6 Reasons Why ITAD Is Important

ITAD refers to IT Asset Disposition and is a must if you want to protect your most sensitive data.

Unfortunately, many people, as well as many companies, have to deal with security breaches every year. Some corporations are even being brought to their knees due to hackers who have stolen thousands of personal records from their headquarters.

IT equipment management presents its own unique set of challenges that can keep many people up at night. This is because they will not only need to stay within a budget but will need to optimally manage compliance and security, while also ensuring that all systems are working as intended.

However, while IT efficiency is important, and staying abreast of the latest IT technologies is essential, some people lose sight of the importance of IT Asset Disposition. Here, we will breakdown six reasons why responsible and secure ITAD are paramount.

Protect Yourself From Theft

The first reason why ITAD is so important is that it can help protect you from a disastrous data breach. In 2019, hundreds of millions of pertinent records were absconded with due to subpar security measures. In fact, the average incident cost roughly $200 per record in Germany and the US, while the figure was approximately $60 in Brazil and India.

Trying to avoid such a fiasco from transpiring should be at the top of your priority list. Fortunately, when it comes to IT apparatuses that have been retired, a data breach can be prevented with a little prudence and knowhow.

You can opt for degaussing, shredding, crushing, or wiping in order to prevent a data breach or theft from taking place. Remember to ensure that the vendor that you have partnered with will ensure that all of your sensitive data will be destroyed entirely, along with the actual device itself.

Resell Certain Items

Some people mistakenly assume that a device that no longer functions is obsolete, when in reality, a non-operational piece of IT equipment may still hold great value. For example, certain IT components or devices can be refurbished and resold, while others can be remarketed or assessed.

However, if you do intend on reselling certain IT equipment, we would suggest that you work closely with an expert who has a significant amount of experience with the secondhand market. They will help you maximize your return on investment for all of your previously owned IT equipment.

Take Advantage of Reliable Asset Tracking

Asset reporting and tracking will help ensure that all of your IT equipment is accounted for, and is especially recommended if the items that you wish to dispose of have very different technical specs. In fact, you may be able to use an online portal to get the job done, as many such portals will allow users to track all of their items throughout the disposition process in real-time.

The result is that all of your assets will assuredly be eliminated from any insurance, maintenance, and financial dossiers. This will provide you with a very strong paper trail for all of your disposed assets.

Harvest Your Software

According to a report published by McKinsey and Sand-Hill Group, about a third of IT budgets are dedicated to software maintenance and license costs. The good news is when your computer or other such device reaches the end of its lifespan, the software on it can still be extracted and used in many cases.

It should also be noted that some people will send their electronic assets to a final stage management vendor with their software still on the electronics, which is a serious faux pas.

As such, please ensure that you extract, deactivate, and transfer the software on your end-of-life electronics so that they can be used again in the future, or you can ask your ITAD vendor to do the work for you.

Ensure Regulatory Compliance

If you own a business, or even if you are not a part of a particular industry, you will need to adhere to regulatory and corporate protocols during the ITAD process. Failure to adhere to the mandated policies may lead to expensive fines and penalties, and can negatively affect your integrity. Fortunately, working with a certified vendor will help mitigate many of the risks that are involved with IT equipment disposal.

Promote Environmental Sustainability

When you are disposing of obsolete electronic equipment that has reached the end of its utility, you will also want to ensure that your antiquated items are being disposed of in an eco-conscious fashion.

Fortunately, there are industry certifications and standards in place that can provide you with the peace of mind that your IT equipment is being handled in an efficient, secure, and safe manner. As such, you won’t have to worry about an environmental fiasco, and can instead spend your time and energy on more important and pressing matters.

To learn more about why IT Asset Disposition is important, call eCycle at 888-945-2611 or contact us here.