What process reduces magnetic flux on media to nearly zero?

Degaussing, or demagnetizing, is a process that effectively reduces magnetic flux on media, such as magnetic tapes and hard drives, to nearly zero. This technique uses a powerful magnetic field to disrupt the magnetic domains on the storage medium, thereby erasing the data contained within it. Degaussing is particularly effective against traditional magnetic storage devices because it alters the magnetic properties of the medium, making data recovery virtually impossible.

In contrast, wiping with software involves overwriting existing data with zeroes or random data but may not eliminate all traces of previously stored information, especially if the storage media has not been properly degaussed. Physical destruction, while effective at ensuring data cannot be recovered, is a more extreme and irreversible method, involving shredding or crushing the storage device rather than merely reducing magnetic flux. Storage encryption provides a security layer to protect data at rest but does not physically alter the magnetic properties of the storage media. Thus, degaussing stands out as the method specifically designed to neutralize the magnetic field and secure the data on magnetic storage devices effectively.