Is ITAD a Weak Link in Data Security?

Let’s face it, the amount of data currently being created on a day to day basis isn’t slowing down anytime in the near future.

With the increase in data comes newer, faster equipment with even more vast amounts of storage capacity.

Not only does that create a problem of what to do with the old assets, but more importantly how to keep them secure in the process.

A recent report from Experian revealed that nearly thirty percent of organizations don’t have plans in place to deal with data security threats.

You heard that right. According to their research that’s almost one third of businesses!

With cyber security threats from ransomware attacks to hard drives being sold online that still contain left behind data, how can any business not comprehend the risk that poorly managed data creates?

In more recent times, we’ve seen cyber security being prioritized as an area of great investment; especially with a majority of new businesses and startups in the data hosting sector.

But ponder for a moment the amount of retired IT assets that end up in piles of scrap as new products are released on a continuous basis.

Whether it be an entire machine, such as laptops, desktops, and networking switches or individual components like SSDs, HDDs, memory, or tape cartridges, any small to mid-sized business produces a significant amount of physical data assets that need to be securely destroyed on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, end of life asset management and the secure destruction of data assets is often unnoticed.

An insufficient amount of businesses can guarantee or show proof that every measure possible was taken to prevent a data breach.

Too few organizations can confidently state that all sensitive data was destroyed in a secure, accountable and socially responsible way.

When the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) came into legislature in May 2018, businesses began facing potential financial penalties if they didn’t comply with the data destruction guidelines.

How can Secure IT Asset Disposition (SITAD) Help?

An organization that deal with or governs sensitive data should have an obligation to teach their staff about GDPR requirements and responsibilities.

In order to stay ahead of the curve, businesses should also be making an effort to transform employee habbits when it comes to data asset destruction.

However, this can be a costly and timely process. Processes and policies in regards to asset and data disposition need to be communicated clearly to staff, resulting in the gradual education and behavioral change.

The decisions any organization has to make when choosing on an ITAD vendor are going depend on the size of the company and its equipment inventory.

Nevertheless, a business can adopt its own plan and strategy to fit its individual ITAD requirements, but the most important thing that must remain is taking an active part in the security of critical data.

Trusting the help of a reputable ITAD vendor makes a huge difference. There are countless security measures that a business may not think to take into account.

A professional ITAD company will to ensure your data is properly secure from start to finish.

Since 1965, we’ve been in the business of helping organizations with all of their IT asset needs.

With over 130 years combined industry experience, our equipment experts can assist in offloading old or retired hardware fast, easy, and even more importantly SECURELY.

When considering selling surplus IT equipment, visit one of our pages; We Buy Used IT Equipment, We Buy Used Memory, We Buy Used Hard Drives, We Buy Used Cisco, or We Buy Used Tape to get the highest market value and the greatest return on investment.

Contact us today for a free quote and see why we’ve been trusted by businesses both large and small for over half a century.