Which of the following is NOT a stage of data erasure?

Data erasure is a critical process that ensures sensitive information is permanently removed from digital storage devices. The stages typically associated with data erasure include destruction, clearing, and purging.

Destruction refers to the physical damaging of the storage device, making it impossible to read or recover any data. This is the most secure form of data erasure but often involves the device being unusable afterward.

Clearing involves overwriting the existing data with new, meaningless data so that unauthorized users cannot recover the original information. This technique ensures that the data is not simply deleted or hidden but is effectively replaced, rendering recovery impractical.

Purge is similar to clearing but usually refers to a more robust method that is compliant with specific standards and ensures that data cannot be recovered, even with advanced forensic techniques.

Formatting, on the other hand, does not necessarily permanently erase data. A format can make the data inaccessible through standard means, but the information can often still be recovered unless additional steps are taken. Therefore, it does not fit into the categories of secure data erasure methods and is not considered a true stage of data erasure. This understanding highlights the importance of employing the correct methods based on the level of security required for sensitive data.