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DCH-18: Digital Media Sanitization

DCH 10 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to sanitize digital media with the strength and integrity commensurate with the classification or sensitivity of the information prior to disposal, release out of organizational control or release for reuse.

Renumbered: Formerly DCH-09 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, DCH-18 was Media & Data Retention. That control is now DCH-27.

Control Question: Does the organization sanitize system media with the strength and integrity commensurate with the classification or sensitivity of the information prior to disposal, release out of organizational control or release for reuse?

General (41)
US (21)
EMEA (8)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 AM-05.01B.11 AM-07.02B.1 AM-07.02B.3 AM-07.01AC AM-12.01B.8 OPS-08.04B CRY-05.01AC PI-03.01B PI-03.02B
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 11.2(h) Article 35.1(e) Article 35.1(f)
EMEA UK CAF 4.0 B3.e
EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 2024 2313 2323
EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L1 2024 2323
EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L2 2024 2313 2323
EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L3 2024 2313 2323
EMEA Saudi Arabia SACS-002 2022 VII.A.TPC-19 VII.B.TPC-66
APAC (5)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-0311 ISM-0313 ISM-0317 ISM-0348 ISM-0351 ISM-0352 ISM-0354 ISM-0356 ISM-0357 ISM-0358 ISM-0359 ISM-0360 ISM-0361 ISM-0362 ISM-0835 ISM-0836 ISM-0947 ISM-1065 ISM-1067 ISM-1300 ISM-1600 ISM-1735
APAC Japan ISMAP 11.2.7.3
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 A5-B3
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 12.6.5.C.05 13.4.9.C.01 13.4.11.C.01 13.4.12.C.01 13.4.13.C.01 13.4.13.C.02 13.4.13.C.03 13.4.13.C.04 13.4.13.C.05 13.4.14.C.01 13.4.15.C.01 13.4.16.C.01 13.4.17.C.01 13.4.18.C.01 13.4.19.C.01 13.4.19.C.02 13.4.20.C.01 13.4.20.C.02 13.4.20.C.03 13.4.21.C.01 13.4.22.C.01
APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 11.1.7
Americas (3)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Argentina Reg 132 2018 D.1.2-4 F.1.2
Americas Bermuda BMACCC 2020 6.17
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.07.04.C 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 sanitize system media with the strength and integrity commensurate with the classification or sensitivity of the information prior to disposal, release out of organizational control or release for reuse.

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

  1. DCH-18_A01 digital media to be sanitized prior to disposal, release and/or reuse is defined.
  2. DCH-18_A02 sanitization techniques and procedures to be used for sanitization prior to disposal, release and/or reuse are defined.
  3. DCH-18_A03 system media is sanitized using sanitization techniques and procedures prior to disposal, release and/or reuse.
  4. DCH-18_A04 sanitization mechanisms with strength and integrity commensurate with the security category or classification of the information are employed.
  5. DCH-18_A05 circumstances requiring sanitization of portable storage devices are defined.
  6. DCH-18_A06 non-destructive sanitization techniques are applied to portable storage devices prior to connecting such devices to organizational Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) under organization-defined circumstances.
  7. DCH-18_A07 equipment containing sensitive / regulated data is sanitized prior to disposal, reuse, or release out of organizational control.
  8. DCH-18_A08 system media that contain CUI are sanitized prior to disposal, release out of organizational control, or release for reuse.
  9. DCH-18_A09 digital media containing sensitive / regulated data is sanitized or destroyed before disposal.
  10. DCH-18_A10 digital media containing sensitive / regulated data is sanitized before it is released for reuse.

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
E-DCH-07 Media Sanitization Documentation

Documented evidence of media sanitization actions.

Data Protection

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

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