PK Tech Upgrades Hard Drive Crusher

June 11, 2025–PK Tech has recently upgraded its hard drive crusher. This isn’t the beginning of drive-crushing for PK Tech–this is just our latest and greatest version. 

A hard drive crusher (also called a drive crusher or data destruction crusher) is a specialized machine designed to physically destroy hard drives and other storage devices to ensure that the data they contain cannot be recovered.

Most importantly, it bends the disks. Even a small amount of bend prevents the read/write heads from ever “flying” over the surface of the media without gouging. It would be impossible to flatten them so perfectly that they could ever be spun and read again. Some drives have glass disks which shatter.

Weighing in at 29 pounds, PK Tech uses this specific drive crusher to complete the task. 

Drive getting crushed. Note the eye protection, no one wants a rogue spindle to the cornea.

Hard drive patiently waiting to be crushed. 

There's the box that contained this weapon of mass crushing. 

Drive crusher waiting for its first victim.

There are extensive legal implications around the way drives are securely disposed of. PK Tech follows a rigorous protocol approved by HIPAA, NSA, and financial institutions –  we’re doing it “legit.” 

Why does hard drive-crushing matter? Which devices apply? Let’s review.

Why Is It Important to Destroy Old Media? 

People in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare and financial institutions) commonly have to securely destroy hard drives of retired equipment. There have been countless breaches of institutions and people not crushing drives appropriately. One recent example was a police station that had a copier with a hard drive. People overlooked that the copier had a hard drive that needed to be destroyed and it had information on it. 

It’s extremely important to destroy old media, such as hard drives, to prevent sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands. Even when files are deleted, or devices are reformatted, data can often still be recovered using specialized software or forensic techniques. 

Physical destruction methods like hard drive crushing ensures that the storage media is irreversibly damaged, making data recovery virtually impossible. This level of security is critical for protecting personal information, financial records, intellectual property, and confidential business data. Proper media destruction also helps organizations comply with data privacy laws and regulations, reducing the risk of data breaches, legal penalties, and reputational harm.

Common Devices with Hard Drives

Some devices – like computers – are well known for having hard drives that hold information. 

Unlike computers, many everyday electronic devices rely on hard drives to store data, operating systems, and applications – even ones we may not readily think of. These devices range from personal gadgets to business-critical equipment, all of which depend on reliable storage for functionality and performance. Below is a list of common devices that typically include hard drives:

• Surveillance cameras
• DVR’s 
• Printers
• Medical imaging devices
• Audio production equipment
• Copiers
• Network Attached Storage (NAS) Devices: NAS devices are dedicated storage units that connect to a network, allowing multiple users and devices to access and store files on their built-in hard drives.
• Smart TVs: Smart TVs sometimes have built-in storage, often in the form of a hard drive or similar technology, to store apps, operating system files, and user data.

Compliance and Client Trust: Why Hard Drive Crushing Matters

Destroying old media is about more than decluttering your office space. Proper drive crushing is about security, client trust, and brand protection. 

Along with maintaining proper security protocols and industry compliance, drive crushing tells your customers that you value and protect their data. Securely destroying old hard drives ensures privacy for your customers and your business.

Who does the “crushing” matters too – with over 15 years of experience serving the Greater Phoenix Area, PK Tech is an established premiere IT provider, now boasting an upgraded drive crusher for better service and security.  

Who is PK Tech?

As a managed IT provider, our expertise spans across the CPA, financial services, legal, and healthcare industries. PK Tech is proud to be in partnership with Microsoft, specializing in cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and networking, also boasting the SOC 2 Type II accreditation. Does your organization need support with proper drive crushing? Get in touch with our team here.