A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product deletes data from a storage device. One or more processors identify a component sensitivity level of a component, an input sensitivity level of a data input to the component, and an output sensitivity level of a data output from the component, where the data output is stored in a storage device. The processor(s) average the component sensitivity level, the input sensitivity level, and the output sensitivity level to establish a composite sensitivity level, determine a deletion mode for deleting the output data from the storage device based on the composite sensitivity level, and delete the output data from the storage device by utilizing the deletion mode.