IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) companies assist their clients with a lot more than recycling, secure data destruction services or data center decommissioning. With the continued grown of the cloud, the evolution of hybrid working and remote collaboration, along with the data rich Internet of Things, IT asset disposition no longer solely concerns the disposal of end of life IT assets.
As the use of data increases, it is important to have a trusted affiliation with a reliable ITAD partner to help you manage your hardware life cycle, both sustainably and efficiently. By doing so, you can alleviate a lot of internal pressures, reduce administration and add money to your IT bottom line. And since ITAD professionals know data protection and e-waste legislation inside and out, they can also provide substantial peace of mind when it comes to your legal compliance
The term ITAD may be synonymous across the industry, but not all IT asset disposition companies are equal. Many providers offer additional services and some may not hold the same certifications as others. But how do you choose the right ITAD partner? You’ll find it beneficial to spend some time thinking about your specific needs as a company, and assess whether or not an ITAD partner will meet your needs.
Do you provide full life-cycle management?
A full-service ITAD partner will work with you through the entire life cycle of your IT assets. Whether you are undertaking a large data center decommissioning project, managing your refresh cycle or need data destruction, you will need to ensure that your selected ITAD can tailor their services to meet your individual needs and requirements. Flexibility is key; it is highly important that your new provider can adapt, and quickly if needed.
Do you provide asset recovery services?
While the focus throughout should remain on security and compliance, ITAD companies will simultaneously be working to return meaningful revenue to your organization’s IT budget, helping you to sell your redundant IT assets, either as an entire asset or as separate components.
As experts in supply chain management and resale markets, an ITAD expert can advise whether you would secure a better residual return for your asset as it is, or whether it could make more if parts were harvested and resold as components to the re-manufacturing industry. As it is a growing sector of the circular economy, the latter may generate a higher value for your business with efficient asset recovery becoming an unexpected revenue stream.
Do you have a circular mindset?
The future of IT hardware is circular and sustainability is becoming an important part of boardroom conversations as increasingly ethical consumers are demanding it. Look for an environmentally friendly ITAD provider with a strong ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ policy.
With record quantities of e-waste being generated, organizations should ensure that their end of life IT assets are being handled properly. OceanTech, a trusted provider in the ITAD idustry offers a zero-landfill policy.
Do you hold industry certifications?
Verified external certifications show that the ITAD provider has been officially recognized as a credible, knowledgeable authority. These stringent certifications show that the correct processes and industry best practice is followed at all times, guaranteeing your data security.
The leading certifications to look out for are R2:2013 Responsible Recycling, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System and ISO 45001:2018, Environmental Management. However, it is also crucial to look for credentials that are specific to your industry and the types of services you require.
In the end, it is your legal responsibility to protect company data at all costs. Don’t be afraid to undertake thorough research when you are looking for an ITAD supplier – ask questions and even ask for client references.