It’s important to get ITAD right, whatever the size and nature of your business, and the scale of your ITAD needs. Whether you’re disposing of IT equipment on a monthly or annual basis, it’s vital that you take the correct steps to protect your business data. Of course, business owners are aware of this, but with so much information about ITAD best practices online, it can be difficult to know what information to trust. Thankfully we’ve busted some of the biggest ITAD myths to help you get it right the first time.
Myth 1 : ‘It’s cheaper to deal with ITAD in-house’
It’s no secret that using a certified ITAD provider comes at a cost, but that doesn’t mean that it’s cheaper to dispose of your businesses’ IT assets in-house. High quality, secure ITAD, is expensive because it requires specialist software and expertise to carry out. The fact of the matter is that the majority of businesses just don’t have the know-how to execute secure ITAD, which leaves plenty of room for error. Failure to destroy all data on even one device opens your business up to the possibility of a data breach, which, under the GDPR, could come at an even bigger cost than that of ITAD service – in terms of your businesses’ reputation, not to mention the financial implications.
While you could employ a specially trained ITAD team to work in-house, it’s important to remember that this will also cost and, depending on the size of your company and the extent of your ITAD needs, this may not be a viable option.
Myth 2: ‘ I can choose any ITAD provider’
You can’t approach ITAD with a one-size-fits-all attitude, which means it’s important to handpick a reputable ITAD firm that’s just right for you and your business needs. It goes without saying that you should only partner with ITAD companies that hold valid certification and whose employees— no matter how small their contact with your IT assets—all have regular training on how to handle sensitive data. Ideally, you should choose a vendor that has experience, and specialises, in your industry. This means that staff will be familiar with best practices for your business data.
You should also consider the location of an ITAD partner when making your decision. Can the firm cover all of your business locations, and how will they ensure the safety of your assets as they are transported? You should be checking that any vehicles used to transport redundant equipment are fully trackable.
Myth 3: ‘My data is safe because it’s encrypted’
Encryption is certainly good practice when it comes to data security, but it’s not a sufficient means of data sanitisation. This is because, while the data is illegible, it’s still on the device, meaning it could be recovered at a later date. The only way you can ensure data security is with a proof of destruction certificate that your ITAD partner will provide upon successful destruction of your data. You may be asked to provide proof of your data security, and an accredited ITAD provider will provide a chain of custody report, detailing the status of your data at every point in its life cycle, including the point of destruction.
Myth 4: ‘An ITAD company won’t keep my data secure’
Providing you choose an accredited and certified ITAD provider, you can rest assured that your data is secure. The staff within these organisations are fully-trained in the erasure and destruction of data, understanding how to handle sensitive data and which techniques and software best suit your ITAD needs. This knowledge will be applied from the moment the ITAD firm collects your redundant IT assets to the moment it can prove the secure destruction of your data. On top of this, a certified ITAD partner will be fluent in industry standards and legality, with a genuine interest in protecting your business data. While ITAD partners might specialise in asset disposition for particular industries (e.g. financial, medical, legal), you’ll find evidence of certification on its website.
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.
