- A
Perform a full format of all drives.
Why wrong: A full format does not securely erase data; it only marks sectors as bad and can be reversed with specialized tools.
- B
Use a degausser on the entire server chassis.
Why wrong: Degaussing the entire chassis could damage sensitive electronics and is not a standard practice; drives should be removed first.
- C
Remove the hard drives and physically shred them, then return the server without drives.
Physical destruction of the drives ensures data is unrecoverable, and returning the server without drives complies with the leasing agreement.
- D
Run a disk cleanup and delete all files.
Why wrong: Disk cleanup and file deletion leave data intact and recoverable, violating policy.
Question 112 of 750
220-1202 Data Destruction and Disposal Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of data destruction and disposal. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 technician is decommissioning a server that contained encrypted patient health records. The organization's policy requires data to be destroyed beyond recovery, but the server must be returned to the leasing company. Which method should the technician use?
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
✓
Remove the hard drives and physically shred them, then return the server without drives.
Option C is correct because physically shredding the hard drives ensures the encrypted patient health records are destroyed beyond any possible recovery, which satisfies the organization's policy. Returning the server without drives complies with the leasing company's requirement to return the server chassis, as the drives are typically owned by the organization or can be removed per lease terms. This method is the only one that guarantees data destruction at the physical media level, bypassing any residual data on the encrypted drives.
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.
- ✗
Perform a full format of all drives.
Why it's wrong here
A full format does not securely erase data; it only marks sectors as bad and can be reversed with specialized tools.
- ✗
Use a degausser on the entire server chassis.
Why it's wrong here
Degaussing the entire chassis could damage sensitive electronics and is not a standard practice; drives should be removed first.
- ✓
Remove the hard drives and physically shred them, then return the server without drives.
Why this is correct
Physical destruction of the drives ensures data is unrecoverable, and returning the server without drives complies with the leasing agreement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Run a disk cleanup and delete all files.
Why it's wrong here
Disk cleanup and file deletion leave data intact and recoverable, violating policy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose degaussing (Option B) because it effectively destroys magnetic data, but they overlook the requirement to return the server to the leasing company, which degaussing would render inoperable by damaging non-storage electronics.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Physical shredding of hard drives is the gold standard for data destruction because it reduces the platters to small fragments, making any magnetic or electronic data recovery impossible even with advanced techniques like electron microscopy. For SSDs, shredding also physically destroys the NAND chips, preventing any possibility of recovering data from residual charges or remapped blocks. In real-world scenarios, leasing companies often specify that drives must be removed and destroyed separately to avoid liability for residual data, and the server chassis is returned without storage media.
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.
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Data Destruction and Disposal — study guide chapter
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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: Remove the hard drives and physically shred them, then return the server without drives. — Option C is correct because physically shredding the hard drives ensures the encrypted patient health records are destroyed beyond any possible recovery, which satisfies the organization's policy. Returning the server without drives complies with the leasing company's requirement to return the server chassis, as the drives are typically owned by the organization or can be removed per lease terms. This method is the only one that guarantees data destruction at the physical media level, bypassing any residual data on the encrypted drives.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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.
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