Peripheral Destruction

Data Destruction Inc. destroys the internal drives inside copiers, printers, multifunction devices, and scanners to NIST SP 800-88 r2, because these peripherals quietly store images of everything they process. 

The office copier is one of the most overlooked data risks in any building. A modern multifunction device keeps a hard drive that stores an image of every document it scans, prints, copies, or faxes. When that device is returned off lease or sent to recycling, the drive leaves with a searchable archive unless it is destroyed.

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Medical equipment destruction handles clinical imaging and diagnostic devices, complementing peripheral destruction where copiers and scanners store PHI.

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Hard Drive Shredding

Hard drive shredding reduces the internal drives pulled from copiers and MFPs to particles below the 6 mm class, the core Destroy method for those drives.

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Media Shredding

Mixed-media shredding destroys peripheral drives alongside other media in one documented run, efficient for a large office cleanout.

What is peripheral destruction?

Peripheral destruction is the secure sanitization and physical destruction of the storage inside imaging and office peripherals, principally the hard drives and flash in copiers, multifunction printers (MFPs), and scanners. The goal is to destroy the retained document images and address-book data these devices accumulate.

Most MFPs and high-volume copiers include an internal hard drive or SSD that spools jobs and caches images. NIST SP 800-88 r2 requires the method to match the media, so a spinning drive is shredded or degaussed and a flash drive is shredded.

AttributeValue
Equipment classCopiers, MFPs, printers, scanners, fax machines
Data-bearing partsInternal HDD or SSD, embedded flash, fax memory
HDD destructionShred below 6 mm class, or degauss then destroy
SSD and flash destructionShred to small particle size
Data at riskScanned images, print spools, address books, fax logs
Ineffective methodsDeleting jobs, overwriting flash, degaussing flash

How does peripheral destruction work?

Peripheral destruction works by removing and destroying the storage inside each device, then documenting the result. Data Destruction Inc. follows a documented sequence.

  1. Inventory and scan peripherals, capturing serials under documented chain of custody.
  2. Locate and remove internal drives, flash, and fax memory.
  3. Shred flash and SSD; shred or degauss hard drives.
  4. Record serials, methods, particle sizes, and operator sign-off.
  5. Route drives and hardware to responsible downstream recovery, then issue the Certificate of Destruction.

The drive-level methods are those on our

Why copiers and MFPs are a hidden breach risk

Copiers and multifunction devices are a hidden breach risk because the drive that makes them convenient also makes them a data archive. This is a documented, real-world exposure, not a theoretical one.

  • Image retention. Many devices store an image of every scanned, printed, or copied page on the internal drive.
  • Off-lease returns. Devices returned at end of lease carry their drives, and the archive, to the next holder unless the drive is destroyed.
  • Address books and logs. Stored contacts and fax logs expose internal directories and communication records.

Federal regulators have penalized organizations for returning copiers without clearing the drives, which is why removing and destroying the drive is the dependable control. When many peripherals are retired together, they can be handled alongside drives through Media Shredding.

How does peripheral destruction meet compliance obligations?

Peripheral destruction meets compliance obligations when the internal storage is sanitized to NIST SP 800-88 r2 and the outcome is documented per device. The map below ties common rules to our process.

Standard or ruleRequirementData Destruction Inc. process
HIPAA 45 CFR 164.310(d)(2)(i)Address final disposition of ePHI on device mediaDestroy copier and MFP drives holding ePHI
NIST SP 800-88 r2Match method to media, verifyShred or degauss drives, shred flash, log serials
PCI DSS Requirement 9.4Destroy media with cardholder dataDestroy drives in devices that processed payments
FACTA Disposal Rule, 16 CFR Part 682Dispose of consumer report information properlyDestroy drives holding consumer data with proof

Read the underlying rules on our blank” rel=”noopener”>HHS resolution of a health-plan photocopier breach and the blank” rel=”noopener”>NIST SP 800-88 r2 guidelines.

Which industries need peripheral destruction?

Any office copier can hold sensitive images, and three sectors face heightened risk.

What you receive after peripheral destruction

Every engagement produces an audit-ready package.

  1. Serialized Certificate of Destruction, provided within 24 hours after the destruction event is complete.
  2. Chain-of-custody log from pickup through destruction.
  3. Asset inventory listing device serials and drive serials.
  4. Method record noting sanitization method and particle size.
  5. Downstream recovery record confirming responsible recycling.

See the blank” rel=”noopener”>Certificate of Destruction and blank” rel=”noopener”>Chain of Custody pages for details.

Frequently asked questions

Do copiers and printers really store data?

Yes. Most modern copiers and multifunction devices keep an internal hard drive that stores an image of every document they scan, print, copy, or fax, plus address books and fax logs.

Can't we just delete the jobs?

Deleting jobs does not remove the stored images from the drive. The reliable control is to remove and destroy the internal drive under documented chain of custody.

What about devices returned off lease?

Devices returned at end of lease take their drives with them unless the drive is removed and destroyed first. We can pull and destroy the drive before the unit is returned.

Do you work on-site?

Yes. We offer on-site destruction with witnessed options and secure off-site service under chain of custody. Call (866) 850-7977.

What proof do we receive?

A serialized Certificate of Destruction, a chain-of-custody log, and an asset inventory with device and drive serials, so everything is accounted for.

What happens to the hardware?

After the storage is destroyed, hardware is routed to responsible downstream recovery and recycling, recorded in your package.

Get Started

Destroy the drive before the copier leaves the building. Schedule peripheral destruction at contact us or call (866) 850-7977.

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DATA DESTRUCTION LOCATIONS

SHREDDING SERVICES DALLAS

1717 Mckinney Ave. Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75202-1236
(469) 949-2840

SHREDDING SERVICES NEW YORK CITY

100 Church Street. 8Th Floor
New York City, NY 10007-2630
(516)-990-4096

SHREDDING SERVICES SAN JOSE

2033 Gateway Place. 5Th Floor
San Jose, CA 95110
(408) 459-4418

SHREDDING SERVICES SAN DIEGO

350 10Th Avenue. Suite 1000
San Diego, CA 92101-7496
(619) 916-4696

SHREDDING SERVICES LOS ANGELES

633 West Fifth Street. 26Th And 28Th Floors
Los Angeles, CA 90071
(213) 205-3688

SHREDDING SERVICES IRVINE

7545 Irvine Center Drive. Irvine Business Center, Suite 200
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 793-7178

SHREDDING SERVICES WASHINGTON

601 Pennsylvania Ave. Nw, South Building, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20004
(240) 266-3056

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