How to Run Data Erasure Verification on Drives?
Using BitRaser® Drive Verifier
This deployment guide provides instructions for deploying the BitRaser Drive Verifier software. It allows ITADs, refurbishers, and recyclers to accurately verify the success or failure of the data erasure process on devices such as HDDs, SSDs, NVMe, laptops, PCs, and desktops. The R2V3 standard Appendix B requires certified ITAD companies to perform erasure verification of drives on 5% of all processed IT assets.
Data Erasure Verification is also a pre-requisite under various other recycling industry standards and certifications like e-Stewards, NAID AAA (National Association for Information Destruction), & ADISA (Asset Disposal and Information Security Alliance).
BitRaser Drive Verifier software is available to perform Erasure Verification via USB on locations with and without the Internet. Additionally, the tool can be deployed over a network through PXE boot.
In this deployment guide, we will run the Cloud variant of BitRaser Drive Verifier software on a pre-erased laptop to scan the drive for any data remnants.
For ease of navigation, this guide has been bifurcated into 3 stages:
Stage 1: Download BitRaser Drive Verifier ISO
Follow these instructions to download BitRaser ISO in less than 5 minutes:
Step 1: Use the login credentials received in the mail post-purchase of the software to access BitRaser Cloud Console.
Navigate to the ‘Download BitRaser’ section located on the left panel and click on ‘BitRaser Drive Verifier ISO’ to download it. (Refer to Image 1)
Image 1: Download BitRaser Drive Verifier Software
Step 1: Use the free third-party utility Rufus to create a BitRaser bootable USB. Connect a blank USB to a computer and initialize Rufus. Select the downloaded BitRaser ISO file and click ‘START’ to begin the process. (Refer to Image 2)
Image 2: Click START to Create a Bootable USB for Drive Verifier
Step 2: Follow the on-screen instructions and complete the process. (Refer to Image 3)
You have successfully created a BitRaser Drive Verifier bootable USB. (Refer to Image 4)
Image 3: Click OK
Image 4: Bootable USB Created
Step 3: Connect the BitRaser USB to the pre-erased laptop and switch it ON. BitRaser Drive Verifier gets started, and the following screens appear. (Refer to Images 5 & 6)
Image 5: BitRaser Drive Verifier Initializing Screen
Image 6: BitRaser Drive Verifier Main Interface
Step 1: Go to Settings>Network.
Connect the application to the Internet using Wi-Fi or Ethernet. (Refer to Image 7)
Image 7: Connect Application to Internet
Step 2: Go to Settings>BitRaser Server.
Connect the application to the BitRaser server to fetch verification licenses. Once connected, you will be able to see the verification license count you currently have in balance at the right-hand bottom corner of the application. (Refer to Image 8)
Image 8: Connect Application to BitRaser Server
Note: For the BitRaser Drive Verifier Offline Variant, two USB drives are shipped, one containing the software and the other with the verification licenses. The offline variant does not require an internet or BitRaser Server connection. Just connect both USBs to the pre-erased laptop and initiate the verification process.
Step 3: Click on ‘Verify’ to begin the verification process. You will see an ‘Alert Window’ pop-up informing you that the process will verify the integrity of user data on the erased drive. Click on ‘Yes’ to start the verification process. The software will start scanning the drive for any data traces. This process will take time based on the drive capacity. (Refer to Image 9)
You will be able to see erasure verification progress on the screen and on the BitRaser screensaver. (Refer to Images 10 & 11)
Image 9: Click Verify, then Click Yes to Begin the Verification Process
Image 10: Erasure Verification Progress Screen
Image 11: Erasure Verification Progress Screensaver
The software supports Hex Viewer, which allows you to view the raw and exact content of the drive in Hexadecimal format, thus helping you confirm the verification by viewing its content before and after the verification process. Detailed steps are mentioned in the help manual. (Refer to Image 12)
Image 12: BitRaser Drive Verifier Hex Viewer
Note: The software provides an option to enter custom fields, asset details, and verifier details. (Refer to Image 13)
Image 13: Enter Custom Fields
Once the process is completed, a tamper-proof erasure verification report will be generated and automatically uploaded to your BitRaser Cloud account.
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