Let’s face it, your data is valuable and the bad guys are constantly looking for ways to get in. There is a direct economization around the hacking industry where the value of information continues to grow. Juniper Research pointed out that the rapid digitization of consumers’ lives and enterprise records will increase the cost of data breaches to $2.1 trillion globally by 2019, increasing to almost four times the estimated cost of breaches in 2015.
It’s important to remember that a modern data center is often home to the most valuable assets a company has, so it’s imperative that every necessary step be taken to mitigate the risks involved when dealing with data. While companies tend to pay close attention to the purchase of new equipment, many do not have an adequate IT asset disposal (ITAD) policy. There are three main goals when it comes to the proper disposal of IT assets:
- Data leak mitigation
- Environmental sustainability
- Reducing costs
The purpose of ITAD is to ensure that every possible step is taken to protect the reputation of your brand while also maximizing your return on investment. After all, the economic consequences of a data breach due to improper disposal of data-storage devices can be absolutely devastating to any company.
Remember, it’s not just about mitigating risk and data breaches. Many organizations are also concerned about waste disposal. Electronic waste is already a major problem, and it’s only getting worse. In 2016 alone, consumers and organizations are expected to generate a staggering 93.5 million tons of e-waste. Currently, the rate of growth stands at 15-20% per year, which shouldn’t come as any surprise considering how ubiquitous IT has become in our daily lives.
Fortunately, the infrastructure is now being put in place to properly deal with this global problem. However, many companies have yet to take advantage of it. In this whitepaper from DMD Systems Recovery, you learn about the critical aspects of creating a good ITAD policy; one that revolves around:
- Data Security
- Environmental Sustainability
- Cost Reduction
- IT Asset Economics
- How to Implement an ITAD Program
The market is still young as well, and many organizations are still not aware of the potential risks of simply moving their used IT equipment to the landfill sites. In order to maximize value, minimize risk and help save the environment, you’ll need to ensure that your chosen ITAD partner has the following characteristics:
- They can guarantee the safety of any confidential data stored on data-bearing devices, and they can explain the complete process, including what to do if the device fails to wipe.
- An ITAD vendor should provide a complete service both in terms of asset recovery and secure and environmentally friendly asset disposal or recycling.
- They meet the strict requirements laid out by a widely recognized standard such as the R2.
- The appropriate reporting systems are in place to track and provide documentation that all of your equipment was properly disposed of – including the destruction of data.
- ITAD vendors should also be able to determine the highest residual value in the equipment in order to maximize your return on investment.
Download this whitepaper today to learn why there is a lot more to choosing the right ITAD vendor than simply by locating the nearest recycling company.