The Risks Of Improper It Asset Disposal

By Author: Peter Wendt
Total Articles: 34
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Disposing of IT assets responsibly is becoming increasingly important as awareness grows concerning the need to protect our environment and ensure its stability. Taking this step can also help your business to succeed and, at a minimum, it will enable your company to avoid facing the consequences of not giving this issue the attention it deserves.

Current legislation affects every industry

Presently, there is serious concern that many companies may be tempted to ship hazardous electronic waste, including items containing lead, cadmium, and mercury, to third world countries overseas as a quick but thoughtless way of solving the disposal problem.

Note that there is also a significant movement throughout the United States to impose stiff penalties on anyone who fails to comply with current legislation regarding the disposal of their IT assets. Much attention is likewise being given to the reduction of electronic waste and reusing or recycling this equipment, while ensuring that the data stored on those systems have been removed properly.

Security is a major issue when disposing of IT assets

Since ...
... your organization compiles clients’ personal information as part of conducting business, one of your major responsibilities is to make certain that the data are secure under all circumstances. Obviously, a great deal of damage can be done if it falls into the wrong hands. This includes financial data, Social Security numbers and medical records, along with trade secrets.

Not only will your compliance with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), Gramm-Leech-Bliley, Sarbanes Oxley and other related laws instill trust in your clients, but it will also help you to avoid numerous legal problems in the future as well.

What you should know

Many companies are already well aware that proper IT asset disposal can have a tremendous impact on the preservation of our environment. At the same time, you should know how your business will be affected financially, and industry leaders feel that considering the total cost of owning these items is essential when planning the disposal of your IT assets.

Gartner Research reports that the total cost of ownership for each computer equals $400. They explained that many organizations have paid this much in overall expenses, negative publicity, regulatory fines and legal fees when their equipment was found in landfills or third-world countries, or confidential information has been illegally retrieved from hard drives.

Now that you know the seriousness of the situation, consider developing a comprehensive IT asset disposal policy for your company that can be implemented efficiently and managed effectively.

Peter Wendt is a writer and researcher working out of the great state of Texas. He has been writing about this subject for several years, and he finds that a great resource is the website at ROUND2 INC .