There comes a point in the life of every business when the time comes to upgrade your IT infrastructure. The pace of technological change moves so quickly that IT assets which were once cutting edge soon become dated. Upgrading your IT infrastructure can add huge value to your business, making your systems more efficient, and potentially providing a crucial edge over your competitors. However, before your business begins to install new IT equipment, you first need to consider how to safely dispose of your existing IT assets.
Redundant IT assets contain large volumes of highly sensitive data. Failure to dispose of these assets safely and securely can result in a serious data breach, the consequences of which can be catastrophic. There are also regulatory restrictions on where electronic waste can and can not be disposed of. Again, failure to dispose of your IT assets in an environmentally friendly way can have consequences for your business, as well as the environment.
In this article, we take a look at the threat posed by ageing IT assets to your business, and the solution provided by secure IT asset disposal.
The Data Security Threat Posed by Ageing IT Assets
Virtually every device in your company, from the smallest USB stick to the largest purpose-built server, contains sensitive data either pertaining to the business or its customers. When this technology is decommissioned, even if the devices are reset, that data remains largely intact, waiting to be uncovered by anyone who has access to the device.
Clearly, it is crucial for data bearing IT assets to be handled with extreme caution, and for every step to be taken to ensure that the assets are safely and securely wiped, rendering the data contained within completely irretrievable. This not only protects your business from the financial and reputational damage that follows a data breach, but also the privacy of your employees, customers and clients.
Secure IT Asset Disposal
As we have seen, ensuring the security of your redundant IT assets should be considered your first priority when upgrading your IT infrastructure. While some larger organisations maintain internal IT asset disposal teams, for the vast majority of companies, it is crucial to outsource this service to a reliable and reputable ITAD vendor.
A fully qualified IT asset disposal partner will be able to ensure that your redundant IT assets are securely wiped of all sensitive data. Depending on the assets, this can assume different forms; some assets can be degaussed, some wiped using technology such as Blancco, while others may have to be destroyed entirely.
Once data bearing assets have been securely wiped, these devices once again become an asset to your organisation. An experienced ITAD vendor, with knowledge of the reverse supply chain market, will be able to recoup value for you by recycling or reselling your IT assets, helping to offset the cost of your IT infrastructure upgrade project.
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 responsibly 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.
