220-1102 Operational Procedures Practice Question
A technician is decommissioning a server that contains confidential data stored on multiple SATA SSDs. The SSDs will be physically destroyed by a certified vendor. However, the technician must first render the data unrecoverable before handing over the drives. Which of the following methods is the MOST appropriate for SSDs prior to physical destruction?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse SSDs with HDDs and choose degaussing (B) or a single overwrite (A), not realizing that SSDs use non-magnetic NAND flash and that overwriting is unreliable due to the flash translation layer, while Secure Erase is the only firmware-level method that ensures complete data removal.
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
✓
Execute a Secure Erase command using the drive's firmware.
The Secure Erase command (C) is the most appropriate method because it uses the drive's internal firmware to perform a cryptographic erase or a complete block-level wipe that resets all cells to an unallocated state, effectively rendering data unrecoverable even before physical destruction. Unlike overwriting or formatting, Secure Erase is designed specifically for SSDs to bypass the flash translation layer and ensure all user-accessible areas, including over-provisioned and spare blocks, are sanitized.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Perform a single overwrite of all data with zeros.
Why it's wrong here
A single overwrite of all data with zeros is insufficient for SSDs because wear leveling and over-provisioning spread logical writes across physical NAND flash cells unpredictably, so the overwritten zeros may not reach every physical location. Additionally, the SSD controller may hide reserved blocks from the operating system, leaving original data remnants recoverable with advanced forensic techniques.
- ✗
Use a degausser to erase the magnetic fields.
Why it's wrong here
A degausser works by applying a strong magnetic field to randomize or eliminate magnetic domains, which is effective only on legacy magnetic platters such as HDDs. SSDs store data using electric charge in NAND flash floating gates, not magnetic fields, so degaussing has no erasure effect on them and merely wastes time while leaving the data intact.
- ✓
Execute a Secure Erase command using the drive's firmware.
Why this is correct
Executing a Secure Erase command via the drive's firmware is the definitive sanitization method for SSDs: it issues an internal ATA command that forces the controller to physically erase all user-accessible and over-provisioned NAND blocks, often by performing a full internal reset. On self-encrypting drives, Secure Erase can also destroy the encryption key, rendering all previously stored data cryptographically unrecoverable, which single overwrites or formats cannot guarantee.
- ✗
Format each drive with a quick format.
Why it's wrong here
A quick format only rewrites the file system metadata (such as the partition table and file allocation tables) to designate the volume as empty; it does not overwrite or delete the actual data clusters on the drive. The raw data remains physically present on the disk and can be fully recovered using standard file-recovery or forensic software, so this method fails to address confidential data destruction requirements.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Data Sanitization: Wipe, Degauss, Shred, Incinerate
Key term
Wipe
Wipe is the process of securely erasing all data from a storage device, making it unrecoverable and preparing the device for reuse or disposal.
Key term
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) is a computer bus interface used to connect storage devices like hard drives and solid-state drives to a computer's motherboard.
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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.