Through a collaboration with Blancco, the global provider of data erasure and end-of-lifecycle solutions, Stone will pre-install data erasure software as standard across its entire hardware portfolio, in an exclusive deal. This covers its own desktops and laptops, as well as branded products such as Samsung.
At no extra cost. the pre-configured executable programme will allow users to perform a data erasure process in-house, without the presence of an engineer or the need to remove hardware to an off-site facility.
This initiative, it said, will empower suitably-authorised individuals to perform their own CESG-approved data erasures when the equipment is decommissioned, thereby eliminating data security risks and potentially saving fines for data protection breaches.
James Bird, Stone’s chief executive said: “We have taken the decision to include this in all of our public sector business, as customers may hold sensitive data on the public and therefore be liable to such fines for improper use.
The Blancco software makes it simple and comprehensive to erase this information as part of an effective data protection strategy, and guarantees that information stored on hardware has been erased prior to redeployment or end-of-lifecycle disposal.”
This new offering follows the recent Data Protection Act (DPA) fines overhaul, which became active in April this year. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) can make organisations pay up to £500,000 as a penalty for serious data breaches, in a move to protect citizens’ data in an increasingly online society.
Bird said: “With the penalty for data protection breaches now reaching up to £500k for public sector organisations which do not properly manage the deletion of their records, this free facility may well save councils, schools and government departments from both red faces and penalties.”
“We all know how dramatic the effects can be from losing sensitive data, which is just as much of a danger in hardware recycling processes as during day-to-day business activities.”
While customers will have total control over the information-destruction process, they will be required to undergo strict security screening so that no unauthorised data erasure takes place. In addition, each piece of software has only one activation code to avoid accidental erasure.
Source:http://www.iwr.co.uk/information-management-and-technology/3010359/Stone-offers-data-erasure-software-to-public-sector-customers
