Erase Data On An SSD

Summary

Software used to erase HDDs will likely work on SSDs, but it is not recommended to use them, as they likely shorten the SSDs life.

Depending on the protocols, different methods are available to erase an SSD:

• Secure Erase
• Sanitize

Resolution

SolidigmFT uses End-to-End encryption, which means data is saved to the SSD already scrambled and an internal 'crypto' key is required to read it back out. This is all automatic and internal to the drive.

The crypto key enables options favorable to NAND in the SSD.

NVMe

Secure Erase

For NVMe SSDs, the secure erase command is an option through the Format NVM command, which is required.

Use this method for quick formats for reuse, provisioning, or troubleshooting.

Sanitize

Sanitize is a stand-alone command, with its own log, but is optional. It was added in NVMe 1.3.

Use this method if the highest assurance of data destruction is required, like decommissioned or audits.

SATA

Secure Erase

Sanitize

Doing this saves a 'write cycle' of the NAND, making your drive last one more write cycle.

If this is unacceptable, there is a media Secure Erase, which will perform an erase of all the media. Your data is now actually gone.
This does lower the SSD's write cycles by 1, therefore lowering the endurance.

NOTE	Formatting a drive with an OS sets up an empty file system. It does not delete files from the drive, only marks them to be overwritten later. Secure erase will make your data virtually unrecoverable.

When Should I Secure Erase?

If you want to remove all data from the drive, perform a secure erase.

Also, if there are suspected issues with the drive.
The following are problem scenarios to indicate when running a Secure Erase on a Solidigm SSD could help:

• The operating system experiences slowness or freezing.
• Errors occur during the installation of an operating system.
• Failures seen during read/write diagnostics.
• Errors occur during initialization, format, or partitioning of the SSD.
• Suspected issues with data integrity on the SSD.

What tools can I use?

Solidigm provides tools to Secure Erase SSDs.
See Secure Erase SSDs with Solidigm Tools to review which tools and how to perform a secure erase.

The provided links to third-party tools/sites are for your convenience.
We do not endorse the content, products, or services offered.
We do not support third-party tools.

• HDAT2*
• KillDisk*
• DBAN*

Questions? Check out our Community Forum for help.

Issues? Contact Solidigm Customer Support:
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