Server Donation Data Security Procedures

Operational Procedures

An organization is donating its outdated server equipment to a local charity. Which of the following describes what the organization should do before donating the equipment?

  1. Remove all the data from the server drives using the least destructive method.
  2. Repurpose and recycle any usable server components.
  3. Remove all the components from the server.
  4. Review all company policies. Source Reference Answer

Community Votes

D
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer D. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Community Insight

This question tests the understanding that policy review is the mandatory first step in any asset disposal lifecycle, even when technical steps like wiping or destruction are required later.

Before donating outdated server equipment, organizations must strictly adhere to internal policies and legal requirements regarding data disposal. Community consensus highlights a conflict between procedural compliance (D) and technical best practices for data sanitization.

Candidates often choose A because they focus on the technical act of removing data, overlooking that organizational policy dictates the specific method (e.g., destruction vs. wiping) required by law or regulation.

Community Discussion (3 comments)

PaytoPlay 👍 1
D is the answer.
Ronn_Burgandy 👍 1 Selected: D
Definitely D
ccoli 👍 1
This is utterly incorrect. Any competent IT admin would pull/destroy hard drives and memory before donating hardware. Wiping data, even with multiple passes is not sufficient to prevent data recovery.

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Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

Reviewing company policies is the critical first step because it determines the legally compliant method for data sanitization. Policies dictate whether drives must be physically destroyed, degaussed, or wiped based on the sensitivity of the data and regulatory requirements (such as HIPAA or GDPR). Without this review, an organization risks violating compliance standards by choosing an insufficient or unauthorized disposal method.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Option A is incorrect because 'least destructive' methods may not meet security requirements; sensitive data often requires physical destruction. Option B focuses on recycling rather than security and does not address data protection. Option C is incomplete because simply removing components without following policy may leave non-volatile storage with data intact or violate asset tracking protocols.

Community Comment Notes

Several users argue that D is incorrect because technical admins should physically remove drives (as suggested in comment [1]). However, these comments overlook the exam's focus on governance and procedure. The question asks what the organization should do before donation, implying the initial administrative phase where policy dictates the subsequent technical actions.

Official Reference

NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1 Guidelines for Media Sanitization

Exam Strategy

Always look for the 'governance' answer first in operational procedure questions. Before executing technical tasks like wiping or destroying hardware, verify that the action aligns with established organizational policies and legal frameworks.

Related Analysis

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