What does the process of sanitizing data attempt to achieve?

The process of sanitizing data focuses on making data recovery difficult for unauthorized access. This practice is vital for ensuring that sensitive or confidential information does not fall into the wrong hands, particularly when devices are decommissioned, sold, or disposed of. Sanitization techniques, which may include data wiping, degaussing, or physical destruction of storage media, are used to eliminate or obscure data in a way that it becomes unrecoverable by potential attackers or unauthorized users.

This objective is particularly relevant in compliance contexts, where organizations must adhere to regulations and standards regarding the protection of sensitive information. Properly sanitizing data helps organizations mitigate risks associated with data breaches and ensures that they are safeguarding personal or proprietary information according to best practices and legal requirements.