[freegeek-startup] Secure data erasing/wipe... certified ?

[Iain (FreeGeek) Davidson]

ok,
   we have recently established a great relationship with a locally owned
bank with a few county branches.

They are donating piles of PC's, monitors, mice, keyboards, and other misc
computer stuff.   yeah!

Unfortunately, they are concerned about data security and information which
was stored on the hard drives.  So they are removing the hard drives and
keeping them.... due to the fact they have no way to securely erase the
data.

We've been working with them on recommending both OpenSource and commercial
software.... which clearly state that data erasing is up to government
standards.  But still they feel uncomfortable sending us the hard drives.
(they are 10, 20, and sometimes 40 GB !!!)

Does anyone have experience working with businesses which are concerned
about data security ?  Especially banks or financial institutions ?
Has a FG worked out a relationship with a data-erasing company/business to
certify that their processes are secure ?

What process do others do, to securely erase the data?

-Iain 'hard drive less' Davidson
p.s.  Luckily, a previous grant of hard drives from PDX, is helping us
survive the deficit for awhile.
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