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What happens to the data on defective disks that are returned to NetApp?

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Applies to

Hard Drives

Answer

  • Products returned to our contracted Third-Party Test & Repair Providers (“3PR”) from Sales Product Evaluations, Migration Equipment, Return Material Authorization (“RMA”), and Sales Return Authorization (“SRA”) all follow NetApp established procedures for the clearing of data which may be present on non-volatile parts and components found in NetApp products.
    • Examples of non-volatile parts and components sold by NetApp include NVMe, Hard Disk and Solid-State Drives (“Drives”), DIMM, NVRAM, and Flash Cache.”
  • Select Drives may be subjected to a fully automated NetApp-developed test process (“Test Process”) when identified for use as a NetApp Field Replaceable Unit (“FRU”). All Drives failing the Test Process or otherwise identified for warranty return, are subjected to the Pre-Return Overwrite Process. The Pre-Return Overwrite Process executes a fully automated data eradication on the Drive by writing zeros across the entire media one time in line with the ‘Clear’ sanitization guidelines in NIST Special Publication 800-88, Revision 1.
  • At no point in the test or clearing of data procedures do NetApp or 3PR personnel access customer data residing on any part or component.
  • Customers can also purchase the  “Non-Returnable Disk (NRD) Service”, which allows customers to keep the defective disks and dispose of them as they see fit

Additional Information

NetApp provides no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or reliability or serviceability of any information or recommendations provided in this publication or with respect to any results that may be obtained by the use of the information or observance of any recommendations provided herein. The information in this document is distributed AS IS and the use of this information or the implementation of any recommendations or techniques herein is a customer's responsibility and depends on the customer's ability to evaluate and integrate them into the customer's operational environment. This document and the information contained herein may be used solely in connection with the NetApp products discussed in this document.