Secure Erase is a storage-level data sanitization function available on many SSDs and HDDs. When invoked, the drive performs an internal erase process, aiming to render data unrecoverable.
Why Secure Erase matters (especially for SSDs)
SSDs use wear leveling to distribute writes across cells. Because of this, even if the OS attempts to overwrite the entire drive, it may not reliably write to every underlying cell that previously held data.
Secure Erase helps by instructing the drive controller directly and can mitigate “hidden remnants” that are not visible to the OS.
Enhanced Secure Erase
Some drives provide an “Enhanced Secure Erase” mode, which may overwrite with vendor-defined patterns and may include areas such as remapped sectors.
Summary
Secure Erase is a powerful option for fully sanitizing SSDs where standard overwrite methods can be unreliable.
MASAMUNE Erasure supports Secure Erase and can help you choose an appropriate method for your devices and compliance needs:
