Blancco VP becomes director of International Data Sanitization Consortium

Data erasure and mobile device diagnostics software developer Blancco Technology Group, headquartered in Finland with North American operations based in Austin, Texas, has announced that Fredrik Forslund, vice president of enterprise cloud and data center erasure solutions at Blancco, has been appointed director of the International Data Sanitization Consortium (IDSC). The organization’s mission is to educate organizations and standards bodies about the permanent eradication of data, clarifying industry terminology and guidelines to ensure compliance with data security, protection and privacy laws.

The IDSC strategic advisory board consists of executives and industry veterans from large enterprises, information technology asset disposition (ITAD), analyst firms, lobby organizations, industry associations and renowned industry accreditation programs.

"I'm honored to have been selected to help bring to life IDSC's vision to support the integrity and security of data across the global IT community," Forslund says. "The time has come to properly define and put in place clear standards that will provide for the effective disposal of redundant, obsolete and trivial data that enterprises, governments and the public accumulate over time. Not doing so comes with tremendous risk for the privacy of both organizations and individuals who could suffer massive IT disruptions, financial losses and public safety dangers as the result of cybercrime activities and accidental data breaches. I look forward to collaborating with the consortium’s strategic advisory board members as we work to make the world of data a safer place.”

Forslund, who will continue in his position at Blancco, says IDSC efforts will focus on a number of areas, including data sanitization’s role in sustainable IT and reuse, the impact of future technology on sanitization best practices, recommended data processes for the cloud journey and guidance around new initiatives, such as supporting a potential NIST 800-88 R2.

A key objective of the IDSC is to support sustainability and reduced destruction of functioning IT assets to reduce e-waste.