ISO 27001 Secure Disposal Or Re-Use of Equipment (Annex A 7.14)

Introduction

Secure Disposal or Re-Use of Equipment is a critical control under ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 7.14, ensuring that all equipment containing storage media is securely sanitized or destroyed before disposal or reuse. Organizations often overlook residual data risks, where sensitive information remains accessible on discarded or repurposed devices.

This control ensures that data confidentiality and integrity are maintained throughout the asset lifecycle, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data through improper disposal practices.

What This Control Is About (Basic Information)

Comply Agent shows the following core attributes:

• Title: Secure Disposal or Re-Use of Equipment
• Control ID: UC-PH-059
• Category: Physical Security
• Subcategory: Disposal and Sanitization
• Version: v1.0

The control requires organizations to implement certified destruction and sanitization procedures for all equipment containing storage media before disposal or reuse.

Objective:
To prevent unauthorized data access through secure disposal or re-use of equipment containing sensitive data.

This includes:

• Secure wiping or destruction of storage media
• Maintaining records of disposal activities
• Ensuring certified destruction where required
• Controlling reuse of equipment

Implementation & Guidance

Comply Agent shows that organizations must implement formal procedures for equipment disposal and media sanitization.

Key Implementation Areas

1. Certified Data Destruction

Organizations must ensure:

• Use of certified destruction vendors or approved internal methods
• Issuance of destruction certificates
• Verification of destruction processes

This ensures data cannot be recovered after disposal.

2. Media Sanitization Procedures

Comply Agent shows the need for documented sanitization processes.

This includes:

• Secure wiping of storage media
• Use of approved sanitization standards
• Verification of sanitization effectiveness

3. Disposal Records and Tracking

Organizations must maintain:

• Records of disposed equipment
• Serial numbers and asset identifiers
• Dates and disposal methods

This provides traceability and auditability.

4. Secure Re-Use Controls

Equipment intended for reuse must:

• Be fully sanitized before reassignment
• Be verified to ensure no residual data remains
• Be approved for reuse

Evidence Examples

Comply Agent shows:

• Disposal records and certificates of destruction
• Policies and procedures for equipment disposal and sanitization
• Inventory logs detailing equipment disposition

Operational Details

Comply Agent shows the operational execution:

• Frequency: Annually
• Review Cycle: Annually
• Owner Role: IT Manager
• Responsible Role: IT Manager
• Automation Score: 70%
• Last Updated: 19 March 2026

This indicates that disposal processes are periodically reviewed and supported by automated asset and device management systems.

The 70% automation score suggests:

• Integration with asset management systems
• Automated logging of disposal activities
• System-generated sanitization records

Compliance & Risk Management

Comply Agent shows the following attributes:

• Status: Not Started
• Compliance Status: N/A
• Control Type: Physical
• Maturity Level: Level 4
• Risk Domain: Data Confidentiality and Integrity
• Clause Reference: ISO 27001:2022 A.7.14

This control is categorized as a Physical Control, ensuring protection of data through secure handling of physical assets.

Key Risks Addressed

• Data leakage from disposed equipment
• Unauthorized recovery of sensitive data
• Improper reuse of devices
• Non-compliance with data protection regulations

Even though Comply Agent shows “Not Started”, the maturity level indicates a structured and well-defined control framework.

Framework Mappings

Comply Agent shows strong cross-framework alignment:

1. Primary Mapping

• ISO 27001:2022 – Annex A 7.14 (Exact Match)

2. Supporting Frameworks

• SOC 2 – CC6.5 (Partial)
• GDPR – Article 17 (Right to Erasure) (Related)

3. Extended Mappings

Comply Agent shows:

• DORA
  • Article 5 – ICT risk management frameworks
  • Article 23 – Physical security
• SOC 2
  • CC6.1 – Logical and physical access controls
  • CC7.1 – Protection of information
• NIST CSF
  • PR.IP-12 – Data is securely disposed of or sanitized
  • PR.PT-4 – Data remnants are protected from unauthorized access

This demonstrates that secure disposal controls support data protection, lifecycle security, and regulatory compliance across frameworks.

Evidence Library

Comply Agent shows four key evidence categories:

1. Data Destruction Certificates

• Certificates from third-party destruction services or internal attestations

2. Sanitization Logs (Auto-collected)

• Logs detailing sanitization processes, methods, and equipment identifiers
• Source: Device Management System

3. Disposal Records

• Records of equipment disposal including serial numbers, dates, and methods

4. Asset Disposal Procedures

• Documented procedures for secure disposal and reuse of equipment

This evidence ensures:

• Verified destruction and sanitization of data
• Traceability of asset disposal activities
• Compliance with regulatory and organizational requirements
• Audit-ready documentation and logs

FAQs: ISO 27001 Secure Disposal Or Re-Use of Equipment (Annex A 7.14)

1. What is ISO 27001 Secure Disposal or Re-Use of Equipment?

It is a control that ensures equipment containing data is securely sanitized or destroyed before disposal or reuse. This prevents unauthorized access to sensitive information.

2. What is the objective of Annex A 7.14?

The objective is to ensure that data stored on equipment is not exposed during disposal or reuse. It ensures secure handling of storage media throughout the asset lifecycle.

3. What evidence is required for audits?

Auditors expect destruction certificates, sanitization logs, disposal records, and documented procedures. These prove that secure disposal practices are implemented and verified.

4. Who is responsible for this control?

Comply Agent shows the IT Manager as the owner and responsible role. This ensures accountability for managing asset disposal and data sanitization processes.

5. How often should disposal processes be reviewed?

Comply Agent shows an annual review cycle. This ensures that disposal procedures remain effective and aligned with regulatory requirements.

6. Why is secure disposal important in information security?

Improper disposal can lead to data breaches through recovered storage media. Secure disposal ensures that sensitive data cannot be accessed after equipment is discarded or reused.