DCH-17: Digital & Non-Digital Media Disposal
Mechanisms exist to securely dispose of, destroy and/or erase digital and non-digital media when it is no longer required, using organization-defined procedures.
Renumbered: Formerly DCH-08 and DCH-21 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, DCH-17 was Ad-Hoc Transfers. That control is now DCH-25.
Control Question: Does the organization securely dispose of, destroy and/or erase digital and non-digital media when it is no longer required, using organization-defined procedures?
General (45)
US (23)
EMEA (4)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Germany C5 2026 | AM-05.01B.11 AM-07.02B.2 PS-08.01B.4 OPS-11.01B.6 OPS-12.01B.3 OPS-14.02B OPS-19.01B.10 CRY-11.01B.4 CRY-14.01B.3 PI-02.01B.5 PI-03.01B |
| EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 | mp.si.3 mp.si.4 mp.si.5 |
| EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 | Article 11.2(g) Article 11.2(h) Article 35.1(e) |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 | 102.d |
APAC (5)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia ISM June 2026 | ISM-0311 ISM-0312 ISM-0315 ISM-0363 ISM-0368 ISM-0374 ISM-0375 ISM-0378 ISM-0839 ISM-0840 ISM-1160 ISM-1217 ISM-1218 ISM-1361 ISM-1517 ISM-1550 ISM-1722 ISM-1723 ISM-1724 ISM-1725 ISM-1726 ISM-1727 |
| APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 | PR.AA.S13 |
| APAC Japan ISMAP | 8.3.2.4 8.3.2.5 8.3.2.6 |
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | A10-B7(b)(iii) |
| APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 | 11.7.35.C.01 12.6.6.C.01 12.6.6.C.02 12.6.7.C.01 12.6.7.C.02 13.5.23.C.01 13.5.24.C.01 13.5.24.C.02 13.5.24.C.03 13.5.24.C.04 13.5.25.C.01 13.5.26.C.01 13.5.26.C.02 13.5.26.C.03 13.5.29.C.01 13.5.29.C.02 13.5.30.C.01 13.6.7.C.01 |
Americas (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Argentina Reg 132 2018 | F.1.2-DS-1 |
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 03.08.03 |
Capability Maturity Model
Level 0 — Not Performed
Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.
Level 1 — Performed Informally
SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Data Classification & Handling (DCH) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with DCH domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with DCH domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with DCH domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Data classification and handling-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Data classification and handling management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ A formalized data classification scheme exists to identify categories of data, based on protection requirements from applicable laws, regulations and/or contractual obligations. ▪ The data retention process is manual and IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to manage the process. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to dispose of, destroy, erase, and/or anonymize sensitive/regulated data.
Level 3 — Well Defined
Data Classification & Handling (DCH) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with DCH domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with DCH domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain DCH domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of data classification and handling operations (e.g., GRC platform). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with DCH domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to securely dispose of, destroy or erase information.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Data Classification & Handling (DCH) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs). ▪ Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties. ▪ Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review). ▪ Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Assessment Objectives
- DCH-17_A01 digital and non-digital media to be sanitized or destroyed prior to disposal are defined.
- DCH-17_A02 digital and non-digital media to be sanitized prior to release from organizational control are defined.
- DCH-17_A03 digital and non-digital media to be sanitized prior to release for reuse are defined.
- DCH-17_A04 sanitization techniques and procedures to be used for sanitization prior to disposal are defined.
- DCH-17_A05 sanitization techniques and procedures to be used for sanitization prior to release from organizational control are defined.
- DCH-17_A06 sanitization techniques and procedures to be used for sanitization prior to release for reuse are defined.
- DCH-17_A07 digital and non-digital media are sanitized or destroyed using the defined sanitization techniques and procedures prior to disposal.
- DCH-17_A08 digital and non-digital media are sanitized using the defined sanitization techniques and procedures prior to release from organizational control.
- DCH-17_A09 digital and non-digital media are sanitized using the defined sanitization techniques and procedures prior to release for reuse.
- DCH-17_A10 sanitization mechanisms with strength and integrity commensurate with the security category or classification of the information are employed.
- DCH-17_A11 organization-defined procedures for the secure disposal, destruction and/or erasure of digital and non-digital media that is no longer required are documented.
- DCH-17_A12 digital and non-digital media that is no longer required is securely disposed of, destroyed and/or erased using the organization-defined procedures.
Evidence Requirements
- E-AST-03 Asset Disposal Evidence
-
Documented evidence of asset disposal/destruction (e.g., asset tracking by serial # for shredding, degaussing, etc.).
Asset Management
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Shred-it (https://shredit.com)
- IronMountain (https://ironmountain.com)
- BitRaser (https://bitraser.com)
- DBAN (https://dban.org)
- DoD-strength data erasers
Small
- Shred-it (https://shredit.com)
- IronMountain (https://ironmountain.com)
- BitRaser (https://bitraser.com)
- DBAN (https://dban.org)
- DoD-strength data erasers
Medium
- Shred-it (https://shredit.com)
- IronMountain (https://ironmountain.com)
- BitRaser (https://bitraser.com)
- DBAN (https://dban.org)
- DoD-strength data erasers
Large
- Shred-it (https://shredit.com)
- IronMountain (https://ironmountain.com)
- BitRaser (https://bitraser.com)
- DBAN (https://dban.org)
- DoD-strength data erasers
Enterprise
- Shred-it (https://shredit.com)
- IronMountain (https://ironmountain.com)
- BitRaser (https://bitraser.com)
- DBAN (https://dban.org)
- DoD-strength data erasers