What is SSD?

A solid-state drive (SSD) is a storage device that uses NAND flash memory chips to store data. Unlike HDDs, SSDs have no moving parts, which makes them faster, more durable, and more energy-efficient. SSDs have become the standard in modern laptops and are increasingly used in servers and enterprise storage.

Data sanitization for SSDs differs from HDDs because of how flash memory works. Traditional overwriting methods are less effective on SSDs due to wear leveling and over-provisioned areas that may retain data. The recommended sanitization methods for SSDs include cryptographic erase (for self-encrypting drives), manufacturer-specific secure erase commands, and physical destruction.

NIST 800-88 specifically addresses SSD sanitization and recommends using the drive's built-in sanitize command or cryptographic erase for Purge-level sanitization, or physical destruction for Destroy-level sanitization. When recycled, SSDs contain valuable materials including gold, copper, and silicon that can be recovered through proper processing.