Secure data erasure is a top priority for every IT
manager and data security officer, with one of the greatest IT security
challenges presented by optical and magnetic data carriers.

The wide range of information, which is stored on hard
disk drives and magnetic tapes, makes many companies vulnerable to breaches in
data security and to data theft, if their data storage equipment ends up in the
wrong hands. Mechanical destruction of data on discarded hard disk drives, CDs
and magnetic tapes is still the safest method.

"Since the 1970s, intimus stands for the reliable
and safe destruction of data storage media," reports Gert Buchholz,
Director Business Development at Martin Yale International. "We have thereby
always focused on the specific areas of application of our target group. For
instance, we initially supplied shredders that ground microfiches into dust. In
the meantime, we have accompanied digital data media along its developmental
path: from carbon tapes and video cassettes on to floppy disks, CDs, ZIP and
DAT bands, and finally to today’s magnetic hard disks."

In the year 2000, the company presented its VZ product
range. It includes industrial machines for the destruction of optical and
magnetic data media, along with entire hard disk drives at simultaneously high
throughputs.

"In the past decade, data media and their storage
capacities have developed at a rapid pace. Starting with floppy disks with only
1.4 MB storage capacity, a wide range of optical and magnetic data media
flooded the market with increasingly larger storage capacities at steadily
falling prices," explains Buchholz. "This development has drastically
changed our daily handling of files and data. The continuous advancement makes
data storage media quickly outdated and all this memory in discarded computers,
laptops, copiers and mobile telephones, and the like are real data bombs, which
companies need to dispose of safely."

For a private household, drilling a hole through the
hard disk drive or taking a hammer to it may be sufficient measures, to prevent
amateurs from accessing data. Companies that are subject to the Federal Data
Protection Act, must fulfil significantly higher requirements, in order to
avoid embarrassing data leaks. For data media destruction that is equally
secure and cost-effective, the intimus product range offers two options.

• The <b>intimus VZ MultiMedia 150 Office</b> shredder
  is tailor-made for use in the office or IT department. The device can be
  plugged into a standard one-phase socket for operation and shreds up to 60 hard
  disk drives per hour in small, crumpled pieces that are as little as 18.5 mm.
  This corresponds with Security Level H4 of the new DIN 66 399 for particularly
  sensitive and confidential data.

• <img>The 400V<b> intimus VZ MultiMedia 150 </b>is suitable
  for the destruction of larger volumes, also shredding up to 180 hard disk
  drives per hour in pieces that are 18.5 mm wide, which also complies with
  Security Level H4.

• Both units shred nearly all conventional optical and
  magnetic data media like hard disk drives up to 3.5", floppy disks, video
  cassettes, carbon tapes, electric circuit boards, CD/DVD, DDS and DLT bands.

• <img>The unit is fed over a special loading hatch. This
  technology prevents the user from getting too close to the cutting mechanism
  when the device is switched on. At the same time it ensures continuous feed and
  safe working conditions.

• The sturdy cutting mechanism is especially configured
  for industrial requirements and is constructed to be extremely
  maintenance-friendly. It can be resharpened when necessary.

• <img>The shredded material is collected in commercial
  transport receptacles, which significantly facilitates its transfer to
  recycling companies. Access to the receptacles located underneath is also
  secured with a limit switch, thereby ensuring maximum operational safety.

• After the start button has been activated, all device
  functions are controlled fully automatically by a specially programmed Moeller
  PLC. This enables easy operation of the unit even by inexperienced users.

"Since
years now, shredders from the intimus VZ MultiMedia series have been a valuable
asset," says Gert Buchholz. "They are powerful, reliable and
efficient – regardless of how many hard disk drives and magnetic data storage
media they need to destroy, intimus VZ MultiMedia is the right choice."
For areas with high-level security requirements, Buchholz recommends the
intimus HDD Granulator, which achieves destruction in compliance with up to Security
Level H6.

Pressreleasen kommer från: Newsdesk