Hardware: Use the ITS Degausser to Surplus Equipment

General Information on Degaussing at LSU

Degaussing should be used as a last resort, ONLY used for erasing Sensitive Data on a computer that WILL NOT boot-up.  The degauss-er tool is available for LSU Departments though the NOC at ITS.  If the device is still viable and you are able to boot-up, use the DBAN Utility instead.

1. The NOC Personnel have primary responsibility of making sure the LSU Network is functioning properly.  Degaussing equipment is done as time permits.  Keep in mind that your appointment may need to be rescheduled if there are any unexpected network emergencies.

2. ONLY NOC Employees are permitted to enter the Secure NOC Area.

3. ONLY NOC Employees are permitted to operate the degauss machine.

4. It is your responsibility to confirm that ALL Sensitive Data has been removed from the device once we return it to you.  

(Information Technology Services DOES NOT GUARANTEE or CONFIRM the removal of Sensitive Data from the degauss-ed device.)
 

Request the Degaussing of a Device

1. Contact the ITS Network Operations Center at 225-578-6621 to set an appointment to Degauss the Device. 

2. The following are required when degaussing a device:

• The device to be degaussed (within size restrictions of the degausser).
   
• Advanced notice to ITS of how many devices are to be degaussed and when they will be brought (through helpdesk ticket or phone call to the NOC) to ensure staff is available to receive and process them.
   
• LSU ID.

     3. A member of the NOC Personnel will take the device and pass it through the degausser.  

4. The device will be returned to the customer when the degaussing process is complete.
 

Garner HD-3 Degausser

Please note: Degaussing only works for traditional hard disc drives (it will not work for solid state drives).

1. The Garner HD-3 Degausser was purchased by LSU in 2008 to comply with new security standards when you surplus LSU equipment that contains Sensitive Data.

2. The device that needs to be degaussed CANNOT  be larger than 6.15in x 4.5in x 1.3in.

WARNING:  Degaussing destroys hard drives, and some form factors of tapes. Hard drives commonly contain a permanent servo track to guide the read/write heads to the appropriate location. Degaussing also erases the information on the servo track, thus rendering the device unusable.