SSCP Security Operations and Administration Practice Question
A security administrator needs to dispose of hard drives that contain sensitive data. Which method provides the highest assurance that data cannot be recovered?
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
✓
Physically shredding the hard drives
Physical destruction (e.g., shredding, crushing) ensures that the storage media is no longer usable and data recovery is virtually impossible. Degaussing may destroy magnetic media but is less effective on SSDs. Overwriting requires multiple passes and may not be effective on all media types.
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 all files and emptying the recycle bin
Why it's wrong here
Deletion only removes file pointers; data remains recoverable.
- ✗
Performing a quick format of the drive
Why it's wrong here
Quick format does not erase data; it only clears the file system metadata.
- ✓
Physically shredding the hard drives
Why this is correct
Physical destruction provides the highest assurance of data irrecoverability.
- ✗
Using a degausser to erase magnetic data
Why it's wrong here
Degaussing is effective for HDDs but not for SSDs; also, it may not be acceptable for all security policies.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SSCP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 SSCP exam.