Securely deleting sensitive data from devices is crucial. But what destruction method to choose, and how to ensure the quality of the used technology? The only way to do this is to look for solutions that have obtained industry-recognized certifications. We have previously explored some of them, such as NIST 800-88 and ADISA, and in today's article, we will focus on one more — NAID certification.
What is NAID certification?
The NAID AAA certification was established by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) in 1999. This non-profit organization standardizes the destruction process for both electronic and paper data to prevent data breaches. NAID provides comprehensive research in data protection to raise awareness of the latest guidelines in the field and to adhere to the highest standards.
What Does it Mean to Be NAID AAA-Certified?
Obtaining NAID AAA certification is voluntary, so companies that undergo the examination have proven their permanent commitment to secure data destruction. Moreover, NAID-certified vendors pass annual unannounced audits to prove their consistency in data maintenance.
How to Obtain NAID AAA Certification?
The steps for becoming NAID-certified are almost identical to the other data destruction certifications. Thus, third-party vendors perform audits to check all parts of the company's activity related to data storage.
Overall, the audits are aimed at the following main areas:
- Process Security
- Facility Security
- Data Destruction Procedures
- Secure Hiring Policies
- Accountability Protection
These audits are performed both scheduled and unannounced to ensure that the company's compliance is continuous and reliable.
The last step of becoming NAID AAA-certified is a background screening to verify that none of the employees have convictions related to information theft.
When a company is NAID AAA-certified, it receives a unique number. This number can be used to check that the certification is valid and up to date.
If the company hasn't passed the examination but doesn't have serious violations, it can get additional training to improve the situation. Then, it can undergo audits again to meet NAID standards. However, in case of severe infractions, the company cannot apply for the certification a second time.
What Are the Benefits of NAID AAA Certification?
The most apparent advantage that the company gets with the certification is increased customer trust. Obtaining NAID AAA certification benefits a business's reputation by proving the quality and safety of its data destruction methods. For customers, working with a NAID AAA-certified company ensures their information wiping complies with strict standards.
However, there are several other benefits that need to be mentioned.
Implementation of Best Practices in the Industry
With NAID AAA certification, the company gets expert advice on the best data erasure practices. It ensures that no confidential data will fall into the wrong hands by providing the most state-of-the-art regulations in terms of:
- Paper document destruction
- Hard drives destruction
- Device storage wiping
- End-to-end data protection
Consistent Employee Training
While hiring new employees, you need to check their background in data maintenance and educate them about information destruction methods used in your company. The NAID will help you with that by providing useful materials for employee training. Therefore, your workers will be more skilled in following data destruction regulations and protocols.
Proof of Compliance
The NAID certificate verifies the quality of data destruction provided by the company. So, in case of data loss, there will be evidence that data was securely eliminated. This certificate is crucial in maintaining a paper trail, demonstrating adherence to protocols in case of a data breach.
Advanced Destruction Equipment
While physically destroying documents or data storage, you need to use the best equipment suitable for your needs. Apart from helping you find the best options, NAID also helps you recycle them at the end of their lifecycle. The organization acknowledges the importance of responsible e-waste management and helps companies minimize their carbon footprint.
Is NAID AAA the Best Certification for Software Providers?
Nowadays, when security norms constantly develop to confront multiple cyber threats, one certification cannot fulfill a company's data protection needs. Although NAID certification is a great option, software providers shouldn't limit themselves to this one variant. To ensure the security of your data, choose software with multiple certifications.
For example, our solution, NSYS Data Erasure, is compliant with several advanced industry guidelines, including NIST 800-88 and ADISA. After each wiping, we provide a certificate to confirm that the data has been erased in accordance with international standards.
NSYS Data Erasure is an advanced solution for safe, secure, certified data destruction from Android and iOS (iPhone and iPad) devices. With this software, you can be 100% sure that no confidential data from previous owners is left on your devices when closing trade-in deals.
Click the link below and try NSYS Data Erasure!
