A Rare Inside Look At How Google Pioneered Warehouse-scale Computing

Drives Fail, Security Doesn't

Every so often, a hard drive needs to be replaced. When this happens, Google employees observe a strict end-to-end chain of custody to make sure customer data is never compromised.
Workers carefully manage those drives from the time they are removed from the rack to when they are delivered to an ultra-secure cage to be erased and crushed if necessary.