220-1102 Question 533
Single answerCertification of destruction/recyclingA healthcare clinic is retiring several desktop PCs that stored patient information locally. The office manager has chosen a third-party recycler to pick up the systems. Before releasing the equipment, the technician is asked to make sure the clinic has proof that the drives were properly handled and that the devices were disposed of through an approved process. Which document should the technician request from the recycler to best meet this requirement?
- A
A certificate of destruction that documents the media/device disposal process
- B
A chain of custody form showing who transported the equipment
- C
A safety data sheet (SDS) for the materials inside the computers
- D
An asset inventory report listing the serial numbers of the retired PCs
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
When equipment containing sensitive or regulated data is retired, best practice is to maintain documentation showing proper final disposition. In CompTIA A+ Core 2 objectives related to environmental impacts and prohibited content/activity, technicians are expected to recognize the importance of certification of destruction/recycling as part of disposal procedures. A certificate of destruction provides formal evidence that the recycler or destruction vendor completed the process. Supporting records such as asset inventories and chain of custody logs may also be useful, but they do not replace the certification itself. In regulated environments such as healthcare, retaining this documentation helps demonstrate compliance with organizational policy and data-handling requirements.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A certificate of destruction is the document used to verify that storage media or equipment was destroyed or processed according to the agreed disposal method. In a scenario involving systems that contained sensitive data, this is the best proof that destruction/recycling was completed and documented. A+ Core 2 expects technicians to understand that organizations often require formal documentation when disposing of devices and media.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A chain of custody form can help document who handled or transported equipment, and it may be useful as supporting documentation, but it does not by itself certify that the drives were actually destroyed or recycled properly. It tracks possession, not final destruction.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A safety data sheet provides hazard and chemical safety information for substances such as batteries or cleaning products. It is not used to certify destruction or recycling of computer equipment or storage media.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. An asset inventory report can help the organization track which systems are being retired and may support auditing, but it does not prove the final disposition of the devices. It is an internal tracking document rather than formal evidence of destruction/recycling.