More and more organizations are choosing recognized standards to keep their data safe. The 2026 IT Asset Management Benchmarking Report shows that NIST 800-88 is becoming an important part of IT asset management. So, what does this mean for your organization?

NIST 800-88 Adoption Continues to Grow

According to the 2026 IT Asset Management Benchmarking Report by Sage Sustainable Electronics, 52% of surveyed organizations reported compliance with NIST 800-88 in 2025, compared with 34% the previous year. The research includes 56 organizations across 14 industries and incorporates data from more than 2.5 million processed IT assets.

This growth shows that organizations are moving toward a more standardized way to erase data. When devices are reused, resold, refurbished, or recycled, a reliable process helps make sure your sensitive information stays protected.

Why NIST 800-88 Matters

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), NIST SP 800-88 provides guidance for securely sanitizing storage media. In September 2025, NIST published Revision 2, updating its guidance for organizations developing and managing media sanitization programs.

For IT asset managers, this means looking beyond simply erasing data. A reliable sanitization process also requires choosing the appropriate method, following a consistent process, and keeping clear records of how data-bearing assets have been handled. Following a recognized standard such as NIST 800-88 can help organizations make this process more consistent, repeatable, and easier to document.

This becomes particularly important when IT assets are given a second life. If data can be securely sanitized using an appropriate method, organizations can prepare eligible devices for reuse or resale rather than destroying them unnecessarily. This helps organizations protect sensitive data while also retaining more of the value of their IT assets.

Supporting NIST 800-88 Data Erasure with Certus

At Certus, we support secure data erasure that meets NIST 800-88 standards. Our software helps you safely erase data from all types of devices and storage media. With detailed reports, you can easily track and prove that your data has been permanently erased. As more organizations adopt NIST 800-88, having a secure, standardized, and documented data erasure process becomes increasingly relevant for managing IT assets at scale.