In the most extreme cases, storage devices may need to be physically
destroyed to ensure that sensitive data isn’t leaked to whoever gets the
drives next, even within your own organization. In such cases, you
probably shouldn’t destroy them yourself. There are experts who can do
this for you, and they’re probably a lot better at safely and effectively
rendering any data on your drives unrecoverable than you would be. If your
needs are so stringent that you can’t trust this to an outside agency that
specializes in secure destruction of storage devices, you should have a
specialized team within your organization that has the same equipment and
skills as an outside contractor, such as Able IT Logistics.
Use checklists
Keep a checklist for the decommissioning process to make sure you don’t
forget a step at any point. This can be especially important when dealing
with many, many computers at once, such as when an entire department is
shut down — but it’s important the rest of the time, too. Don’t rely on
the checklist to do your thinking for you, though. Consider every detail
of the system in question, its uses, and any potential dangers for
security that come to mind. Add new measures to the checklist when you
come up with a threat you have to deal with that may be relevant again at
a later date; not everything on the checklist has to apply in every case
for it to be a valuable addition.
Eliminate access
Ensure that you eliminate any accounts or other access control facilities
that are associated with the decommissioned equipment. You don’t want an
ex-employee still getting into his old workstation after he’s not supposed
to have access to it any longer, and you don’t want lingering network
access accounts used to remotely connect to the computer providing more
“target surface” for security crackers when you don’t need the account at
all any longer. You should generally do this first.
Delete files securely
Don’t assume that taking hard drives to the landfill is secure. If there’s
sensitive data on your drives, you need to get rid of it before taking it
away. Even if you don’t think there is any sensitive data on the drive,
consider whether you’re willing to bet the business on that — and if not,
do more than just chuck the drive in the bin. Even reformatting or
repartitioning a drive to “erase” the data it stores isn’t good enough
these days (if it ever was).
Computers often hold all kinds of personal and financial information. If
you’re getting rid of your old computer, there are things to do before you
log off for the last time so your hard drive doesn’t become a 21st century
treasure chest for identity thieves and information pirates.
* Save important files on an external storage device – for example, a USB
drive, a CDRom, or an external hard drive – or transfer them to a new
computer.
* If your old computer contains sensitive information that would be
valuable to an identity thief, consider using a program that overwrites or
wipes the hard drive many times. Or, remove the hard drive, and physically
destroy it.
* If you use your computer for business purposes, check with your employer
about how to manage business-related information on your computer. The law
requires businesses to follow data security and disposal requirements for
certain information that’s related to customers.
Once you have a “clean” computer, consider recycling, donating, or
reselling it – and keep the environment in mind when disposing of your
computer.
Keep the environment in mind when disposing of your computer. Most
computer equipment contains hazardous materials that don’t belong in a
landfill. For example, many computers have heavy metals that can
contaminate the earth. The EPA recommends that you check with your local
health and sanitation agencies for ways to dispose of electronics safely.
Many companies simply live with the clutter of obsolete electronic waste
because of the fear that sensitive data may be compromised. Able IT
Logistics understands this very real concern and we ensure that all data
is removed entirely from your electronic waste before it is recycled.
Certificate of Destruction
For your peace of mind, we issue a Certificate of Destruction as proof
that any data stored within your electronic waste has been 100% destroyed
before it reaches our e-waste recycling facility.
Able IT Logistics is an established company
that specialises in the safe disposal of all electronics & IT Equipment-
We can remove computers, telecom systems and all associated electronics
equipment, providing Data Destruction Certificates-
This equipment is then recycled rather than used as landfill, thus
ensuring we are conserving the environment in which we live. The
electronic equipment contains various metals, if only in small quantities,
most common being Steel, Copper, Gold & Aluminium.
Our full service provision includes:
Electronics Removal & Disposal
Waste Management
SAFE & SECURE DATA DESTRUCTION
Confidential Removal & Destruction
Rebuild & Resale of IT Related Products.
We are also Out Of Hours Specialists and cover the whole of the UK.
Our Range of Services include...
We are an electronics recycling company that
takes protecting the environment and your company's security seriously.
Our mission is to provide our customers with affordable alternatives to
landfill disposal, worry free data security, and reliable customer
service.
We follow a strict NO LANDFILL policy both internally and externally. We
value each and every customer as if they were our first. We have a formal
environmental management system, ensuring that we meet environmental
quality standards for all portions of our operation.
Able IT Logistics Limited is an insured, privately owned and operated
corporation that provides electronics recycling services to both
residential and commercial customers.
At Able IT Logistics we maintain strict environmental and social
standards.
We recycle
* Computers
* Monitors
* IT Equipment
* and all other electronic devices
We provide a UK coverage - and collect and
dispose of Computer Hardware (or any type of e-waste) to UK Standards,
providing certificates of authenticated disposal and recycling.
UK
COMPUTER DISPOSALS.co.uk
