Which Is The Safest Way To Dispose Of IT Assets?
When your IT assets are out of service, putting them in a storeroom is not enough. Don’t forget to tag all devices and label them with a barcode and a serial/tracking number to account for all retired IT assets. RAKI Computers, an IT asset disposal company in Houston, shares the safest methods to deal with retired IT assets. But before you consider any of the options below, make sure your IT assets are in a locked and secure on-site facility.
Ensure Appropriate Data Destruction
Whether you are planning to remarket IT assets or recycle them, you should wipe out all information from your devices. You need to use specialized methods to remove data, including erasing/overwriting data with at least three passes if you want to get rid of data on your disk drive without ruining your hard drive. Programs like DBAN, short for Darik’s Boot and Nuke, automatically wipes and overwrites information on the hard drive several times to make it impossible for data recovery tools to access your information.
Degauss to Void Information
Another way to get rid of information permanently is to use a degausser that will eliminate all magnetic fields on your disk media and tapes. After degaussing, data becomes unreadable and destroyed permanently. At the same time, you can no longer use the drive since it will not boot up.
Delete Data Forever With Shredding
While the first two methods work, the most effective way to get rid of data from hard drives is to destroy it. Shredding will destroy the hard drive and all the data it contains. Through the process, the drive would be cut into small pieces and included with other e-scraps for recycling.
Compliance With Industry Standards
Compliance requirements for data destruction will depend on your industry. You may have to use multiple data sanitization methods to meet the required standards. For instance, the health sector should follow HIPAA and HITECH legislation for Protected Health Information.
Financial sectors are also accountable to several government agencies including the FDIC and SEC. You have to document the process followed in IT disposal whether you work with an ITAD company or do it in-house.
Among the most secure but convenient IT Asset Disposal methods is to work with an E-recycling facility that complies with the data sanitation requirements in your industry. Companies like RAKI Computers take care of everything from pick up to data sanitization carried out in compliance with Department of Defense Standards, recycling electronic waste, and offering fair value for your old equipment. Get a free evaluation today from RAKI Computers in Houston for improved data security and peace of mind.