Best ITAD Practices: A Step-by-Step Guide to Efficient IT Asset Disposition

Assessment and Inventory 

The first step in efficient ITAD is to establish an IT asset inventory and put in place an IT asset management strategy for all subsequent steps. Perform an audit of all IT assets used by the organization, such as laptops, cell phones, PC workstations, photocopiers, server infrastructure, and any other relevant IT asset. 

Every asset should be accounted for, including the asset’s age and condition. Detailed IT asset registers from ITAD companies such as Wisetek also include the potential value of each asset, which helps organizations realize the maximum ROI for the purposes of refurbishment and resale, for example.

Certification and Documentation 

Data breaches are becoming increasingly costly and damaging to businesses in the US, which alone is a sensible reason to choose a reputable ITAD company for secure data destruction. States such as California have enacted legislation requiring businesses to safeguard personally identifiable information, which includes data held on server infrastructure, hard disk drives, solid-state media, and more. 

 Certification and documentation are essential due diligence on behalf of businesses that provide peace of mind and assurance that data is securely destroyed on these types of storage media. ITAD companies such as Wisetek provide clear audit trails, video evidence and data destruction certificates for every destroyed IT asset. 

 In terms of certifications, NAID AAA Certification, e-Stewards and other certifications from well-known and established organizations demonstrate compliance with local, state and national regulations for data disposal.

Data Sanitization 

Hard drive shredding and degaussing are amongst the most secure data destruction methods for different types of storage media, providing businesses with full assurance of destruction as well as rapid processing of large volumes of IT assets. Moreover, on-site data destruction from companies such as Wisetek reduces the need to transport IT assets and streamlines the processes of data sanitization and data destruction.

Choosing the Right ITAD Company 

Choosing an ITAD company is critical for every step previously mentioned and subsequent steps. Not all ITAD companies provide full and clear audit trails nor do they all offer a full range of data destruction methods. Likewise, not all ITAD companies can simultaneously offer secure data destruction while reducing e-waste through sustainable initiatives. 

 Wisetek offers secure data destruction and eco-friendly data disposal that help organizations both remain compliant and secure, all while benefitting the environment with sustainable initiatives such as our Zero Landfill Policy.

Packaging and Transportation 

Any IT assets that need to be processed off-site should be securely packaged to prevent unwanted tampering; logistics is also crucial for minimizing the risks of IT assets falling into the wrong hands. 

Wisetek offers on-site data destruction that reduces the need for packaging and transport, but off-premises data destruction is also an option for clients. Our off-premises data destruction involves packaging IT assets for transport and secure logistics to dedicated data destruction facilities.

Refurbishment Process 

Many IT assets scheduled for disposal may still hold value and can be refurbished. The potential value can be significant, but refurbishment also reduces e-waste. Wisetek provides complete refurbishment services, restoring devices to an ‘as new’ condition such as laptops, cell phones, desktop PCs, and tablets.

Remarketing 

IT asset remarketing helps businesses to reap many financial benefits of remarketed IT assets. The potential value of refurbished IT assets can be significant when sold to end customers on platforms such as Wisetek Market. 

 Businesses can maximize the ROI on redundant IT assets by entrusting Wisetek to refurbish and remarket electronics, thus providing financial benefits to businesses while reducing e-waste since all refurbished electronics at Wisetek Market are 100% sustainable.

Quality Assurance 

Full accountability and clear audit trails are essential for quality assurance through every ITAD process. Compliance and adherence to data disposal laws and regulations in the US as well as data protection regulations abroad, e.g. GDPR in EU, is required for every ITAD process and Wisetek provides full quality assurance with services such as data destruction certificates, secure logistics and more.

Sales & Distribution 

Wisetek’s refurbished and remarketed IT assets are thoroughly inspected and tested to ensure that the final product is restored to an ‘as new’ condition with any cosmetic flaws or defects clearly labelled so that customers have full transparency.

Eco-Friendly Disposal 

Eco-friendly IT asset disposal is necessary to combat the growing global e-waste crisis. Businesses should always choose a reputable ITAD company such as Wisetek that offers eco-friendly ITAD services backed by sustainability initiatives such as our Zero Landfill Policy.

Reporting & Feedback 

In order to continue providing high-quality services for the satisfaction of clients, ITAD companies should communicate clearly and be receptive to feedback in order to improve their services. Wisetek strives to provide clients with clear and transparent reporting, real-time IT asset tracking, remote IT solutions and much more.

Professional ITAD Services from Wisetek 

The best ITAD practices all hinge on selecting the right ITAD provider that is committed to secure data destruction, eco-friendly data disposal, and maximizing the ROI on your organization’s redundant IT assets.

Choose Wisetek for trustworthy, professional ITAD services in the US and globally.