Computer Banc Data Confidentiality and Security Procedures

Computer Banc takes data confidentiality and security very seriously. The following procedures are designed to ensure data confidentiality and security.

General Procedures:

1. Computer Banc recommends on its web site that all donors wipe their hard drives before donating their computer. The Computer Banc web site also suggests free wiping programs for donors to download and use.
2. Each individual donor signs a statement indicating that they release Computer Banc from any liability regarding any personal information left on a PC.
3. All Computer Banc volunteers and staff sign confidentiality statement. The procedures for preparing computers for use by clients are designed so any personal information mistakenly left on a hard drive is not accessed.
4. Donated computers are secured. When Computer Banc staff is not present, the building is locked and alarmed. If computers are temporarily stored off-site, they are in a secured building.
5. On the rare occasions that Computer Banc receives data diskettes, data CDs, or data DVDs along with computers or software, these are mechanically destroyed.
6. Corporate donors are required to remove any property tags. Any remaining property tags are removed as part of the intake process.
7. Hard drives of computers coming from corporate donors who have professional IT staff and who tell Computer Banc their hard drives have been wiped are loaded with software and prepared for our clients without re-wiping the hard drove.
8. Hard drives of all other computers are either wiped to Department of Defense specifications or are completely disassembled and recycled.
• Computers meeting specifications for our clients have the hard drive removed and replaced with a wiped drive during intake. The hard drives removed are then wiped to DOD specifications. Drives that fail the wiping process are disassembled as described below.
• Computers not meeting specifications for our clients are disassembled and all parts are recycled or reused. All hard drives from computer disassembly are either wiped to DOD specifications or are completely disassembled and the metal recycled.
9. Although it is highly improbable, an aluminum disc (or a portion of a disc) from a disassembled drive could be partially read using a time-consuming process and very expensive and sophisticated equipment. The same can be said for wiped, crushed, shredded, drilled, or punched hard drives. The only way to absolutely guarantee the confidentiality of data is to melt the discs from the hard drive on site. Computer Banc does not melt the discs on site.

Procedures for Annual Collection:

1. Publicity prior to the collection suggests that donors wipe their hard drives prior to donation.
2. Computers kept for refurbishing and use by our clients are subject to the procedures above.
3. Some computers from the annual collection, which on their face appear not to meet our specifications, are delivered whole for reuse or recycling. The company receiving these computers has stated in writing that all hard drives are wiped to DOD specifications before the computers are reused or recycled .