What are the ITAD Policy Risks and Their Mitigation?
What is the cost of a bad ITAD policy? In some cases, the cost can be in the millions of pounds if the organisation has suffered from a data breach. In the UK, data breaches are incredibly common and can be severely cost to remediate, which stresses the need for creating, implementing, and enforcing a good ITAD policy rather than suffer the consequences of a bad ITAD policy.
Risks to Data Security
One of the most important reasons to have a robust ITAD policy is to maintain data security and to improve organisational commitments to data privacy protection. If an organisation lacks good data security, it is only a matter of time until data privacy will be compromised. When data privacy is compromised, organisations expose themselves to the potential for violations of data protection regulations such as GDPR UK.
From 2021-2022, the amount of fines issued for GDPR violations have exceeded $1.25 billion (about £1.02 billion), which set a new record for fines issued within the EU and a seven-fold increase, year over year. In the UK, numerous high-profile GDPR violations have made headlines with fines in the tens of millions of pounds.
Non-Financial Damages
Although the financial damage to an organisation can itself be crippling, there are many other potential ways that an organisation can suffer from a data breach. Firstly, egregious violations of data protection can put the company under a negative spotlight from the media, scarring the reputation of the brand and subsequently leading to a loss of trust and reputation.
Negative press coverage and brand devaluation were highlighted as major consequences of GDPR violations in a report from PwC, wherein 19% of respondents felt that negative coverage in the media would lead to a loss of customers and 12% reported that their brand would be devalued as a result of the press attention.
Legal Consequences of a Bad ITAD Policy
In addition to the financial and non-financial damage that can be caused by a data breach (which in turn can come from a bad ITAD policy), organisations can be subjected to scrutiny and audits from jurisdictions within which they operate.
In the UK, compliance with GDPR UK is essential, but it’s also important that organisations in the UK which operate internationally comply with data protection regulations and laws elsewhere, such as GDPR in the EU. Although the GDPR originally adopted by the UK in 2018 is generally the same as the GDPR UK enacted following Brexit, organisations must still exercise due diligence wherever they operate.
Specifically in terms of ITAD, this applies to the methods of data destruction and IT Asset Disposal. Organisations must comply with data disposal laws in jurisdictions where they operate, whether in the UK or the EU or internationally. This includes diversion from landfills and using certified recycling processes such as Wisetek’s Corporate Computer Recycling initiatives to reduce needless e-waste.
How to Turn a Bad ITAD Policy into a Good ITAD Policy
- Outsource your ITAD to a trustworthy provider: ITAD processes can be complex for organisations, and a single oversight can pose a risk to data security. Leave the job to a reputable global leader in ITAD such as Wisetek
- Auditable & accountable processes: secure data destruction should be a given when working with a professional ITAD company, but nevertheless you will need to ensure that their processes are auditable and that you have a complete chain of custody for all IT assets from your IT Asset Disposition provider
- Maximum ROI for IT assets: through services such as device remarketing and refurbishment, ITAD companies can help recoup the value on assets, which has the ancillary benefit of improving sustainability by reducing e-waste. Wisetek sells refurbished devices through Wisetek Store, where customers can purchase quality, ‘as new’ electronics at competitive prices
- Data destruction certificates & evidence of destruction: Hard Drive Destruction processes such as Hard Drive Shredding are secure and compliant methods of Data Destruction, but it important to always obtain evidence of data destruction in the event of an audit or if a data breach does occur. Wisetek provides customers with data destruction certificates for all destroyed assets as well as video verification, upon request
- Mobile on-site data destruction: organisations that need to dispose of large quantities of IT assets should take advantage of mobile data destruction services. Wisetek operates a fleet of data destruction vehicles that can provide on-premises hard drive shredding at business parks anywhere in the UK. From our office in Milton Keynes, our data destruction vehicles provide a full range of services for clients located in Greater London, Edinburgh, Essex, or wherever you require on-site data destruction in the UK
Improve Your Organisation’s ITAD Policy with Services from Wisetek
Wisetek is a trustworthy global leader in ITAD and a leading data erasure company in the UK, providing a vast range of secure ITAD services. From data centre services such as Data Centre Decommissioning to hard drive disposal, IT solutions, and hard drive shredding, clients in the UK choose Wisetek for secure and compliant processes. Avoid a bad ITAD policy and choose a reputable ITAD company such as Wisetek.
For more information, please contact enquiries@wisetek.net or visit our website.
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What is ITAD? Wisetek’s Guide to IT Asset Disposition
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Why Risk Management Strategies Must Include IT Asset Disposition