Synetic Technologies secures patent for Virtual Data Annihilator

Kansas City, Missouri-based Synetic Technologies Inc., a provider of secure information technology asset disposition (ITAD) and value recovery services, has been granted U.S. Patent No. 9,244,627 B2 for the Virtual Data Annihilator, a scalable enterprise data erasure system and method for the sorting, tracking and certified erasure of a plurality of data storage devices through the use of enterprise hardware and software designed for data storage.

Ron Helmer, CEO of Synetic, says, “When companies sell old hardware for value recovery, it is imperative that data be completely wiped from the system before it is reused. Many companies entrust this process to third party value recovery services, but without a transparent verification process, confidential client information and other sensitive data may still be at risk.”

Data sanitization remains the preferred method for organizations seeking to recover maximum value from their off-network IT assets. While organizations can perform their own data sanitization, it often comes with a greater financial cost and security risk, Synetic says.

“To this point, most ITAD firms have leveraged third-party software solutions to sanitize data, which include licensing fees per use,” Helmer says. “While the end result is the same with Virtual Data Annihilator, owning the platform allows us to deliver these same services cost effectively at scale, which delivers our clients greater value. Virtual Data Annihilator is infinitely scalable and deployable on-site, allowing us to tailor data destruction programs to meet the data security needs of any client.” 

Synetic says its patented Virtual Data Annihilator platform securely sanitizes data storage devices and produces searchable log files of the entire sanitization process to certify complete data erasure. The erasure system complies with both the Department of Defense (DoD) 5220.22-M and more recent National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-88 Revision 1 standards, the company says. Synetic says it also designed a separate system, QCC, which automates the testing of sectors from drives wiped by the Virtual Data Annihilator and exceeds NIST 800-88 recommended standards for sectors checked. Additionally, Synetic provides notarized certificates of data destruction to its clients, which are available via the Synetic client portal. 

“One of Synetic’s well-known technology clients had a strict security requirement to shred all drives on-site, but through education, due diligence and verification, this client changed their information security stance on shredding, leveraging the Virtual Data Annihilator sanitization platform instead,” Helmer says. “We now wipe all drives for this client, which has significantly increased their value recovery from decommissioned assets.”

Synetic offers a full suite of ITAD services to Fortune-listed leaders in health care, finance, technology, education and retail. ITAD services include certified data destruction; secured transport, testing and refurbishing of IT assets; remarketing; R2 (Responsible Recycling) certified e-scrap recycling; and comprehensive reporting. Synetic offers virtual and physical data destruction under the Data Annihilator brand.

For a limited time, Synetic is offering free Google Cardboard Virtual Reality Viewers to celebrate the Virtual Data Annihilator patent. Details are available at www.sti3.com/vr.