teardown see data center decommissioning. For residual value on the chassis and components see server buyback. Start at the homepage for the full Extract → Certify → Recover value path.
Deep dive
Plain-language guide to each method, when it fits, and how serialized CODs map to your policy.
Standard
NIST Special Publication 800-88 Revision 2 is the U.S. framework most enterprise and colo buyers use to talk about media sanitization. It does not replace your internal policy; it gives shared vocabulary for how thoroughly media was handled.
CLEAR
Logical techniques that protect against simple, non-invasive recovery, such as overwriting where the media supports it.
Typical use
Lower-sensitivity reuse within a controlled environment, when policy allows.
PURGE
Stronger techniques that resist laboratory recovery attempts appropriate to the media type.
Typical use
Common enterprise or colo bar before reuse or resale of drives.
DESTROY
Physical destruction so the media cannot be reused as storage: shred, disintegrate, incinerate, or another applicable process.
Typical use
Highest assurance; drives leave as debris, not reusable devices.
Asset Decom applies Clear, Purge, or Destroy based on your policy, media type, and whether the asset is headed for reuse, resale, or scrap. Degaussing and shredding are available where they fit the media and the Destroy path. We do not claim a single method for every drive; the COD records what was done to each serial. For a fuller Clear vs Purge vs Destroy walkthrough, see NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2.
Media types
Enterprise floors mix generations and interfaces. Sanitization and destruction planning should name the media, not assume “hard drive” means spinning disk:
Traditional magnetic hard disk drives.
Solid-state drives, including SATA and other form factors.
High-speed flash common in modern servers and storage.
Enterprise and nearline interfaces still dominant in many arrays and servers.
Backup media whose methods differ from disk and flash; call it out so we plan correctly.
If your BOM includes unusual form factors or proprietary cartridges, list them in the inventory. Guessing media type after the truck leaves is how CODs get incomplete.
COD path
Procurement and audit file what they can defend. Our COD path is built for that:
At extraction or intake.
Clear, Purge, or Destroy — aligned to NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 language.
Certificate of Destruction for the record set.
Structured so compliance can attach them to the work order or vendor risk file.
This sits inside the same chain of custody used for data center decommissioning: cage → log → sanitize or destroy → COD → payout when buyback applies.
Delivery
We help you choose based on policy and access, not a one-size marketing claim. Chain of custody starts when serials are logged, whether the wipe happens in the cage or after controlled intake.
Asset Decom’s public site states NIST-oriented sanitization, serialized CODs, and $1M E&O / cyber liability. We do not claim certifications we do not hold. If an RFP requires a specific certification, ask us directly and we will answer with current credentials only.
Drives that must be Destroyed are not buyback candidates as storage devices; the chassis, CPUs, enterprise RAM, networking, and sometimes reusable NVMe, when policy allows Purge and resale, may still carry value. Coordinating media policy with server buyback keeps finance from assuming every bay is zeroed out of the residual model.
Get a quote
Request NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 Clear, Purge, or Destroy with Certificates of Destruction. Send the drive or media inventory, or a full rack list, and receive a range and method plan within 24 hours. White-glove ITAD for live data centers — COD-ready paperwork, not a vague recycle receipt.
Or call 913-303-2166 · quotes@assetdecom.com
Quote desk
Send drive inventory or rack list. Method plan within 24 hours.