Questions about data wiping
Straight answers about how on-site wiping works, what it costs and what you get.
Do you take our devices away?
No. Everything is wiped at your premises and stays there the whole time. You can watch if you like. Nothing goes in a van, and there's no warehouse your data passes through.
How long does a visit take?
Most SSD laptops take a few minutes each, because modern drives have a built-in secure erase that we trigger and then check. Older spinning hard drives are slower, as every sector has to be overwritten, which can take an hour or more for a large drive. We wipe several devices at once and plan the visit so we're not in your way.
Can the laptops be used again afterwards?
Yes. A wiped laptop has no operating system on it, so it's ready for a fresh install. You can reuse it, donate it, or sell it. If you'd like, we'll make you an offer for working devices after the wipe.
Does wiping work on SSDs?
Yes, but it has to be done differently. Overwriting an SSD the old-fashioned way doesn't reliably reach every memory cell. We use the drive's own sanitize or secure erase command, which NIST SP 800-88 classes as a Purge method, then verify the result.
What happens if a drive is broken?
A drive that can't be wiped is never marked as wiped. It's listed separately on your report, and we arrange physical destruction through a licensed partner so you still end up with a destruction record.
Is a certificate enough for GDPR?
Under UK GDPR you need to be able to show you took appropriate steps to protect personal data, including when you get rid of equipment. A certificate for each drive is the record that proves it. It doesn't replace your wider data protection policies, but it closes the gap most small businesses have at disposal time.
Do you wipe phones, tablets and USB sticks?
Yes. USB sticks and external drives are wiped like any other drive. Modern phones and tablets are encrypted, so a verified factory reset destroys the encryption key and makes the data unreadable; we record each one on the certificate.
What about photocopiers and printers?
Many office copiers keep copies of scanned documents on an internal drive. Where the model allows it, we wipe that drive on site. Leased machines are usually wiped by the leasing company, so check your contract first.
Do you charge VAT or travel?
No to both. TrustWipe isn't VAT registered, and travel anywhere in Edinburgh, Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian is included in the price.
Are you ADISA certified?
Not yet. ADISA certification matters for large organisations and public sector tenders, and it's on our roadmap. Our methods follow NIST SP 800-88, and every drive is verified and certified individually. If you need an ADISA-certified provider, we'll tell you honestly.
Got a cupboard of old laptops?
Most offices do. Tell us roughly how many and where you are, and we'll give you a fixed price today.