CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

Before donating computers that previously stored proprietary research, what should the security administrator ensure?

1. All computers are in working condition

2. Data remnants on all machines are sanitized

3. The computers are reformatted

4. Donations are made swiftly to meet deadlines

The correct answer is: Data remnants on all machines are sanitized

The correct choice focuses on the necessity of ensuring that all data remnants on the machines are sanitized before donating them. This is critical because proprietary research often contains sensitive data that, if not properly disposed of, could lead to data breaches or unauthorized access post-donation. Even if the machines are decommissioned and no longer in use, simply reformatting them or making them operational doesn't guarantee that the data stored on them is completely irretrievable. Data sanitization goes beyond standard deletion or formatting, as it involves techniques such as overwriting data multiple times or using specialized tools designed for securely erasing data so that it cannot be recovered through any means. This practice safeguards the organization’s intellectual property, maintains confidentiality, and helps comply with legal and regulatory requirements. In contrast, ensuring that the computers are in working condition, reformatted, or that donations are made quickly are secondary considerations that do not address the primary security need of protecting sensitive information. Therefore, the focus must be on proper data sanitization as the most important step before donation.