Do I need to wipe before selling?

No — we sanitize to NIST SP 800-88 after pickup, with destruction on request.

Can you destroy drives physically?

Yes — shred or degauss on request.

No, and we won't claim to be — we sanitize aligned to NIST SP 800-88. For certified ITAD, see Maxicom.

Data Wiping Explained: NIST SP 800-88

Data wiping explained: NIST SP 800-88

NIST SP 800-88 is the recognised US standard for media sanitization. It defines three levels — Clear, Purge and Destroy — for permanently removing data so a drive or device can be safely resold or retired. It's the practical reason you can sell data-bearing hardware in bulk without risk.

The three levels

Clear: overwrite or reset using standard read/write commands — defeats simple recovery.
Purge: stronger techniques (e.g. cryptographic erase, block erase) that defeat lab recovery.
Destroy: physical destruction — shred or degauss — when media must never be reused.

How we apply it

Every data-bearing drive and device we take is sanitized to NIST SP 800-88 (Clear or Purge as appropriate) before it's resold, with physical destruction available on request. Sanitization documentation is available as part of the agreed terms.

What we don't claim

We keep this honest: ServerBuyback performs sanitization aligned to NIST SP 800-88. We do not hold or claim third-party certifications such as R2v3, e-Stewards, ISO or NAID AAA. If you need a fully certified, audited program with formal compliance reporting, that's Maxicom's remit.

More on how we handle data: data erasure →. Need certified ITAD? See Maxicom →

Data wiping explained: NIST SP 800-88

The three levels

How we apply it

What we don't claim

Questions sellers ask

Do I need to wipe before selling?

Can you destroy drives physically?

Are you certified?

Turn surplus into cash.