CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

Why is it essential to wipe the SAN LUNs when decommissioning a database server?

1. To ensure compliance with industry regulations

2. Data remnants remain on the LUN that could be read by other servers

3. To free up storage space on the SAN

4. To prepare the SAN for new data

The correct answer is: Data remnants remain on the LUN that could be read by other servers

Wiping the SAN (Storage Area Network) LUNs (Logical Unit Numbers) when decommissioning a database server is crucial primarily to prevent the possibility of data remnants being accessible. When a database server is decommissioned, simply deleting files or formatting the storage does not fully erase the underlying data. Data recovery techniques can often retrieve this information, which could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive or confidential data. By wiping the LUNs, organizations ensure that all stored data is irretrievably destroyed. This practice mitigates the risk of former data being recovered and accessed by unintended individuals or systems, aligning with data protection and privacy goals. Furthermore, this action often satisfies security best practices and compliance with industry regulations that mandate secure data disposal. The other considerations, such as compliance and freeing up storage space, are important but secondary to the fundamental need for data protection. Ensuring that sensitive information cannot be retrieved is the primary reason for performing a thorough wipe of the LUNs.