How to Dispose of End of Life Network Hardware Securely
Recent events highlighted in the press demonstrate a very sound business case for employing secure methods of disposal of redundant IT equipment.
A particularly poignant example is that of a second hand server purchased from the internet which contained the personal data of one million customers of the Royal Bank of Scotland, National Westminster Bank and American Express. Not only does this represent a serious breach of confidentiality, but it also breaches legal requirements which now make IT owners responsible for data integrity and computer hardware disposal. Naturally, this event has received endless negative publicity for the companies involved, but has served as a warning shot to everyone responsible for hardware and data integrity.
To avoid problems, it is essential for organisations to work with a company that is fully conversant with and works within the parameters of current WEEE requirements which came into force on 1st July 2007. It is essential that any company offering this service is able to demonstrate its integrity and that it takes seriously its responsibility for secure removal of data from your hardware. Without this reassurance, a company cannot guarantee to its customers that their data is secure and cannot be sure that it will be working within the law.
It can be cost-effective to dispose of IT equipment through an organisation that offers refurbished products and will purchase your redundant kit – thereby providing some return on obsolete assets. A reputable specialist in hardware refurbishment will ensure that any product capable of being recycled will be refurbished and marketed for further use. Any parts not reusable can be broken down and the materials reformed to create a different product at a fraction of the cost to the environment of making new products or of dumping in landfill. As end users are responsible for the disposal of their equipment, great care should be taken to find a partner that has robust methods for dealing with this and that they can provide proof of adherence to WEEE where necessary.
In addition, to the egocentric reasons for ensuring safe retirement of obsolete kit, there are also many altruistic considerations. On average, a person in the UK disposes of 3.3 tonnes of electronic and electrical waste in his lifetime and households and businesses between them throw one million tonnes away each year. By recycling, this can be reduced – the potential for recycling IT products being in excess of 80 %. The cost to the environment encompasses not simply the pollution caused by decaying machines, both physical, aesthetic and chemical, through increased land-fill sites or indiscriminate dumping, but also by the additional pollution from manufacture of new machines using all new materials to replace them.
Should you find your kit is worth little either recycled or resold, or should you have a policy of supporting charitable organisations, there are a number of ways to donate your kit to worthy causes which could not otherwise afford IT or would have to divert much needed cash resources from their other important activities.