- A
Run a full format on each SSD.
Why wrong: A full format does not securely erase SSDs; it may leave data in over-provisioned areas unreachable by the OS.
- B
Use the drive manufacturer's secure erase utility.
Manufacturer secure erase sends a command that resets all NAND cells, making data unrecoverable while allowing the SSD to be reused.
- C
Degauss the SSDs.
Why wrong: Degaussing can damage the controller and may not fully erase data on SSDs due to their non-magnetic storage. It also may render the drive unusable.
- D
Overwrite the drives with zeros three times.
Why wrong: Overwriting SSDs is unreliable because wear-leveling may prevent all cells from being overwritten. Secure erase is the recommended method.
Question 37 of 750
How to Securely Erase an SSD for Reuse
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. A key principle to apply: secure Erase. 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 tasked with decommissioning a RAID array of SSDs that stored proprietary source code. The company policy requires that the drives be reused in another department. Which method ensures data is securely removed while preserving the SSDs?
Quick Answer
The answer is to use the drive manufacturer’s secure erase utility, because SSDs use wear-leveling and TRIM, which scatter data across all cells and make traditional overwriting methods unreliable for complete data removal. The ATA Secure Erase command resets every cell to an unallocated state, ensuring the proprietary source code is irrecoverable while preserving the drive’s health for reuse. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding that SSDs require a different decommissioning approach than HDDs—a common trap is choosing a multi-pass overwrite tool, which can actually damage NAND flash and fail to erase all blocks. Remember the memory tip: “SSDs need a reset, not a rewrite.”
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 drive manufacturer's secure erase utility.
The drive manufacturer's secure erase utility (e.g., ATA Secure Erase) issues a hardware-level command that triggers the SSD's internal controller to cryptographically erase all data by resetting the encryption key, which is instantaneous and preserves the drive's health. This method is specifically designed for SSDs because traditional overwriting (like zero-filling) is ineffective on SSDs due to wear-leveling and garbage collection, which can leave data remnants in over-provisioned or reallocated sectors.
Key principle: Secure Erase
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 full format on each SSD.
Why it's wrong here
A full format does not securely erase SSDs; it may leave data in over-provisioned areas unreachable by the OS.
- ✓
Use the drive manufacturer's secure erase utility.
Why this is correct
Manufacturer secure erase sends a command that resets all NAND cells, making data unrecoverable while allowing the SSD to be reused.
Related concept
Secure Erase
- ✗
Degauss the SSDs.
Why it's wrong here
Degaussing can damage the controller and may not fully erase data on SSDs due to their non-magnetic storage. It also may render the drive unusable.
- ✗
Overwrite the drives with zeros three times.
Why it's wrong here
Overwriting SSDs is unreliable because wear-leveling may prevent all cells from being overwritten. Secure erase is the recommended method.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistakenly believe that multiple overwrites (like the DoD 5220.22-M standard) are universally effective, but SSDs require a different approach due to their internal architecture. Degaussing is destructive for magnetic drives and not applicable to flash-based storage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ATA Secure Erase works by sending a SECURITY ERASE UNIT command (opcode 0xF4) to the drive, which instructs the SSD controller to generate a new internal encryption key and discard the old one, effectively making all previously encrypted data unreadable in milliseconds. This process does not write to the NAND cells, avoiding write amplification and preserving the drive's remaining lifespan, which is critical for SSDs with limited program/erase cycles. In real-world scenarios, forensic tools like PC-3000 can recover data from SSDs after multiple overwrites if the controller's FTL (Flash Translation Layer) is not reset, but ATA Secure Erase bypasses this by targeting the encryption layer.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Secure Erase
- ATA Secure Erase
- SSD Data Destruction
- Wear-leveling
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
Secure Erase
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. Secure Erase Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Quick reference
RAID Level Comparison
| RAID Level | Min Disks | Fault Tolerance | Read | Write | Usable Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | 2 | None | Excellent | Excellent | 100% |
| RAID 1 | 2 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 50% |
| RAID 5 | 3 | 1 disk | Good | Moderate | 67–94% |
| RAID 6 | 4 | 2 disks | Good | Lower | 50–88% |
| RAID 10 | 4 | 1 disk per mirror | Excellent | Good | 50% |
RAID is not a backup strategy — it protects against disk failure but not against accidental deletion, ransomware, or site-level events.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review secure Erase, then practise related 220-1202 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Data Destruction and Disposal — study guide chapter
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Data Destruction and Disposal practice questions
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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 — Secure Erase.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the drive manufacturer's secure erase utility. — The drive manufacturer's secure erase utility (e.g., ATA Secure Erase) issues a hardware-level command that triggers the SSD's internal controller to cryptographically erase all data by resetting the encryption key, which is instantaneous and preserves the drive's health. This method is specifically designed for SSDs because traditional overwriting (like zero-filling) is ineffective on SSDs due to wear-leveling and garbage collection, which can leave data remnants in over-provisioned or reallocated sectors.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Review secure Erase, then practise related 220-1202 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Secure Erase
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 →
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. A customer brings in a laptop that they want to recycle, but they are concerned about personal data. The laptop has a 256GB SSD and the customer wants to keep the laptop functional for resale. Which method should the technician recommend?
medium- A.Remove the SSD and physically destroy it, then sell the laptop without a drive.
- B.Use a degausser on the SSD.
- C.Perform a standard format and reinstall Windows.
- ✓ D.Use the 'Reset this PC' option with the 'Remove everything and clean the drive' setting.
Why D: The correct answer is to use the built-in 'Reset this PC' with the 'Remove everything and clean the drive' option, which performs a secure wipe on SSDs. This ensures data is overwritten while keeping the laptop usable. Simple deletion or formatting is insufficient, and physical destruction would make the laptop unusable.
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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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