The 3 Most Important Considerations of IT Asset Disposition
When it’s time to dispose of your company’s outdated electronics, the worst thing you could do is simply throw them in the trash. Doing so could not only wreak havoc on the environment, but it could also severely compromise your company’s sensitive data and reputation.
This is where IT asset disposition (ITAD) comes in. Essentially, ITAD is a service that ensures the secure and environmentally compliant disposal of your company’s old electronic assets — including tablets, printers, old computers, and more. Typically, ITAD providers wipe the electronics clear of all data and then process them for recycling so that the materials can be used to create more devices. Or, if the assets still hold value, they may be cleaned and re-sold by your ITAD providers. With the profit from that sale shared with your business, ITAD can help return an extra bit of revenue from your outdated devices.
Perhaps your company is about to upgrade your devices. Or maybe you’ve already been sitting on a pile of outdated electronics for a while. In either case, it can be tempting for an IT manager to hand the devices off to anyone who promises to make them disappear. However, this is not the time to choose a partner casually. Remember, IT asset disposal differs significantly from the handling of any other equipment your company may possess because computers, phones, and flash drives store a high volume of sensitive information. If this data isn’t handled correctly, your privacy may be compromised, leaving your company open to costly lawsuits, regulatory action, and damage to your reputation.
The best ITAD providers understand that the disposal process requires proper management of your electronics throughout their entire useful life. Furthermore, your ITAD providers must have the credentials and data security knowledge to dispose of your company’s outdated electronic assets in an eco-friendly and data-secure way. So before choosing an ITAD provider, pay close attention to the considerations below.
Considerations for Your IT Asset Disposition
1. Does the ITAD Company Offer Full Life Cycle Management?
When it comes to tracking, managing, and disposing of your electronic assets, the most proficient ITAD companies will be able to assist your company at each point along the way. In the beginning stages, you may need to begin with a review of the electronic assets that your company currently possesses. A certified ITAD provider will perform a comprehensive audit to ensure that you are monitoring and maximizing your electronic assets to the best of your ability.
From there, it may be necessary to create an ITAD plan, complete with regular asset reporting, so that your company can meet your internal goals while ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements. Where necessary, an ITAD provider may also offer solutions and replacement hardware to keep everything running smoothly.
And, of course, when it is time to decommission your electronic assets, they will help you thoroughly wipe and destroy sensitive data from old devices before safely recycling the unused hardware. From start to finish, professional ITAD providers have the expertise to manage your IT assets throughout their lifecycle.
2. Does Your ITAD Provider Have the Proper Certifications?
As you form a professional relationship with your ITAD providers, find out whether they have the credentials to handle your electronic assets properly. Certain certifications and industry standards will prove that they can ensure data security throughout the entire workflow of your asset disposition. This may include the transportation of your devices, the data sanitization process, and the physical disposal of your electronic assets. Furthermore, rigorous certification processes can also show whether your ITAD partners adhere to environmental compliance regulations.
One of the most important credentials to look for is the R2 certification, administered by Sustainable Electronics Recycling International. The R2 certification ensures that recycling is performed safely and responsibly while providing an in-depth process to maintain adherence to regulatory requirements.
There is also the e-Stewards certification. This certification offers another form of protection for companies throughout the ITAD process. It is quite similar to the R2 certification, but it also prohibits ITAD providers from sending their e-waste to developing countries. With an e-Stewards certification, you can be confident that your asset disposition process will remain both safe and ethical.
3. Do Your ITAD Providers Understand Compliance and Security?
The electronics recycling process is composed of many different steps. Although many ITAD providers can adequately recycle outdated electronics, it is crucial that they also handle your data in a secure and compliant manner.
Even if you think that all of the information on your devices is gone, there is a chance that highly sensitive data — such as client, employee, or company information — remains stored within your electronics. This can present a serious vulnerability. In the wrong hands, devices with this residual data may lead to a serious data breach, which can severely damage your company’s reputation and cost the company millions of dollars.
Before committing to an ITAD provider, ask the following questions:
- “Which industry regulations can your company prove compliance with?”
- “How does your company approach the chain of custody?”
- “What process checks does your company ensure to demonstrate the integrity of the plan?”
Your company cannot afford to overlook this step of the process. Given that cyberattacks have increased 50% from 2020 to 2021 alone, it’s more important than ever for data security to be measured throughout the asset disposal process.
By partnering with ITAD providers that adhere to strict compliance and security regulations, you can be sure that all devices are thoroughly wiped of any sensitive data before the recycling process. There’s no such thing as too much security, and at First America Metal Corp. (FAMCe), we take every measure necessary to protect your company’s data privacy and reputation.
Recycle Your Outdated Technology with FAMCe
If your business or organization needs ITAD support, First America Metal Corp. (FAMCe) can help. With locations across the US, our professionals are ready to accommodate your recycling needs with a commitment to security, convenience, and premium customer service.
FAMCe has over 30 years of experience helping businesses safely and responsibly recycle their outdated devices, even in regulated industries. Our proven expertise has built our reputation as a market leader, but we don’t rest on our laurels — instead, we make it a point to exceed each client’s needs and expectations. So whatever e-waste solutions you require, FAMCe can deliver.
When it’s time to get rid of your old waste electronics, choose a partner you can rely on. Want to recycle your outdated devices with confidence? Contact FAMCe today for e-waste disposal that’s ethical and secure.
