ITAD: Disposing of IT Assets Securely and Responsibly

The early deployment stage of the IT asset lifecycle is often what companies think the most about. However, the final disposition stage, where assets like computers, tablets, and mobile devices are discarded, recycled, or reused, is equally important.

Here, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of securely and responsibly disposing of IT assets through ITAD services. 

What is ITAD?

Short for IT asset disposition, this refers to the process of handling IT assets once they’ve reached the end of their lifecycle. 

If an asset is no longer usable, this typically means discarding it. However, in some cases, if an asset can be reused, it may be repaired or recycled so that it can eventually be passed off to a new employee or sold for value recovery. 

Understanding ITAD and implementing ITAD practices is vital, as it ensures that IT asset disposition is done properly and meets compliance standards. 

It’s also essential for following safety regulations, keeping sensitive data stays secure, and making sure electronic equipment that can be reused gets a new home. 

It goes far beyond simply “throwing old IT assets away” and focuses on using a streamlined, systematized ITAD process that’s built around sustainability. 

And this is important given the massive volume of electronics that are discarded each year, with many of them becoming electronic waste, or “e-waste.” 

According to the International Telecommunication Union, “In 2022, a record 62 billion kg (over 68 million tons) of e-waste was generated globally, while only 22.3% was documented as formally collected and recycled in an environmentally sound manner.”

What Does ITAD Do?

ITAD professionals specialize in properly handling IT assets at the end of their lifecycle. It’s their job to ensure the process is carried out correctly, to follow compliance protocol, avoid unnecessary e-waste, and, if possible, reuse assets that still have life in them.

You can break the asset disposition service down into three main areas. 

Securing Data

Whenever an employee uses hardware like a computer, tablet, or other electronic device, the asset will likely contain sensitive information. If this winds up in the wrong hands, it can create a serious security threat and compromise critical data. 

A big part of ITAD is information erasure, which can involve data wiping and physical destruction while following relevant data protection regulations (like the GDPR, for example). 

This is instrumental in preventing data breaches, and an ITAD partner can provide an audit trail if an issue arises later after the disposal of old equipment.

Recycling and Reusing Devices

For many businesses, whenever a device is approaching the end of its lifespan, their first impulse is to dispose of it through physical destruction. However, 46% of companies believe that at least some devices could be reused or recycled.

And in many cases, this kills two birds with one stone. Not only does it reduce environmental waste from disposing of devices prematurely, for better sustainability, it also maximizes asset value, as the lifespan can be prolonged for increased profitability.

Repairing Hardware

This piggybacks somewhat off of electronic recycling and reusing devices, where an ITAD vendor can oversee the necessary repairs to get hardware back to proper functioning. Typically, repairs are made to hardware that only has minor issues and isn’t yet obsolete. 

From there, it can either be redistributed internally to a new employee, sold for a profit, or even donated to charity. Whatever the case, this aspect of information technology asset disposition helps increase hardware’s longevity and avoid unnecessary waste. 

What is the ITAD Market?

With an incredibly high volume of IT assets in the modern workplace and a growing number of businesses understanding the benefits of proper asset disposition — mainly avoiding fines, data breaches, and reputational damage — the ITAD market is growing significantly.

For perspective, “The global IT asset disposition market size is projected to grow from $18.4 billion in 2024 and to $26.6 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 7.6%,” explains Markets and Markets. “Factors such as early replacement of IT assets with newer versions to keep up with new technologies, and adoption of cloud-based solutions and data center consolidation provide market growth opportunities for the IT asset disposition market.”

And when you consider the increasing number of cybersecurity threats and more stringent environmental sustainability regulations surrounding e-waste, it’s likely that the ITAD market will continue to gain momentum into the late 2020s and 2030s. 

How to Choose an ITAD Company?

There’s a lot at stake with asset disposition, and you want to be sure that:

• It’s handled according to compliance regulations
• You’re not compromising sensitive data when disposing of equipment
• You’re not harming the environment
• You’re reusing or recycling what you can
• You’re maximizing the residual value of your IT asset investment

Accordingly, it’s important to choose an ITAD service that checks all the right boxes. Because the quality of ITAD services can vary widely, there are a few specific things to look for. 

First, an ITAD provider should have certifications, such as a Responsible Recycling (R2) Certification, which means they uphold environmental safety standards. 

They should also have an NAID AAA Certification, which means they’re compliant with sensitive information destruction. 

Next, they should follow environmental best practice guidelines, with some important ones being adopting a reuse/recycle-first approach rather than immediately discarding old hardware. 

Third, they should have a comprehensive and transparent data security protocol, where it’s clear that they do everything possible to prevent sensitive information from being leaked (e.g., data wiping and data destruction). 

Ideally, they’ll provide a Certified Data Destruction, which is an official document that confirms successful data destruction. 

Finally, try to find asset disposition services with a track record of excellent customer service and asset management transparency, where you can easily check the status of devices and quickly get in touch with an expert whenever you need. 

And because of today’s growing remote workforce that’s scattered throughout the world, it’s ideal to choose ITAD services that operate globally and not just in the United States. 

Responsible IT Asset Disposal with allwhere

Whether the right move is outright destroying an asset, reusing, recycling, or reselling, you can simplify and streamline the process with allwhere. 

At allwhere, we handle IT asset disposition and asset recovery end-to-end, dealing with logistics, regulations, and environmental responsibility to make it hassle-free on your end. 

Rather than having to deal with the complexities that come along with the ITAD process, this frees you up to focus on core business operations and managing your team. 

Note that we cater to a global workforce and provide complete transparency from start to finish via a centralized dashboard so you can keep tabs on what’s happening every step of the way. 

Learn more about allwhere’s IT asset disposal services and software. 

‍