Apparatus and method for configuring a data storage device as a write once read many (WORM) drive. In some embodiments, the storage device has a rotatable disc with at least one data recording layer, and a data transducer that is selectively moveable with respect to the rotatable disc. The data transducer has a write element configured to write data to the data recording layer, and a read element configured to read data from the data recording layer. A control circuit is configured to physically disable the write element in response to a write element disable signal. The disabling of the write element prevents further writing of data to the data recording layer. The read element remains operative to continue reading data from the data recording layer after the write element has been disabled.