IT Sharps: Issues relating to securely disposing of hard disks from medical information systems

摘要

Organizations worldwide are failing to adequately erase data from hard disks before disposing of them. Recent studies have uncovered significant and highly confidential data from computer hard disks for sale in the second hand market using minimal forensic recovery techniques. Increasingly medical businesses are being required to use IT based systems to deliver or receive services. Also medical records are becoming electronic in nature and have significant secondary storage requirements. Given the increased use of IT in medical practice this paper examines the issues uncovered in the studies into recovery of remnant data from hard disks. The paper also explores methods and options for the secure disposal of data in the modern medical environment.