{
  "slug": "sanitization-validation",
  "term": "Sanitization validation",
  "aliases": [
    "Media sanitization validation"
  ],
  "definition": "Sanitization validation decides whether to accept or reject a sanitization result after evaluating its evidence, suitability and remaining risk to data confidentiality.",
  "note": "NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 section 4.5.2 considers verification results together with anomalies, inaccessible media areas and whether the chosen technique suits the medium and information sensitivity. A successful tool report is not sufficient when the technique is inappropriate. Rejection calls for another suitable technique or a stronger method, with media reusability checked again; it is not permission to repeat the same failed procedure indefinitely. [nist-r2]",
  "status": "shipping",
  "advantages": [
    {
      "text": "Makes release depend on the adequacy of the result, rather than merely completion of a workflow.",
      "citationIds": [
        "nist-r2"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    {
      "text": "An acceptance record cannot turn an unsuitable technique or unresolved confidentiality risk into effective sanitization.",
      "citationIds": [
        "nist-r2"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "data-sanitization",
    "sanitization-verification",
    "clear-sanitization",
    "purge-sanitization",
    "destroy-sanitization",
    "cryptographic-erase"
  ],
  "supersedes": [],
  "supersededBy": [],
  "firstSeen": null,
  "lastSeen": null,
  "updated": "2026-10-14",
  "citations": [
    {
      "id": "nist-r2",
      "title": "NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 2 (2025), Guidelines for Media Sanitization, 4.5.2 and 4.6, printed pages 24-26",
      "url": "https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/SpecialPublications/NIST.SP.800-88r2.pdf",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    },
    {
      "id": "hesela",
      "title": "Hesela: SSD sanitization: why TRIM and a successful command are not enough",
      "url": "https://hesela.com/analyses/ssd-sanitization-trim-evidence/",
      "accessed": "2026-10-14"
    }
  ]
}