Start 2016 with a clean IT slate

27 Nov 2015

For most businesses, maximising recovery and integrating disposition data with asset management systems can be challenging. Companies are urged to schedule their year-end data destruction and asset disposal before the holidays.

Susie Shapira via Wikimedia Commons

Xperien CEO Wale Arewa says this is a good time to clear things out and start 2016 with a clean slate. "Do you have tapes or hard drives that are being released and need to be destroyed or do you have PCs, laptops, servers and other IT equipment that you want to clear out before year end."

Refreshing old assets

The influx of new technology creates a corresponding and often overlooked increase in decommissioned IT assets. As a result, outdated PCs, monitors, and other IT equipment tend to quietly pile up in storage. These rapidly depreciating, aged assets can pack a major financial punch.

ITAD presents unique challenges and potential costs that companies seldom consider. Very few companies understand the principles of IT asset disposal and more often cost is a driver of the fragmented approach to refreshing old assets. This can range from auctions and staff sales to scrapping storeroom bound computers without proper consideration for data protection or the elimination of data from old computers.

Legislative requirements

Company executives responsible for IT asset management need to understand the principles of IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) and they need to consider regulatory compliance and the protection of company information. IT disposal has legislative requirements, compliance to Protection of Personal Information Act 2013 (PoPI 2013), the National Environmental Waste Management Act 2008 (NEMWA 2008) and the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA).

Arewa says customers can offset the cost of a secure IT asset disposition programme by realising its potential savings. "Retire your technology assets wisely by finding a third-party specialist with deep experience in secure IT asset disposition."

"This trusted partner can help you find the metrics to convey a secure asset disposition plan's ROI to budget-minded superiors. And once the job is underway, your partner will provide complete documentation of the disposal process. You'll rest assured that security regulations are being met," he concludes.