ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 7.14

Abstract of Annex A Control 7.14: Secure disposal or re-use of equipment

Information security does not end when an asset is no longer in use. Many organizations focus heavily on securing data during its lifecycle but overlook the risks associated with improper disposal or reuse of equipment. Control 7.14 of ISO 27001 addresses this critical aspect by ensuring that any storage media within disposed or repurposed equipment is securely erased or destroyed.

Iso 27001 Annex A Control 7.14 Secure Disposal Or Re-Use Of Equipment

Control Type

  • Preventive

Information Security Properties

  • Confidentiality

Cybersecurity Concepts

  • Protect

Operational Capabilities

  • Physical Security
  • Asset Management

Security Domains

  • Protection

Objective of Control 7.14

The primary objective of Control 7.14 is to prevent the unauthorized recovery of sensitive information from equipment that is being disposed of or repurposed. This includes any storage media, servers, hard drives, SSDs, USB devices, mobile phones, printers, and even network equipment that might retain confidential data.

A structured approach to secure disposal ensures that:

  • Data confidentiality is preserved—preventing unauthorized parties from accessing residual information.
  • Legal and regulatory compliance is maintained—helping your organization meet GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, ISO 27001, NIST 800-88, and other industry-specific regulations.
  • Cybersecurity risks are mitigated—reducing the risk of data leaks, corporate espionage, and reputational damage.
  • Equipment can be securely repurposed or donated without posing a security risk.

Purpose of Secure Disposal and Re-use

Many types of equipment used in your organization contain residual data even after deletion. Simply deleting files or formatting a hard drive does not permanently remove data—it can often be recovered using forensic tools. The purpose of Control 7.14 is to ensure that storage media is completely sanitized before disposal or reuse.

Implementing a secure disposal and re-use policy serves multiple purposes:

  • Data Protection: Ensures that confidential business data, personal information, and intellectual property do not end up in the wrong hands.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Helps your organization meet the requirements of ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and NIST.
  • Operational Efficiency: Establishes a structured, repeatable process for handling retired IT assets.
  • Environmental Responsibility: Encourages proper recycling of equipment while maintaining security.

Secure Disposal and Re-use Guidelines

Your organization should implement a structured and well-documented process for secure disposal and reuse. This includes several key steps:

1. Identify and Classify Equipment for Disposal or Reuse

  • Conduct an inventory assessment to determine which equipment contains storage media.
  • Classify the sensitivity of the data stored on the equipment to decide the appropriate disposal method.
  • Maintain a disposal log for auditing and tracking purposes.

2. Secure Data Removal Techniques

To prevent data leakage, your organization must apply appropriate data sanitization methods. The method chosen depends on the storage media type and the classification level of the stored data.

(A) Physical Destruction

This method is the most effective when disposing of highly sensitive data. It includes:

  • Shredding: Mechanically destroying storage devices using specialized shredders.
  • Degaussing: Exposing magnetic storage media to a strong magnetic field to erase data.
  • Incineration: Burning media to ensure complete destruction.

When to Use:

  • When dealing with highly classified, confidential, or regulated data.
  • When equipment is beyond repair or reuse.

(B) Secure Data Overwriting

Overwriting software replaces existing data with random patterns multiple times, making it unrecoverable.

  • Use tools that comply with standards such as DoD 5220.22-M, NIST 800-88, or ISO/IEC 27040.
  • Overwrite at least three passes to ensure data is unrecoverable.

When to Use:

  • When equipment is to be repurposed or donated.
  • For hard drives, SSDs, and USB storage that are still functional.

(C) Cryptographic Erasure

  • Encrypt all stored data before use.
  • Securely erase encryption keys when retiring the storage media.

When to Use:

  • When secure destruction is not feasible.
  • For cloud-based storage or encrypted external drives.

3. Label Removal and Equipment Reclassification

Before equipment disposal:

  • Remove any identifying labels or serial numbers that link the device to your organization.
  • Ensure that equipment is reclassified correctly if it is being repurposed for lower-risk tasks.

4. Handling Leased or Shared Equipment

If your organization leases IT equipment or shares infrastructure, additional considerations are required:

  • Ensure that leased equipment is returned in its original state, free of confidential data.
  • Consider whether access control mechanisms need to be removed before equipment is transferred.

Risk Assessment for Damaged Equipment

Damaged equipment that contains sensitive data presents unique risks. Before deciding whether to repair or dispose of such devices, your organization should conduct a risk assessment that considers:

  • The severity of the damage—can the device be safely restored?
  • The sensitivity of the data stored—does it contain regulated or classified information?
  • The likelihood of data recovery—can a third party recover the data if the device is discarded?

If there is any risk that sensitive data may be compromised, physical destruction should be prioritized.

Encryption as an Additional Protection

If storage media must be temporarily retained, encryption can provide an additional layer of security:

  • Ensure full-disk encryption is used.
  • Use cryptographic keys that are long and resistant to brute-force attacks.
  • Never store encryption keys on the same device.

Relevant ISO 27001 Controls

Several other ISO 27001 controls complement Control 7.14:

  • Control 7.10 Secure disposal of storage media.
  • Control 8.10 Information deletion.
  • Control 8.24 Cryptographic key management.

Integrating these controls will strengthen your data security strategy.

Templates to Support Control 7.14

Using these templates will help formalize procedures, ensure consistency, and simplify audits. Your organization can streamline compliance with ISO 27001 Control 7.14 using structured templates:

Best Practices for Compliance

To fully implement Control 7.14, your organization should:

  1. Develop and document a data disposal policy.
  2. Educate employees on secure disposal procedures.
  3. Maintain detailed disposal logs for auditing purposes.
  4. Conduct periodic security audits to ensure compliance.
  5. Regularly review and update sanitization techniques.
Control 7.13
ISO 27001 overview
Control 8.1