In this KB we will share simple steps to wipe NVMe and M.2 drives using BitRaser Driver Eraser to ensure data protection and prevent any incidence of data breach.
What is NVMe Drive?
Non-volatile Memory Express (NVMe) is a host controller interface that increases the data speed of laptops, PCs, and gaming consoles. It is a substitute for the Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) standard and the Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) standard. NVMe is a super-fast way (900% faster than the AHCI equivalent) to access non-volatile memory. Built on a high-speed PCIe interface, NVMe is also known as NAND flash memory that comes in several forms including SSDs, PCI Express (PCIe) add-in cards, M.2 cards, and U.2 connectors. NVMEs have been specifically designed for SSDs and hence they are fast becoming popular storage choices for laptops, PCs, and servers in data centers. NVMe-based SSDs work with all major operating systems, irrespective of their form factor.
What is M.2 Drive?
M-dot-2 or M.2 is the Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF), a dynamic form factor SSD used in internally mounted storage expansion cards. It endures high data storage in thin, power-constrained devices like Ultrabook laptops and tablets. The size of M.2 SSD is smaller than other mini Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (mSATA), but it can process data at a much faster speed than SATA or SAS SSDs.
Securely Erase NVMe and M.2 Drives
Designed for non-volatile storage media, both M.2 and NVMe stand out in the computer-intensive enterprise, cloud, and edge data ecosystems. Unlike hard drives, SSDs do not have any moving components. However, their data storage mechanism is innately multifaceted. Only a professional data erasure solution can guarantee the secure wiping of these drives with negligible data leakage. A certified data wiping software like BitRaser can seamlessly wipe NVMe and M.2 drives beyond recovery.
Steps to Wipe NVMe and M.2 Drives using BitRaser Drive Eraser
Follow the steps below to wipe multiple drives within 15 minutes.
Key Requirements:
USB flash drive: 2 GB or more to create a bootable media
Desktop/Laptop: To connect the NVMe/M.2 SSD for wiping
Internet: WiFi/Ethernet
Stage 1: Download ISO File
Go to bitrasercloud.com and log in with the credentials received post-purchase. Click on the profile icon and then click on 'Download BitRaser Drive ISO'.
Stage 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive
The downloaded ISO file needs to be mounted on a USB drive using a free utility that helps create a bootable application. We recommend using the Rufus application. You can download the latest version to create a bootable USB drive. Once the download is complete, open Rufus and select the USB media you are using. Click on the ‘Start’ button and press ‘Yes’ to start writing the BitRaser ISO image on the USB drive.
Tip: If you have a Mac machine, download the utility - balenaEtcher in order to create a bootable media. Follow our KB on Wiping Mac Devices to learn steps on how to create a bootable USB on a Mac device.
Stage 3: Wipe Securely NVMe and M.2 drives
- Connect the USB drive to your host machine, and switch on the machine. Press the function keys to launch the ‘Boot Menu’. Select the USB media from the boot menu options.
The computer will boot, and the 'BitRaser' Menu will appear. Press Enter to start the 'BitRaser Drive Eraser' software.
- BitRaser software home screen will appear listing all the SSDs. The interface will display ‘0’ number of licenses. Connect with the internet via Ethernet or WiFi by clicking the settings icon on the top right corner. This step will download BitRaser licenses from the cloud console for permanent data wiping.
- A settings window will pop up. Click on the BitRaser Server tab and enter BitRaser cloud URL, login user name, and password to use the licenses purchased.
- Select the NVMe or M.2 drives (SSDs) to erase. You can also select the desired data erasure method from the dropdown menu and click erase.
- Hit the ‘Yes’ button on the final confirmation to start the data erasure process. You can see the progress details displayed on the screen.
Congratulations! The desired drives are successfully erased. A tamper-proof data eraser report and certificate will automatically save in your BitRaser Cloud account after the successful accomplishment of the process. You can review or download it by clicking the 'Report' tab.
Hope this KB helped you in understanding NVMe and M.2 SSDs and how to perform secure data erasure using BitRaser Driver Eraser software. You can watch the video representation of the above-mentioned steps to perform secure data wiping of hard drives and SSDs.
FAQs
How do I wipe my NVMe SSD? 
A professional data erasure solution can guarantee secure wiping of these drives with negligible data leakage.
Do SSDs permanently delete files?
No, despite deletion, data records are maintained, and data recovery procedures can be used to recover deleted information.
Is M.2 SSD the same as NVMe?
No! NVMe is a host controller interface, whereas M.2 is a dynamic form factor SSD.
Can M.2 drives be recovered?
Yes! Data recovery software can recover data in M.2 drives that have been deleted, but if they have been erased using a data eraser software, they cannot be recovered.
Does factory reset delete everything on SSD?
No, it just makes the data inaccessible to the system, but it still can be recovered using a data recovery software. For complete erasure beyond recovery, a software like BitRaser must be used.
