AIT Recycling helped Commerzbank securely retire 10,000 data storage devices with certified on-site destruction, ensuring full data protection and regulatory compliance.
Compliance-First Data Destruction
AIT ensured Commerzbank’s strict data protection obligations were fully met by performing certified on-site destruction of 10,000 hard drives in a single day. This approach eliminated any risk of data breaches while maintaining full compliance with industry privacy regulations.
Certified, Auditable Process
Each destroyed device came with a detailed Certificate of Destruction (CoD) and chain-of-custody documentation. Commerzbank received audit-ready records, providing complete transparency and proof of regulatory compliance for internal and external reviews.
On-Site Execution & Secure Chain-of-Custody
AIT deployed its mobile shredding equipment directly to Commerzbank’s facility to maximize security and control. The on-site approach ensured all drives were irreversibly destroyed under client supervision, with secure, documented handling at every step.
Overview
As one of Europe’s leading financial institutions, Commerzbank places the highest priority on protecting customer data and meeting strict regulatory requirements. A critical part of this commitment is the secure and compliant disposal of retired data storage devices. Improper destruction poses serious risks of data breaches and regulatory penalties.
To ensure total security and compliance, Commerzbank partnered with AIT Recycling to carry out on-site destruction of 10,000 hard drives in a single day. Through certified processes, detailed chain-of-custody documentation, and expert execution, AIT helped Commerzbank eliminate data risks while meeting all regulatory obligations.
Client: CyrusOne
Location: Global, Germany
Services: Certified On-Site Data Destruction, Regulatory Compliance, Secure Chain-of-Custody
Challenge
As a leading European financial institution, Commerzbank faced a critical need to securely and compliantly dispose of 10,000 decommissioned data storage devices during a major IT upgrade. With vast amounts of highly sensitive customer and corporate data at stake, improper disposal posed severe risks of data breaches, regulatory non-compliance, and reputational damage.
Strict industry regulations demanded certified destruction processes and full audit-ready documentation. Commerzbank also required the destruction to be performed on-site to maintain maximum security and control over the process. Coordinating such a large-scale destruction in a single day while ensuring a secure chain-of-custody presented significant logistical and operational challenges.
Data Security Risks: Guaranteeing that all sensitive data on decommissioned drives was permanently and irreversibly destroyed to prevent any possibility of a breach.
Regulatory Compliance: Meeting stringent financial industry and data protection regulations to avoid legal penalties and maintain client trust.
On-Site Execution: Delivering destruction services directly at the client facility to ensure full visibility, control, and security throughout the process.
Chain-of-Custody Documentation: Maintaining detailed records and certified proof of destruction for internal audits and regulatory compliance.
Solution
To address these challenges, Commerzbank partnered with AIT Recycling to execute a secure, compliant, and efficient data destruction strategy tailored to their regulatory and security requirements. AIT deployed mobile shredding equipment directly to Commerzbank’s facility, performing certified on-site destruction of 10,000 hard drives in a single day. This approach eliminated any risk of data leaving the premises while providing full visibility and control.
AIT ensured all destruction followed industry best practices and regulatory guidelines, providing Certificates of Destruction (CoD) and detailed chain-of-custody documentation for audit readiness. This guaranteed that Commerzbank met strict data protection requirements while demonstrating their commitment to safeguarding client information. Through this partnership, Commerzbank achieved secure, compliant, and streamlined disposal of sensitive IT assets.
Certified On-Site Data Destruction: AIT performed shredding services at Commerzbank’s facility, ensuring all 10,000 hard drives were irreversibly destroyed under client supervision.
Regulatory Compliance Expertise: AIT adhered to strict data protection regulations, delivering audit-ready Certificates of Destruction (CoD) to meet legal and industry requirements.
Secure Chain-of-Custody Documentation: AIT maintained detailed, documented tracking of every asset, providing complete transparency and accountability.
Efficient Single-Day Execution: AIT completed the destruction of all drives in one day, minimizing operational disruption while maximizing security.
Client testimonial
“AIT Recycling was instrumental in helping us meet our strict data protection requirements during a major IT upgrade. Their on-site destruction services, regulatory expertise, and detailed documentation ensured complete security and compliance. The team delivered a seamless process that gave us full confidence in how our sensitive data was handled.”
Thomas Müller, Head of IT Infrastructure, Commerzbank