How to Securely Erase Your Hard Drive
Seagate Instant Secure Erase (ISE) is designed to protect data on hard disk drives by instantly resetting the drive back to factory settings and changing the encryption key so that any data remaining on the drive is cryptographically erased. This means all data on the drive is permanently and instantly unreadable.
Seagate Instant Secure Erase (ISE) is designed to protect data on hard disk drives by instantly resetting the drive back to factory settings and changing the encryption key so that any data remaining on the drive is cryptographically erased. This means all data on the drive is permanently and instantly unreadable. Learn more about Seagate Instant Secure Erase Deployment Options.
To perform the ISE function, you must have a Self-Encrypting Drive (SED) with or without FIPS validation. SEDs let you take ownership and manage your active drive security through passwords, fingerprints, or other authentication means, as well as instantly cryptographically erase drives with their ISE functionality when they are ready to be retired or repurposed.
There is more information on the SeaTools application and prerequisites on the SeaTools site (http://www.seagate.com/support/downloads/seatools/) and under the Downloads tab.
Otherwise, within about one minute the drive status listing will change to SED Crypto Erase – Pass.
The drive has now been reset to factory settings and any existing data rendered permanently unreadable. The drive may be safely retired, reused, or returned for warranty repair or lease expiration.
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