Patent attributes
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing data sanitization at a data storage device (DSD). In an embodiment, a controller may direct a memory device to sanitize data by securely erasing the data, generate an attestation confirming that the data was successfully sanitized, and sign the attestation using an authentication key to create a signed attestation. In another embodiment, a circuit may direct a memory device to sanitize data based on the data sanitization instruction, generate a sanitization confirmation indicating that the data was successfully sanitized, and provide the sanitization confirmation including a first thumbprint and a second thumbprint to another device. Generating the sanitization confirmation may include processing a first storage encryption key to produce the first thumbprint, directing the memory device to obliterate the first storage encryption key, and processing a second storage encryption key to produce the second thumbprint.