220-1102 Operational Procedures Practice Question
An organization must dispose of several hard disk drives (HDDs) that contain highly sensitive data. Which method of data destruction is most appropriate to ensure the data cannot be recovered?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse logical data removal methods (formatting, deletion) with physical destruction, assuming that a quick format or file deletion is sufficient for sensitive data, when in fact only degaussing or physical shredding ensures unrecoverability.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Degaussing the drives
Degaussing exposes the hard disk drives to a powerful magnetic field that disrupts the magnetic domains on the platters, effectively randomizing the data and rendering it unrecoverable. This method is the only option that physically destroys the magnetic media's ability to retain data, making it the most appropriate for highly sensitive data disposal.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Performing a quick format of the drive
Why it's wrong here
A quick format writes a new boot sector and file system index, but it does not scan or overwrite the user data sectors on the platters. The old file contents remain physically present until later writes happen to reuse those clusters, making simple software recovery tools effective. This is a logical erase, not secure sanitization.
- ✗
Deleting all files and emptying the Recycle Bin
Why it's wrong here
Deleting files removes directory references and marks the clusters as available; emptying the Recycle Bin merely makes those references unreachable through the file system. The magnetic flux patterns that represent the data are still on the platters, and forensic recovery utilities can reconstruct files by reading unprotected sectors. This process does not sanitize the media.
- ✓
Degaussing the drives
Why this is correct
Degaussing subjects the HDD platters to a powerful alternating magnetic field that randomizes or nullifies the magnetic domain orientations, irreversibly destroying all recorded data. Because it also disrupts the servo write patterns that the drive needs for head positioning, the drive becomes non-functional and cannot be reused or read. It qualifies as an approved destruction method for magnetic media under data-sanitization standards.
- ✗
Running a disk cleanup utility
Why it's wrong here
The disk cleanup utility (cleanmgr) deletes temporary files, cached thumbnails, and other low-value data to free space, but it never targets the sectors containing user documents, database files, or system partitions. It does not overwrite or encrypt previously stored sensitive information, so the original data remains recoverable from the drive surface. It is a maintenance tool, not a disposal technique.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1102 exam.