ISC Practice Question: Secure Operations Change Management And Disposal
An administrator needs to wipe a decommissioned laptop hard drive. Which method meets the NIST 800-88 'Purge' standard for magnetic media?
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
✓
Degaussing
Degaussing is the only method listed that specifically aligns with the Purge standard for magnetic media by exposing the drive to a strong magnetic field.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Deleting partitions
Why it's wrong here
Deleting partitions does not sanitize the underlying bits.
- ✗
OS reinstallation
Why it's wrong here
Reinstallation is not a valid sanitization method.
- ✓
Degaussing
Why this is correct
Degaussing removes magnetic domains, effectively purging the data.
- ✗
File system encryption
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is a protective measure, not a disposal method.
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official (ISC)² exam blueprint
This ISC practice question is part of Courseiva's free (ISC)² 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 ISC exam.