Understanding the IT Asset Disposal Process
IT Asset disposal is a central part of the lifecycle of any IT inventory. Over months, years and decades, businesses and individuals will wish to dispose of IT assets for a range of reasons. Items may become damaged or fail to operate…or a business might simply wish to upgrade their system.
In an age where technology is changing so rapidly, businesses are feeling the pressure to keep up with the latest innovations and technologies – with concerns that failing to do so might leave them falling behind their competitors. In this blog from CAB IT Services, we provide some important information regarding the IT asset disposal process.
We will explore the steps required to safely dispose of IT assets in a way that is compliant with the appropriate regulations – such as GDPR.
For more helpful articles covering a host of IT and IT Support topics, take a look at our blog today. Articles include How to Improve Your Business’ Network Infrastructure, Internal Vs Outsourced IT Department – What’s Better? And What is Secure Data Destruction and How Does it Work?
What is IT Asset Disposal?
IT Asset disposal refers to the process of removing a computer or electronic storage device from a business’ ownership. However, getting rid of old or unused IT assets is not as simple as just ‘throwing them away’ – an effective IT asset disposal process will include points such as financial accounting, information security, data erasure and environmental concerns.
The complexity of the asset disposal process means it is best to seek the support of a third-party provider. Here at CAB IT Services, we offer a full range of asset management services that include asset disposal. Our expert team of advisors are on hand to ensure that all elements of the asset management are handled compliantly.
Step 1: Identify and Inventory
At the beginning of an IT asset disposal process, it is always recommended that all candidates for disposal are identified and inventoried. Often, there are tools available to help do this, this is especially useful in instances where there are many assets to dispose of. Such tools allow information such as location, status, device type and model to be stored for each asset. By reviewing assets in this way, businesses gain a clearer understanding of the value, condition and ownership of their assets – this information can also help signpost legal or regulatory obligations.
Step 2: Review Disposal and Decommissioning Options
The next step in the asset disposal process is evaluating the different options available for disposing and decommissioning your chosen IT assets. Depending on a business’ needs, budget and policies, there are a handful of disposal options to choose from. Often, the options available are to sell, donate, recycle or destroy selected assets – each of which comes with its own benefits and drawbacks.
For example, donating assets allows businesses or organisations to benefit from your disposal, the sale of an asset can help generate revenue from the sale, recycling an asset can have both environmental and waste reduction benefits while outright disposal may pose the best option for ensuring data security. In addition to considering advantages such as these, it is also important to consider the costs, logistical demands and risks involved with each option.
Risk is an especially important consideration when processing assets that hold such large volumes of data – especially when considering factors such as GDPR and protection of other personal items. For more information and support regarding asset disposal and options available, get in touch with the team at CAB IT Services today.
Step 3: Select a Vendor or Service Provider
Once a decision has been made about which assets are to be disposed of and how – the next step is to select a vendor or service that can assist/facilitate the disposal and decommissioning process. Sometimes, in choosing which option best suits the needs of your situation, a business or individual may be guided by a vendor during an earlier stage.
However, for those who come to select a vendor at this point, selecting which provider to use is of high importance. Reputable, reliable vendors that demonstrate expertise, experience and relevant certifications are of particular appeal. In addition, a business or individual may wish to read reviews from previous customers to establish whether the service aligns with their needs.
Once a decision has been made, the client and provider will negotiate any necessary contracts and plans to carry out relevant work.
Step 4: Prepare and Secure Your IT Assets for Disposal
The next step is to prepare your selected assets for disposal and decommissioning. In doing so, it is recommended that a previous owner/user carries out an extensive backup and transfers any important information or data that may be required in the future or moved to an alternative system. In addition, any data that is being held under any kind of confidentiality must be erased or wiped from your assets using appropriate methods and tools. In addition to wiping any confidential information, it is important to remove any information that is private or sensitive to a previous user or owner.
Once all relevant data has been removed and or backed up, it is important to prepare your assets for transportation and review by a vendor. This might include labelling and packing assets using suitable containers that limit the potential for damage and maximise clarity for third-party services.
Step 5: Monitor and Verify the Disposal of Assets
The final step to disposing and decommissioning assets is monitoring and verifying the execution of the service on behalf of a vendor or service provider. It is recommended that a business or previous owner of the assets tracks and documents the movements and status of the IT assets throughout the process. When an item has been disposed of or decommissioned, a vendor should send documentation (including reports and certificates) confirming that your assets have been processed following the client’s requests.
It is important to survey these documents closely to ensure the desired service has been delivered. It is also important to keep copies of these documents in case proof of decommissioning/disposal should ever be required.
Asset Disposal with CAB IT Services
At CAB IT, we work to offer our customers support and access to the best IT services, including our own asset disposal service. Our tailored IT asset disposal service strives to make secure destruction cost-effective for your business. Covering a range of unwanted equipment from PCs to laptops to printers, our team are qualified to handle and erase your data in adherence to cooperate social responsibility requirements. To learn more about our asset disposal services including secure destruction, get in touch today.
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