Question 185 of 750

Data Destruction and Disposal →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

How to Securely Erase an SSD for Data Destruction

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of data destruction and disposal. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A small office is decommissioning several SSDs from old laptops. The technician needs to ensure data is destroyed securely and the drives can be resold. Which method is most appropriate?

A
Run a multi-pass overwrite with random data.
Why wrong: Overwriting SSDs is unreliable because wear-leveling firmware may skip cells, leaving data remnants.
B
Use the ATA Secure Erase command.
ATA Secure Erase clears all flash cells to an unprogrammed state, ensuring data is gone and the SSD is reusable.
C
Degauss the SSDs to remove magnetic data.
Why wrong: Degaussing can damage the SSD controller and does not reliably erase NAND flash memory.
D
Perform a standard delete and empty the recycle bin.
Why wrong: Deleting and emptying the recycle bin only removes file pointers; data remains recoverable.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is to use the ATA Secure Erase command. This is the correct method because SSDs use wear-leveling algorithms that spread data across all cells, making traditional overwriting ineffective—the drive’s controller may simply remap bad or written blocks, leaving old data intact. ATA Secure Erase sends a hardware-level command to reset every cell to an empty state, rendering all previous data unrecoverable while leaving the drive fully functional for resale. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding that SSDs require different destruction methods than HDDs; a common trap is choosing “overwriting with zeros” or “degaussing,” which can damage the SSD’s controller or fail due to wear leveling. Remember the mnemonic: “SSD = Secure Erase, HDD = Overwrite or Degauss.”

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

✓

Use the ATA Secure Erase command.

The ATA Secure Erase command is the most appropriate method because it is specifically designed for SSDs, issuing a secure erase command at the firmware level that resets all cells to their unprogrammed state, effectively destroying all data in seconds. This method is reliable, fast, and does not wear out the NAND flash cells like multi-pass overwrites would, making it ideal for decommissioning and reselling SSDs.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
Run a multi-pass overwrite with random data.
Why it's wrong here
Overwriting SSDs is unreliable because wear-leveling firmware may skip cells, leaving data remnants.
✓
Use the ATA Secure Erase command.
Why this is correct
ATA Secure Erase clears all flash cells to an unprogrammed state, ensuring data is gone and the SSD is reusable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Degauss the SSDs to remove magnetic data.
Why it's wrong here
Degaussing can damage the SSD controller and does not reliably erase NAND flash memory.
✗
Perform a standard delete and empty the recycle bin.
Why it's wrong here
Deleting and emptying the recycle bin only removes file pointers; data remains recoverable.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

CompTIA often tests the misconception that degaussing works on all storage media or that multi-pass overwrites are universally secure, when in fact SSDs require a different approach due to their NAND flash architecture and wear-leveling algorithms.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The ATA Secure Erase command works by issuing a SECURITY ERASE UNIT command (as defined in the ATA/ATAPI-8 specification) that triggers the SSD's firmware to internally erase all user-accessible blocks, often by applying a voltage to reset all cells to their erased state. In practice, some SSDs may implement this as a TRIM-like operation or a full block erase, and it is critical to verify the drive supports the command and that the security feature is not frozen (e.g., by a BIOS lock) before execution.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Related 220-1202 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Windows OS Features and Tools practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows OS Features and Tools.

Windows Settings and Control Panel practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Settings and Control Panel.

Windows Command-Line Tools practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Command-Line Tools.

Windows Administrative Tools practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Administrative Tools.

macOS Features and Tools practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to macOS Features and Tools.

Linux Commands and File Permissions practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Linux Commands and File Permissions.

Mobile OS Features and Tools practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Mobile OS Features and Tools.

Virtualization and Cloud Technologies practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Virtualization and Cloud Technologies.

Physical Security Controls practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Physical Security Controls.

Logical Security Concepts practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Logical Security Concepts.

Wireless Security Protocols practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Wireless Security Protocols.

Malware Types and Removal practice questions

Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Malware Types and Removal.

Practice this exam

Start a free 220-1202 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions 20 questions 30 questions 50 questions Timed 30

220-1202 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

Data Destruction and Disposal — This question tests Data Destruction and Disposal — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Use the ATA Secure Erase command. — The ATA Secure Erase command is the most appropriate method because it is specifically designed for SSDs, issuing a secure erase command at the firmware level that resets all cells to their unprogrammed state, effectively destroying all data in seconds. This method is reliable, fast, and does not wear out the NAND flash cells like multi-pass overwrites would, making it ideal for decommissioning and reselling SSDs.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

About these practice questions

Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on 220-1202

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. During a routine hardware refresh, a technician finds a box of old USB flash drives that were used to store temporary project files. The drives are to be given to employees for personal use. What is the most practical way to ensure no project data remains?

medium

A.Delete all files and empty the Recycle Bin.
✓ B.Use a diskpart clean all command to overwrite every sector.
C.Microwave the flash drives to destroy the chips.
D.Reformat the drives with a quick format.

Why B: Option B is correct because the 'diskpart clean all' command writes zeros or other patterns to every sector of the drive, ensuring that all previously stored data, including temporary project files, is overwritten and cannot be recovered using standard file recovery tools. This is the most practical method for sanitizing USB flash drives before repurposing them for personal use, as it meets the data destruction requirements without physically destroying the media.

Keep practising

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.