Degausser FAQ — India

A machine that destroys data on magnetic media by applying a strong, alternating magnetic field — 1 Tesla to 2 Tesla in the Proton range — which re-randomises the magnetic pattern on a hard drive platter or tape. The data no longer exists and cannot be recovered. A degausser has no effect on flash or optical media.

We do not publish figures, because a degausser's cost in India depends on the model, the field strength and listing you need, the cycle time, the power configuration, accessories, warranty term, AMC, freight and installation to your city. Two machines from the same family can differ substantially. Tell us your drive volume, media types and city and you will have a written quotation within one business day — see what drives the cost.

Match it to volume and compliance requirement. T-1 for offices and small sites; T-1.2 or T-1.5 for data centres, banks and ITAD; T-4 and T-5 where an NSA listing is contractually required or for bulk decommissioning; the 1100 wand for branch and field work. Tell us your drives per day and we will recommend one.

Not by law, but very often by tender or customer requirement. Government departments, PSUs, police, defence organisations and many banks write "NSA listed" or "NSA/CSS evaluated" into specifications. In the Proton range, that means the T-4 and T-5 degaussers and the PDS-75 and PDS-100 crushers.

No. Flash memory holds no magnetic pattern, so a degauss cycle leaves an SSD completely readable. Flash media must be physically destroyed — the PDS-88 shredder, or the PDS-30 with the SSD kit for low volume.

For magnetic media, degaussing alone is a valid sanitisation method. But a fragment of an undegaussed drive can sometimes yield data, which is why NSA and DoD practice degausses first, then destroys. Most Indian organisations in regulated industries run both.

Yes — this is its main practical advantage. Clicking, non-spinning and firmware-locked drives are sanitised identically to healthy ones, because the data is destroyed on the platter regardless of the electronics.

All Proton degaussers supplied by us are universal-voltage (100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz) and run on standard 230 V / 50 Hz Indian mains with no motor or transformer change. Give the machine a dedicated earthed circuit.

Cycle times range from under 5 seconds on the Proton T-1.5, through about 20 seconds on the T-1, T-1.2 and T-5, to under a minute on the T-4. At under 5 seconds, a T-1.5 processes roughly 720 drives an hour.

A daily operator check, monthly site checks, and an annual service by an authorised engineer that includes field-strength verification with a calibrated instrument and a test certificate. Capacitor degradation is the main failure mode, and it reduces field strength without the machine reporting a failure. Budget an AMC at roughly 8–12% of machine value per year.

Properly operated, yes. The machines are designed for operator use with interlocked drawers and slots, and the T-1.5 refuses to approve a cycle if any parameter is out of tolerance. Do not defeat an interlock, and keep the machine in a controlled area.

Yes, and it does not matter whether encryption is on. Degaussing destroys the encrypted data itself, which is one reason it is preferred over crypto-erase for media leaving your control.

Yes. We supply, install and service across India, including all the major metros. On-site destruction runs and AMC are available nationwide, and we arrange engineer dispatch for outstation locations.

Yes. Our on-site and full data destruction services bring Proton machines to you, run the sanitisation and physical destruction in your presence, and hand back a signed destruction register, reconciliation, machine verification certificate and recycler documentation.

Clear is overwriting — only adequate for media wholly in your control. Purge makes recovery not reasonably possible, including in a laboratory — degaussing qualifies for magnetic media. Destroy physically renders recovery impossible, including physically — shredding and crushing. NIST SP 800-88 defines all three, and purge is the level required for data leaving your control.

Yes. Our AMC covers preventive maintenance, periodic field-strength verification with a certificate, capacitor and cooling assessment, consumables, and a written response commitment. Common spares are held in Bengaluru so a breakdown is not a multi-week import.

Both are NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List listed. The T-4 produces a bi-directional ±20,000 Gauss pulse via its patented Reverse-Polarity design, has an internal Gaussmeter for per-cycle verification, and offers a 12 V battery option. The T-5 produces 2 Tesla per cycle in under 20 seconds with a digital cycle counter — roughly three times the throughput. Choose the T-4 for secure rooms and tender compliance, the T-5 for volume.

Yes. We supply datasheets, the channel authorisation letter, the NSA/CSS EPL reference where relevant, a specification compliance matrix mapped to your tender sheet, and AMC and warranty terms for the commercial schedule. Send the specification and we respond the same working day.