The impending implementation of the GDPR means that there is more pressure than ever to ensure the safe and effective disposal of all your redundant IT equipment. For this reason, it is important that you choose the correct supplier for your ITAD (IT Asset Disposal) needs. At EOL, we understand that making this choice can be difficult, which is why we have put together these four further questions, in addition to the four we asked in September 2017, that you should ask a potential ITAD supplier.
What is your resale/ recycle policy?
Not only can reselling your redundant IT equipment recoup some of the money you will spend on effectively disposing of your data, reselling and recycling can be beneficial to the environment, which makes it a great alternative to destruction. Indeed, certain assets (depending on the device and the sensitivity of the data they stored) are not suitable for destruction, and it is important that your ITAD has a policy for determining this. Ask the ITAD supplier if they provide support for asset resale and recycling, and what procedure they follow to abide by regulations and ensure complete data security.
What type of documentation do you provide?
Under the GDPR, businesses will be required to produce full audit trails of data, from the moment it is created to its destruction. This means that it is vital that your ITAD supplier can provide you with a full record of the destruction process of your data and your devices. It is important that these documents are complete and detail device serial numbers, data destruction certificates and the final destination of your devices. Every ITAD supplier should offer this complete documentation as standard protocol, so avoid any that try to make compromises and shortcuts.
Will you adapt procedure to meet individual needs?
It is natural that every business will have different requirements when it comes to ITAD and, even within the same business, these requirements may be subject to change. It is important that your ITAD supplier can adapt to meet any specific requirements (such as the collection of your assets) when it comes to the safe disposal of your data and IT assets, potentially making compromises so that you don’t have to. If you can foresee the potential changes in your ITAD needs, you should discuss these with potential ITAD supplier before making any agreements.
What experience do you have?
Generally speaking, the more experience an ITAD supplier has, the more you can be sure of their reliability. Experienced and reliable suppliers will usually be able to provide you with testimonials from previous and current clients proving their capabilities. If you have specialist requirements (for example, trading in the financial industry) you should ask about their experience in ITAD for that industry, and if you have specialist IT equipment, it is important that your ITAD supplier has sufficient expertise and proven experience in dealing with such devices.
You should never feel embarrassed about asking potential ITAD suppliers for as much information as you feel necessary before making any agreements, and trusted suppliers will be happy to answer any questions, providing proof of their answers along the way.
With over 25 years industry experience, tier1 are proud to be the UK’s most accredited ITAD supplier. We possess the skills, accreditations and experience to handle our clients’ data with the care they deserve, and to dispose of it responsibility and legally.
Contact us today on 0161 777 1000 or visit https://www.tier1.com to find out how we can help you dispose of your data safely and reliably.
