As you go back to the office and dust off your old equipment, you may find that you need to or want to replace some of your electronic devices. You may be downsizing your office space or upgrading the network to accommodate remote users. Either way, you will need to dispose of older equipment. When you do, please do so responsibly and securely, here’s how.
Delete all data - thoroughly!
Before a machine can be fully decommissioned and e-wasted, data must be thoroughly purged.
Remember, data deletion isn’t as simple as moving company files to your computer's recycling bin. Any” deleted” files can easily be restored. The only way to truly “wipe” a computer’s hard drive is to physically remove it and destroy it. While this may sound extreme, this is the procedure we follow to wipe computers before e-wasting them. It is the only way to ensure that your company’s IP does not inadvertently end up in the wrong hands. Remember that your company can be held liable for any data breaches that might occur.
Your business should have a policy outlining your data deletion process. If you do not, reach out to us and we can help you update your Information Security Policy.
Dispose of equipment - properly!
Disposing of e-wasting properly needs to be done by a third party. From an environmental standpoint, when e-waste is tossed into landfills, chemicals such as lead, mercury, polyvinyl chloride and many others seep into the soil. These chemicals then pollute the groundwater and air. Worldwide, we generate approximately 53 million metric tons of e-waste every year that is then improperly recycled.
There are several accredited facilities that would be happy to pick up your e-waste. Most e-waste recycling centers offer free recycling for TV’s, tablets, monitors, batteries, computers, servers, and laptops, but can charge a small fee for items such as scanners, printers, cords, etc. They will come to your office for pick up when you have enough e-waste accumulated.
If you are a Hybridge client, call us and we will offboard, wipe and e-waste your old computers. We will ensure that all data, user profiles, and applications are properly offboarded from your environment. We will also dispose of your old computer on your behalf.
Please call us with any questions or to schedule a pick up of your e-waste for disposal. We will also be happy to provide the names of accredited e-waste facilities. We can be reached by phone at 888-353-1763, or by email at info (at) hybridge.com
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