What is ITAD? Wisetek’s Guide to IT Asset Disposition

What is ITAD?

IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) is a term that refers to the systems and processes of securely disposing of IT assets (hardware). Depending on the needs of an organisation, various IT assets can be disposed of by means of recycling, refurbishment, or reuse within the organisation.

 

All IT assets have a lifespan ranging from a few years to perhaps a decade or longer. Once IT assets reach their end of life (EoL) or become damaged or worn out sooner than anticipated, organisations must have a plan in place to dispose of the IT asset in a secure and environmentally friendly manner.

 

This latter point is especially important as the global e-waste crisis is putting enormous strain on governments to impose data disposal laws prohibiting the unsafe disposal of electronics in landfills, for example. Consequently, many reputable ITAD companies opt for recycling or refurbishment of IT assets as a sustainable alternative.

 

One key difference between an electronics recycler and an ITAD provider is that ITAD processes involve the crucial step of secure Data Destruction. Likewise, there are various methods of data destruction that can be employed in order to render all data held on the IT asset completely irretrievable.

 

Data Destruction

Key stakeholders in organisations in the UK asking “what is ITAD” must consider the implications of not having a secure data destruction policy in place. Even a single hard drive containing sensitive data could be the source of a major data breach if a thief were to get their hands on unencrypted data held therein. Why bother with phishing or savvy hacking when an organisation carelessly leaves behind old hard drives full of sensitive data?

 

The consequences can be catastrophic. Failure to comply with GDPR UK, for example, can lead to enormous penalties of up to £17.5 million or more. Moreover, organisations stand to lose far more from a data breach than just the financial damage. The subsequent loss of trust with customers and clients, potential loss in market competitiveness and market share, and in some particularly egregious cases journalistic exposure can all cause significant damage to the reputation of an organisation.

 

What is data destruction, then, and what is ITAD able to remediate in terms of data breaches? According to the Ministry of Justice, data destruction is: “…the process of erasing or otherwise destroying data stored on virtual/electronic or physical mediums…in order to completely render data irretrievable and inaccessible and otherwise void.”

 

ITAD companies can securely destroy data by various means, depending on the media format and the security needs of the organisation. Some of the most frequently used methods of data destruction are Hard Drive Shredding and degaussing; some rarer forms of data destruction include incineration and manual destruction with a drill or hammer, for example.

 

 

ITAD for Data Centres

One of the fastest growing trends in organisations in the UK and worldwide is the rapid transformation of data centres. The global data centre market is estimated to grow from $187.35 billion (approx. £152 billion) to $517.17 billion (approx. £420 billion) from 2020-2030 at a CAGR of 10.5%.

 

This growth does not necessarily correlate to a physical growth in the scale of data centres, however. Instead, what is happening already and in the foreseeable future is a movement towards cloud-based storage solutions and hybrid data centres in lieu of traditional on-premises data centres. In other words, data centres are growing and transforming.

 

One thing that is not likely to change drastically in the coming years, however, is the consistent need for data centre infrastructure such as HDDs and other forms of media. Data centres will likely continue to require hard drives that have a limited lifespan, subsequently creating a need for secure data destruction and IT Asset Disposal.

For traditional data centres that need to be migrated to off-premises data centres or otherwise decommissioned, ITAD providers such as Wisetek provide reliable Data Centre Decommissioning services to assist with the process and to ensure that all sensitive data is securely destroyed.

 

Environmentally Friendly Guide to IT Asset Disposition

It’s estimated that nearly 2 million tonnes of electronics are disposed of every single year in the UK by private individuals and by businesses. The massive quantity of electronics waste (e-waste) poses a serious hazard when disposed of improperly and has led to the UK reaching a tipping point.

 

In 2014, the Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 (the Regulations were implemented on 1 January 2014) were enacted as law in the UK, following previous iterations of laws regulating the recycling, recovery, reuse, and treatment of e-waste in the UK. It is unlawful for individuals or companies to improperly dispose of e-waste; alternative solutions exist and some are already in use, including electronics recycling drop-off boxes in many high electronics street retail shops.

 

For businesses, however, more practical, affordable, and secure methods exist for processing large volumes of hard drives and other storage media. ITAD solutions must also adhere to e-waste regulations and laws, so ITAD providers such as Wisetek do so by opting for more environmentally friendly methods of IT asset disposal, including certified recycling and Corporate Computer Recycling, as well as refurbishment and remarketing through the Wisetek Store.

 

Our commitment to a Zero Landfill Policy means that organisations can rest assured that none of their IT assets will end up polluting the environment. Moreover, a more sustainable approach to ITAD means that organisations can meet strategic CSR goals whilst saving money and maximising the ROI on redundant IT assets when remarketed through platforms such as Wisetek Store. It’s a win-win for businesses and for the environment.

 

Data Security in Global Supply Chains

The importance of the “what is ITAD” question is one that risk management and supply chain management professionals must consider. As exemplified during the years of the pandemic, global supply chains are fragile and dependency on raw materials or products from other nations can exacerbate the bullwhip effect on the supply chain. The microchip shortage, for example, reduced the ability of companies to acquire key components used in the manufacture of just about all modern electronics.

 

Whilst the procurement of IT hardware and devices comes with its own inherent risks, the disposal of redundant IT assets must still be done with all due diligence and with full compliance to data security and data protection regulations in order to protect sensitive data and to remain compliant.

Why does ITAD matter so much to risk management professionals? Find out more here.

 

What to Look for in an ITAD Company in the UK

Many organisations in the UK are searching for a data erasure company and perhaps use software to wipe or “digitally destroy” data on hard drives. When it comes to secure data destruction, a professional ITAD is far more reliable than many software applications claim to be since the method of destruction is physical, thus ensuring that there is no ‘backdoor’ or method of retrieving deleted files afterwards.

 

A good ITAD company must be willing to provide secure data destruction at a bare minimum. Other things to look for are:

• A wide range of professional services, such as Hard Drive Destruction, certified recycling, data centre services, IT solutions, and more.
• Full professional accreditation and certification with organisations such as e-Stewards, R2 – Responsible Recycling, ISO9001, and ISO14001.
• Fully auditable processes, including the provision of data destruction certificates and video verification for added security and peace of mind.
• Full asset tracking and reporting functionality. Disposing of hundreds or thousands of devices can be complex, so it’s important that every single asset can be accounted for.

 

Wisetek meets all of these criteria and goes above and beyond to help organisations achieve the maximum ROI on redundant IT assets through our remarketing and refurbishment scheme, all whilst minimising the impact of e-waste on the environment through our Zero Landfill Policy.

 

Contact Wisetek for Professional ITAD Services

There will likely continue to be an ever-increasing need for secure data destruction within organisations in the UK for the foreseeable future. It will be an essential service for organisations that need to remain fully compliant and secure in terms of data. Choose Wisetek for professional ITAD services in the UK and worldwide.

 

For more information, please contact enquiries@wisetek.net or visit our website.

You might also be interested in the following articles:

 

Why ITAD Matters to Risk Management Professionals

Electronics Recycling vs ITAD: What’s the Difference?

Five Industries that Need Professional Data Destruction Services