Disposition Process Tour - Afterlife of an IT Asset

1. Asset Identified for Disposition/Transition

Disposition is not just about disposal and recycling. Whether you sell, recycle, or redeploy used technology, steps must be taken to ensure that no sensitive data leaves the original location with the equipment.

2. Asset Identified as a Risk

Many standards are available for risk calculation. U.S. Micro can help you determine which standards apply to your business. Remember, it is often impossible to safely determine when sensitive information has been left in emails, word documents, or other personal files. Therefore, the highest risk level is generally assumed.

3. Scheduled for Pickup

U.S. Micro provides multiple methods for pickup scheduling to support both customer convenience, and to enhance tracking.

4. Asset Stored Securely Pending Pickup

Assets should not be left to sit in unsecured areas for pickup. Any data bearing assets should be given the same security measures off network they would be given on network. Only personnel with authorization to view the data should be authorized to access the storage area.

5. U.S. Micro Personnel Inventories Each Asset with Electronic Tracking

Time has shown that the technical side of asset disposal (the wipe) is not the challenge. The ability to accurately track and account for machines remains the greatest security risk in disposal. Our electronic inventory process helps to ensure this risk is minimized.

6. U.S. Micro Personnel makes sure all data bearing assets are secure for shipping

All too often assets are packed and shipped by third party transit companies with little oversight and tracking. This creates a situation where the incentives to cut corners are many. Our full time field techs have every motivation to emphasize security and accuracy whey they are securing assets for disposal.

7. Assets are verified electronically to ensure arrival

U.S. Micro takes advantage of the fact that we track assets electronically from the moment of pickup to ensure that assets arrive secure at our warehouse, and that all field procedures are followed. Through the use of multiple redundant verification points we are able to audit our process continually to identify weak points for future improvements.

8. Assets are thoroughly cleaned of data a second time

No single process, test, or system can ensure 100% reliability. However the common practice where accuracy is a must is to combine multiple highly reliable tests to reduce the chance of error to an insignificant percentage. At U.S. Micro we use this long proven strategy to help ensure data removal by wiping disks again on the audit line of our facility.

9. Depending on asset quality and customer direction, the asset will be prepared for resale, donated to charity, or recycled