Problem:
A prominent IT solution organization responsible for supporting the core operations of a department store chain with multiple locations across Japan faced a significant challenge. To facilitate an ongoing technology refresh, the organization needed to perform secure, on-site data erasure of numerous Dell PowerEdge R640 servers in two data centers located hundreds of miles away from each other. The primary driver was to decommission old hardware while ensuring absolute data security and compliance, all within a tight deadline. Time was of the essence, as any delay could impact the smooth transition to new systems and potentially disrupt critical business operations.
Challenges:
The erasure process demanded a well defined and consistently applied methodology across the two separate data centers. The customer specifically mandated on-site data erasure, which required deploying specialized personnel and equipment directly to the data centers. Data erasure had to adhere to rigorous specifications, which included specific methodologies for sanitization and mandatory verification steps. This left no room for error. After performing a physical inventory and serial number verification of all disk drives against the Statement of Work (SOW), the customer’s data was erased using a Purge process fully compliant with the U.S. NIST Special Publication 800-88 Revision 1: Guidelines for Media Sanitization. Throughout the entire process, detailed Erasure Service Delivery Reports and Certificates of Erasure were generated to ensure a complete audit trail.
Results:
Leveraging their proven methodology, Revert technologists successfully addressed all project requirements and challenges. This not only ensured the secure and compliant decommissioning of legacy servers but also directly supported the seamless progression of the department store group’s essential technology refresh.