Technical Guide
NIST SP 800-88 International Data Erasure Standards Explained - 3 Erasure Levels Enterprises Should Know
Detailed explanation of NIST SP 800-88 data erasure guidelines established by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology. Learn about Clear, Purge, and Destroy erasure levels and application scenarios.
What are International Data Erasure Standards?
International standards exist for data erasure. The most prominent is NIST SP 800-88.
What is NIST SP 800-88?
Media Sanitization Guidelines established by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- Official Name: NIST Special Publication 800-88 Revision 1
- Publication Year: 2014
- Scope: HDDs, SSDs, optical media, mobile devices, etc.
Three Erasure Levels
Level 1: Clear
Definition:
Data erasure through logical overwriting
Methods:
- Software-based full area overwriting
- One or more random data writes
- File system level erasure
Application Scenarios:
- Internal reuse
- Low-sensitivity data
- Regular business data
MASAMUNE Support: ✅ Supported
Level 2: Purge
Definition:
Complete data erasure at physical level
Methods:
- Multiple overwrites (DoD 5220.22-M, etc.)
- Secure Erase (SSD-specific commands)
- Cryptographic erasure
Application Scenarios:
- External transfer/sale
- Data containing personal information
- Trade secret level data
MASAMUNE Support: ✅ Supported
Level 3: Destroy
Definition:
Complete prevention of data recovery through physical destruction
Methods:
- Physical shredding
- Melting
- Incineration
- Degaussing (HDDs)
Application Scenarios:
- National security level
- Financial institution critical data
- When not reusing
MASAMUNE Support: Partial (erasure only, physical destruction separate)
Other International Standards
ISO/IEC 27040
- Storage security in information security management
- Consistent with NIST SP 800-88
ADISA
(Asset Disposal and Information Security Alliance)
- Data erasure product certification body
- Globally recognized certification
UK HMG Infosec Standard 5
- UK government standards
- Specifies erasure methods by classification level
Erasure Levels Enterprises Should Choose
| Data Sensitivity | Recommended Level | Erasure Method |
|---|---|---|
| General business data | Clear | Single overwrite |
| Personal information | Purge | 3+ overwrites |
| Trade secrets | Purge | Secure Erase |
| National secrets | Destroy | Physical destruction |
MASAMUNE Erasure Compliance
Compliant Standards
- NIST SP 800-88 compliant
- DoD 5220.22-M compatible
- ISO/IEC 27040 consistent
Provided Erasure Levels
- Clear: Single overwrite (high-speed processing)
- Purge: Triple overwrite (standard)
- Purge+: Secure Erase (SSD)
Certificate Issuance
- International standard compliance noted
- Erasure algorithm documentation
- Detailed logs for audit compliance
Summary
International standard-compliant data erasure is essential for corporate compliance. Understand NIST SP 800-88 and select appropriate erasure levels.