Ultratest Genesis: An Introduction
Founded in 1996, Ultratech is a UK-based restore technology company experienced in erasing, testing, and repairing services. Its sister company, Ultratest Solutions has also been developing similar products and services for storage media and network equipment. Their hardware-based data sanitization tool, Genesis, launched in 2020, is a combination of software embedded in hardware chassis. It provides multiple features, including data erasure, device repair, and testing for SAS SATA hard drives and solid state drives.
Features and Limitations of Ultratest Genesis
Ultratest Genesis is an integrated “3-in-1” system combining hardware and software to erase, repair, and test devices. It includes various components like cooling, networking, power, and a UI with a monitor. However, due to the integrated nature, it requires purchasing the entire hardware system even if only a few drives need erasing. Available in 8, 16, 32, 64, and 96-port models, Genesis can be either bought or rented on a monthly basis. Despite these options, the cost of purchasing or renting Genesis is huge, along with logistics, maintenance, transportation, and storage costs that can significantly increase an organization’s overall expense of performing data erasure.
Moreover, since Genesis can only erase loose drives, non-removable embedded drives like those in Mac cannot be erased using the Ultratest Genesis solution. Further, in the best-case scenario, Ultratest Genesis can only erase a maximum of 96 drives in one go using their 96-port system which itself is a big limitation for bulk data erasure service providers.
What is the Alternative to Ultratest Genesis?
An alternative to Ultratest Genesis is BitRaser, a software-based data wiping solution that provides assurance of secure data erasure with flexibility of wiping multiple drives and devices simultaneously and without incurring too much cost. Unlike Ultratest Genesis, BitRaser doesn’t require physical hardware making it more scalable for businesses to perform onsite, offsite and remote erasure. It supports loose drives, PC, laptop, server, Mac, Chromebook, etc. with embedded drives. The software provides data erasure reports to help meet compliance with laws making it an efficient and cost-effective solution. BitRaser Drive Eraser comes in multiple variants: cloud, network cloud, and offline. The software can be deployed using a USB solution, or via PXE boot, giving flexibility to service providers. Businesses can customize their data erasure process to bring in uniformity and standardization across locations, using the ISO customization feature of the software. There are numerous benefits of BitRaser ISO Customization.
While Ultratest Genesis has ADISA PA certification only, BitRaser Drive Eraser has multiple certifications and test reports that add to its credibility like Common Criteria, ADISA PCT certification, NIST, Normalización y Certificación Electrónica (NYCE) certificate of compliance, and Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC), proving its competence in rendering data irrecoverable and drives reusable.
BitRaser is the Smarter Choice
To know why BitRaser Drive Eraser is the versatile and effective alternative to Ultratest Genesis, read on:
- Erasure Support for Diverse Devices: The BitRaser Drive Eraser Cloud variant can simultaneously erase up to 100 drives without compromising on speed. The network variant when deployed using PXE helps erase 65,000 drives or erase multiple devices together. The software supports data erasure on PC, laptop, Chromebook, and Mac (M1, M2, M3, T1, and T2) and is capable of wiping data permanently from drives like SATA, PATA, SSD, SAS-SSD, SED, NVMe, M.2, PCIe, SAS, SCSI, IDE, USB, Fibre Channel and FireWire.
On the other hand, compatible with 2.5’’ and 3.5’’ sized drives, Ultratest Genesis provides erasure capabilities for SAS-SATA HDDs and SSDs only. Since the software and hardware work in unison, each drive will have to be removed before it can be wiped. Not only the number and types of drives, but the size of the drives that are supported by Ultratest Genesis is limited. - Cloud & Remote Data Wiping: The data erasure reports generated by BitRaser cloud variants get synced in the secure cloud server making reports easily accessible anytime, anywhere. Further, a cloud API is available that helps pull data erasure records into the organization’s IT asset management software. The BitRaser cloud console facilitates user and license management to help technicians manage data erasure in a unified manner across locations.
Additionally, BitRaser also offers the MSI Package for remote wiping. IT admins can deploy MSI through end-point management systems like Microsoft SCCM, Ivanti, and Manage Engine. This enables administrators to perform remote data erasure when devices need upgradation, employees are off-boarded, projects get completed, or during mass layoffs. Ultratest Genesis has no provision for remote wiping; the only way a drive can be remotely wiped is by sending the hardware to the location which itself is a cost-intensive and tedious proposition. - Seamless Integration with ERP: BitRaser Drive Eraser integrates with RazorERP and Makor ERP 2.0 seamlessly within the software, enabling ITADs to manage their inventory and data erasure records effectively. Ultratest Genesis does not integrate with any ERP solution at the moment.
- Cost-effectiveness: BitRaser software works on a pay-per-use model. The licenses can be purchased on the go without any minimum order quantity. This makes it easy for enterprises to purchase licenses as per their requirements without having to block funds on hardware like Ultratest Genesis. What’s more, a single license of BitRaser Drive Eraser works for all kinds of drives and devices. Organizations get voluminous discounts for bulk purchases and free technical support.
- Helps Comply with Global Data Protection Laws and Regulations: BitRaser supports up to 24+ global data erasure methods like NIST 800-88 Clear, NIST 800-88 Purge, British HMG IS5 (3 passes), and US – DoD 5220.22-M (3 passes), etc. On the other hand, Ultratest Genesis supports NIST SP 800-88 Rev1 as per the product data sheet.
We have compared both data erasure solutions on certain parameters for ease of understanding. This comes in handy while making a decision.
| Parameters | Ultratest Genesis | BitRaser Drive Eraser |
| Data Erasure | Yes | Permanent Erasure, including HPA & DCO areas |
| Drives & Device Supported | Limited. Supports only SATA and SAS – HDDs and SSDs | Devices: PC, Laptop, Mac, Chromebook, and Server Drives: SATA, PATA, HDD, SSD, NVMe, M.2, SAS, SCSI and more |
| Global Wiping Standards Supported | NIST SP 800-88 Clear, NIST SP 800-88 Purge | 24+ Global Standards Supported, including NIST 800-88 Clear, NIST 800-88 Purge, British HMG IS5, and US – DoD 5220.22 |
| Data Wiping Reports & Certificates | Only reports are generated | A tamper-proof erasure report is generated by the software for audit purposes |
| Cloud Integration for Reports | Test scripts and software revisions are available to operators via cloud. Reports cannot be saved on cloud. The customized scripts need approval of Ultratech technical support. | Cloud Integration is available for user, license, and report management. Users get a cloud login immediately on purchase and access is easy without technical support interference. |
| Scalability | Up to 96 drives can be wiped at a time | Wipes over 65,000 drives simultaneously over a network. Alternatively, 100 drives attached to one machine can be wiped |
| Deployment | Drive need to be removed from the device | Deployed using USB, PXE Boot, or Remotely |
| Wiping Verification | No verification is provided | Yes, the software verifies the erasure using random and total verification. |
| Remote Wiping | Not available | Yes, it is available via MSI package |
| Tested & Certified | Certified by ADISA only | BitRaser enjoys global certification and test reports like NIST, DHS, NYCE, Common Criteria, ADISA, STQC |
| Pricing | Expensive solution | Cost-effective solution |
Conclusion
When evaluating Ultratest Genesis against BitRaser, it is clear that BitRaser offers more features, scalability, and manageability for modern businesses to perform data erasure at an affordable cost.
Genesis is complicated, cumbersome, and cost-intensive, making compliance with data protection laws and regulations a tough nut to crack. A safe, simple, and smart solution like BitRaser Drive Eraser can erase data permanently from diverse devices, without much human intervention, while spending only for your requirements.