ISO 27001 Control 7.14: Secure Disposal or Re-Use of Equipment
Control 7.14 requires your organization to verify that all sensitive data and licensed software are securely deleted or overwritten before equipment is disposed of or reused. This critical control prevents data breaches and licensing violations that can result from inadequately wiped storage media.
What this means
Before any equipment containing storage media leaves your organization—whether through disposal, recycling, or internal redeployment—you must verify that sensitive data has been irreversibly removed and licensed software has been properly handled. This applies to hard drives, SSDs, USB devices, mobile phones, and any other media that may have stored confidential information. Secure deletion means overwriting data with industry-standard wiping methods, not simply deleting files.
How to comply
- 1.Inventory all equipment containing storage media and classify by data sensitivity level
- 2.Establish and document a secure disposal and re-use policy that includes verification procedures
- 3.Use certified data wiping tools or NIST-approved erasure methods for permanent deletion
- 4.Verify licensed software is uninstalled and license keys are deactivated before equipment reuse
- 5.Maintain records of disposal/re-use verification including method used and authorized personnel
- 6.For re-used equipment, apply baseline security configurations before reassignment
- 7.For external disposal, use certified e-waste vendors with data destruction certifications
Evidence auditors look for
- Completed equipment disposal checklist signed by authorized personnel
- Data wiping software reports showing successful sanitization with date and method
- License deactivation confirmations from software vendors
- Certificate of destruction from certified e-waste disposal vendors
- Equipment re-use log documenting security baseline reapplication
- Annual inventory reconciliation of equipment and disposal records
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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