- A
NIST SP 800-88
NIST SP 800-88 provides guidelines for media sanitization, requiring overwriting or destruction. Deleting files does not meet these standards.
- B
PCI DSS
Why wrong: PCI DSS applies to payment card data, but the core violation here is failure to follow proper sanitization procedures, which NIST SP 800-88 addresses.
- C
HIPAA
Why wrong: HIPAA mandates protection of health information but does not specify technical disposal methods; NIST SP 800-88 is the relevant standard for data destruction.
- D
ISO 27001
Why wrong: ISO 27001 is a management standard, not a specific disposal procedure. The violation is not following NIST SP 800-88 sanitization steps.
Question 162 of 750
220-1202 Data Destruction and Disposal Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of data destruction and disposal. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
During a security audit, it is discovered that an old server's hard drives were simply deleted and the server was sold to a recycler. The recycler later reported finding readable files on the drives. Which data disposal standard was violated?
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
✓
NIST SP 800-88
NIST SP 800-88 provides guidelines for media sanitization, including clear, purge, and destroy methods. Simply deleting files only removes directory pointers, leaving data recoverable until overwritten. The recycler's ability to read files indicates that the drives were not sanitized according to NIST SP 800-88 standards, which require overwriting or physical destruction for sensitive data.
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.
- ✓
NIST SP 800-88
Why this is correct
NIST SP 800-88 provides guidelines for media sanitization, requiring overwriting or destruction. Deleting files does not meet these standards.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
PCI DSS
Why it's wrong here
PCI DSS applies to payment card data, but the core violation here is failure to follow proper sanitization procedures, which NIST SP 800-88 addresses.
- ✗
HIPAA
Why it's wrong here
HIPAA mandates protection of health information but does not specify technical disposal methods; NIST SP 800-88 is the relevant standard for data destruction.
- ✗
ISO 27001
Why it's wrong here
ISO 27001 is a management standard, not a specific disposal procedure. The violation is not following NIST SP 800-88 sanitization steps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between a general security framework (like HIPAA or PCI DSS) and a specific technical disposal standard (NIST SP 800-88), trapping candidates who confuse compliance requirements with the actual sanitization methodology.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
File deletion in most operating systems (e.g., NTFS, ext4) only marks the file's directory entry as free and removes the cluster pointers, leaving the raw data on the platters. NIST SP 800-88 defines 'Clear' as overwriting the entire drive with zeros or random data (e.g., using dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda), while 'Purge' may involve cryptographic erasure or degaussing. In a real-world scenario, a recycler could use tools like TestDisk or PhotoRec to recover deleted files, highlighting why overwriting or physical destruction is critical.
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: NIST SP 800-88 — NIST SP 800-88 provides guidelines for media sanitization, including clear, purge, and destroy methods. Simply deleting files only removes directory pointers, leaving data recoverable until overwritten. The recycler's ability to read files indicates that the drives were not sanitized according to NIST SP 800-88 standards, which require overwriting or physical destruction for sensitive data.
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
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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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