As we all know, nothing lasts forever, and this is especially true when it comes to electronics. As new technologies emerge each year, companies feel the pressure to keep up with the breakneck pace at which technology is evolving. These new technologies allow your company to stay competitive and enable your employees to complete necessary tasks more efficiently. However, obtaining new IT assets leaves you with swaths of outdated equipment. So when the time comes, you may be left wondering what to do with old computers.
Rather than allow your equipment to pile up in the storage closet or toss unwanted devices in the dumpster, it’s in your company’s best interest to establish an ITAD strategy. With the assistance of an ITAD provider, you can safely dispose of old computers and other IT equipment while ensuring compliance, data security, and environmentally friendly processing.
What Is ITAD?
IT asset disposition (ITAD) is a term used to describe the process of reusing, recycling, or disposing of outdated IT equipment in an environmentally sustainable and secure manner.
When a company decides to decommission unwanted IT equipment, they often seek the assistance of a certified electronic waste recycling company that specializes in ITAD. Working with a third party to handle your ITAD needs reduces the workload of your internal team while providing access to professional expertise in compliance and data destruction.
Having an ITAD plan in place ensures that your unwanted electronic devices don’t wind up in a landfill, where toxic chemicals and heavy metals could seep into the surrounding environment. In addition, it protects your company’s data from those who could profit off of private company information.
Why ITAD Is the Best Option for Safe Electronics Recycling
Eventually, you will need to get rid of your company’s outdated IT computers and replace them with newer, more effective technology. However, it is of the utmost importance that your company has a plan in place to determine how to decommission your electronic assets.
Compliance
There are varying laws and regulations regarding the proper disposal of electronic assets in each state. Working with certified e-waste recyclers ensures that your company has the benefit of expert regulatory knowledge and does not incur costly fines from poor e-waste disposal practices.
Data Security
ITAD companies also implement strategic processes to ensure that any sensitive data deep within your electronic assets is completely wiped from the devices. If you fail to erase this information from your computers and other electronic devices, company data may fall into the wrong hands.
This kind of data vulnerability can be massively damaging to your business. Research from IBM and the Ponemon Institute states that the average cost of a data breach in the United States is $8.19 million, and this does not even include follow-up costs like legal fees or implementing new initiatives to prevent a data breach.
Public Image
To make matters worse, customers will become hesitant to work with your company if a data breach occurs. The reputational damage induced by a data breach can affect your company for many years after the incident occurs. If your company is relatively small, safe practices to avoid data exposure are even more critical — 60% of small businesses close within six months following a data breach.
Luckily, working with reputable electronic recycling companies to implement a thorough ITAD strategy can significantly reduce the likelihood of a data breach. ITAD servicers follow strict guidelines to ensure compliance with data privacy laws and obtain certifications to prove that their practices align with these regulations.
How to Properly Decommission Your Old Computers
When it’s time to dispose of your old computers, mobile devices, servers, and other office equipment, your team must begin by creating a list of assets ready for decommissioning. To ensure that the process goes smoothly, share the list with your ITAD provider and update it promptly with any additions or changes.
If your computers are incredibly outdated, your ITAD providers will likely schedule them for complete destruction and eliminate any data stored within the devices. Sometimes, even computers with resale value will need to be destroyed if the hard drive audit appears to have any bad sectors. In either event, ITAD providers will complete the data erasure process to ensure that there is no company or customer data within the computers.
If there is valuable data stored on your old computers, make sure to preserve backups before the equipment is sent for decommissioning. It may be beneficial to copy important information to cloud storage services, which have advanced encryption and may protect your information more effectively than a traditional storage drive. If this sounds like the right option for your company, just remember that you will need to complete the process before permanently wiping your old computers.
Even once your computers have been handed off to your recycling partners, stay aware of what’s happening during each stage of decommissioning. The ITAD process should include auditable verification, protected transportation, asset tracking, and documentation on the chain of custody. The best ITAD providers will have no problem adhering to these protocols.
Securely Dispose of Old Computers with FAMCe
Disposing of your electronics can seem like a hassle. Luckily, there are certified, reputable recyclers that will dispose of your company’s electronic devices the right way. An experienced ITAD provider will securely manage your company’s sensitive data, ensure environmental compliance, and oversee the logistics of disposing of your IT devices. So when it’s time to get rid of your old electronics, choose a partner you can rely on.
First America Metal Corp. (FAMCe) has over 30 years of experience helping businesses safely and responsibly recycle their outdated devices. Our high level of expertise and exceptional customer service has built our reputation as an industry leader, and we are committed to exceeding each client’s needs and expectations.
Want to recycle your old devices with confidence, compliance, and verifiable security? Contact FAMCe today for e-waste disposal and professional ITAD services that support your business interests from start to finish.
