Devices like PCs, laptops and tablets, are critical components for business, academia, government, and even regular social interaction. As a result, the number of these devices in use has skyrocketed. Research firm Statista reports global shipments of around 400 million devices per year over the last ten years. Events such as migrations to cloud environments, data center relocations, and technology upgrades are creating an unprecedented need for proper asset disposal. As a result, IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), or the the safe disposal of obsolete or unwanted equipment, has grown in importance as a task that every responsible and successful enterprise must implement.
The process of creating and maintaining a proper ITAD process can be confusing. Businesses can be unclear on where to start, unsure about compliance standards, or simply just not have the time or expertise to devote to ITAD. However, failure to achieve proper standards can result in both financial and reputational damage from regulatory non-compliance, loss of intellectual property, or data breaches. Fortunately, Liquid Technology, an industry-leading IT asset disposition service provider, has created a whitepaper to give organizations a practical understanding of IT device lifecycles and equip them with knowledge regarding how to create a proper ITAD plan. The whitepaper, titled “A Retirement Plan For Your IT Assets,” provides businesses with clear steps to help them form a secure, compliant, and environmentally responsible transition plan for their end-of-life technology. ITAD processes, when created properly, minimize risk and potential financial loss while safeguarding businesses against unethical and damaging consequences.
Regulatory concerns are constantly changing, and environmental and local laws vary considerably, which means ITAD is not a “set and forget” process. Untangling the many layers of ITAD often requires a professional with proper certifications and references.
Once a business has become educated on the core principles and procedures, it can plan and coordinate every step of the process to eliminate risk, comply with industry regulations, protect the environment, and obtain the greatest possible resale value. Identifying how long a company should expect to keep their technology through considerations such as value windows, refresh cycles, and replacement and upgrade frequencies ultimately help maximize value. When executed properly, ITAD processes maximize return on investment (ROI).
IT is evolving. Advancements such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, big data, and digital expansion from the IoT (Internet of Things) are changing the compatibilities and requirements of technology. Alongside this evolution, end-of-life IT asset management has grown as well, becoming paramount to successful business operation. Conscientious decisions from the beginning can help businesses offset the cost of high-quality purchases to recoup as much of the original investment as possible. When it comes to managing e-waste, the best thing a business can do for itself is to partner with a reputable ITAD professional. These professionals provide companies with unparalleled insights and top-tier services to help manage everything from chain-of-custody documentation to data destruction. Once in place, these processes expertly ensure security, maximize ROI and minimize business risk.
To read Liquid Technology’s full whitepaper, “A Retirement Plan for Your IT Assets,” click here
