Tool Overview:
blancco

About Blancco

Blancco is a data erasure and IT asset disposition (ITAD) software provider headquartered in Sweden. The company specializes in permanent data sanitization across various devices and storage systems, including laptops, desktops, servers, mobile devices, and removable media. Their software solutions focus on securely erasing data while preserving hardware for reuse, supporting organizations' transition to the circular economy.

What does Blancco do?

Blancco's core functionality centers on secure data erasure that complies with major international standards and regulations. The software supports 25+ erasure standards including DoD 5220.22-M, NIST 800-88, and various government-specific protocols. A key feature is the digitally-signed Certificate of Erasure that provides a tamper-proof audit trail for compliance purposes. The platform can perform erasures in active storage environments while keeping operating systems intact, allowing for immediate reuse of the sanitized hardware.

The software incorporates specific capabilities for different device types. For mobile devices, it provides diagnostics testing and can process up to 80 devices simultaneously. For enterprise storage, it can handle entire storage systems and drive arrays. The platform also includes specialized features like Autopilot Detection, which identifies devices enrolled in Unified Endpoint Management systems that could potentially reload sensitive data upon network connection.

What makes Blancco different?

Blancco's distinguishing characteristic is its extensive certification portfolio. The software carries 13+ global certifications and meets the requirements of multiple regulatory frameworks including GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001. The company holds several patents related to data erasure, including Patent No. 9286231 for SSD erasure methods that address functionality differences across solid-state drive vendors.

The platform offers integration capabilities through APIs, allowing organizations to incorporate data erasure into their existing operations and IT asset management systems. For example, it can integrate with ServiceNow for automated decommissioning processes. The software provides automation features for device erasure and diagnostics, helping reduce manual intervention and labor costs in high-volume processing environments.

Use cases and industries

Blancco serves multiple sectors where secure data sanitization is critical. In the ITAD industry, it enables providers to process end-of-life IT assets efficiently while maintaining security standards. Mobile carriers, processors, and refurbishers use the platform to handle device trade-ins and prepare mobile devices for resale. Enterprise users employ the software for data center decommissioning and active storage management.

The platform addresses specific technical challenges in different environments. For storage systems, it can perform targeted erasure of Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs) while maintaining system operability. In mobile environments, it combines diagnostics with erasure capabilities to support device grading and valuation. The software also provides specialized tools for removable media erasure, supporting USB drives, SD cards, and other flash storage devices.