CDR Global Achieves NAID AAA Certification:

Strengthening Trust and Security in IT Asset Disposition

As technology continues to evolve, organizations rely more heavily on data than ever before. In 2024, people around the world created, captured, copied, and consumed an estimated 149 zettabytes of data. To put that in perspective, one zettabyte equals about one billion terabytes, or enough digital space to store tens of billions of 4K videos.

1 Zettabyte = 1,000,000,000 TB terabytes

This kind of volume highlights the rapid growth of information that must be processed, stored, and managed securely. Just as important as creating and storing data is how it is destroyed once it is no longer needed. When data-bearing devices reach the end of their lifecycle (EOL), proper destruction protects sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands. That is where the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) plays an important role.

What NAID Means

The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) is a globally recognized authority on secure data destruction and sets high standards for how sensitive information is disposed of. As a division of i‑SIGMA (the International Secure Information Governance & Management Association), NAID oversees the NAID AAA Certification, which verifies that a provider follows strict requirements for handling, transporting, and destroying data-bearing devices. This certification gives organizations confidence that their end-of-life IT assets are processed in a secure and compliant way.

To earn NAID AAA Certification, companies undergo independent, on-site audits that review employee background checks, facility security, destruction methods, and tracking procedures. Holding this certification shows that a company’s commitment to secure data destruction is validated and continuously monitored by an independent third party, which helps reduce the risk of data mishandling or breaches.

CDR Global Achieves NAID Certification
CDR Global is a specialized IT asset management and IT asset disposition (ITAD) provider that focuses on secure, sustainable handling of end-of-life electronics. With more than 23 years of experience and a perfect record of zero data breaches, CDR Global delivers trusted solutions for organizations that handle sensitive information. In January 2026, the company achieved NAID AAA Certification for secure data destruction, adding to its existing credentials such as SERI R2v3 and ISO 14001, which emphasize data security, environmental responsibility, and regulatory compliance.

Why NAID Certification Matters
Today, data protection is essential rather than optional. Whether a business operates in healthcare, finance, education, or government, unmanaged or improperly destroyed data can quickly become a serious risk that leads to privacy violations, regulatory fines, and reputational damage. The financial impact can be severe, with the average cost of a data breach in the United States often approaching 9 million dollars.

Partnering with a NAID-certified provider like CDR Global helps organizations protect sensitive information, maintain compliance, and reduce the likelihood of costly incidents. The NAID AAA standard supports these goals by aligning a provider’s destruction practices with leading privacy and security requirements, including HIPAA, GDPR, and NIST 800‑88. Working with a certified provider helps ensure that every laptop, hard drive, and server is securely wiped or destroyed before it leaves your control and supports vendor due diligence, which is a key requirement under many privacy regulations.

How NAID Certification Strengthens Your Security
At CDR Global, the mission is to simplify IT asset disposition while maintaining high levels of trust and transparency. Achieving NAID AAA Certification is an important milestone in that mission because it shows that daily operations meet or exceed rigorous industry expectations for security and data protection. Here is how this certification strengthens the way clients are served:

1. Verified secure data destruction. Every process used, from electronic data sanitization to physical destruction, is independently audited and verified. This gives clients confidence that their information is permanently destroyed and cannot be recovered.
2. Compliance support for every client. The certification helps organizations stay aligned with major standards such as HIPAA, GDPR, FACTA, and NIST 800‑88, which simplifies internal audits and supports a consistent, documented approach to compliance.
3. Reduced risk of data breaches and legal exposure. Retired IT assets are a common source of data leaks. By using validated destruction processes and strict chain-of-custody procedures, CDR Global helps reduce the risk of financial loss or regulatory penalties tied to data breaches.
4. Full transparency and traceability. Every asset processed is tracked and documented. Through chain-of-custody logs, certificates of destruction, and serial-number reports, clients can see exactly how each asset was handled and when. Maintaining NAID AAA status requires ongoing audits and continuous improvement, which keeps internal operations sharp and encourages the team to raise the bar for data security year after year.

Growth in Secure ITAD
Earning NAID AAA Certification is more than a milestone for CDR Global. It reflects growth, core values, and long-term commitment to secure, responsible IT asset management. Over the years, the company has developed systems, technologies, and protocols that protect clients’ data while maximizing reuse and sustainability.

Why Businesses Continue to Rely on CDR Global
Trust is earned through consistency, clear communication, and measurable results. CDR Global has built its reputation on these principles. From secure logistics to detailed reporting, clients can see how their retired assets are handled at every stage. At its core, NAID AAA Certification reinforces what CDR Global stands for: protecting data, supporting compliance, and delivering reliable, environmentally responsible services.

Learn more about our ITAD process and download our ITAD guideline to see how secure data destruction fits into your organization’s lifecycle strategy.