Data cleansing enables re-use of IT equipment rather than scrapping
Tier 1 (published 15/10/2008)
Tier 1 is encouraging larger corporations to make use of irrecoverable data deletion as part of a refurbishment and re-use programme rather than using environmentally damaging disposal methods such as land fill.
Recent stories in the news about corporations and Government departments losing valuable data that appear on an almost daily basis may not appear to have any environmental consequences on face value. But according to Tier 1 Asset Management a secure and ethical IT disposal specialist, the critical matters of green, ethical IT and data security have combined to create an inseparable issue.
The risks associated with IT equipment being sent to landfill at the end of its corporate life are well documented, but Tier 1’s mission is to maximise the re-use of these assets in their original forms as far as is possible. That means guaranteeing the irrecoverable erasure of any data stored on hard drives so that perfectly good working equipment can be either re-used by small businesses, home users or donated to charitable causes.
Disposing of old IT equipment is not as simple as it may seem, as some well-known companies have found to their cost. The ‘man with van’ approach to removing redundant kit, where end of life assets – even those with non-data bearing qualities - are taken off the premises, never to be seen again and with no discernible, verifiable audit trail, are over. Businesses are faced with a raft of legislation connected with IT disposal, such Data Protection, WEEE Regulations, Hazardous Waste and Environmental Legislation that has to be met. Tier 1’s provision goes above and beyond these requirements in areas such as the enhancement of corporate social responsibility activity and the crucial protection of data that allows Tier 1’s clients to concentrate on what they do best, rather than the minutiae of disposal legislation.
The common perception is that in order to achieve this data-related peace of mind in addition to an award-winning green IT service, businesses must pay a premium price. The reality is the complete opposite however. For 85% of Tier 1’s clients, the service is totally free, and in most cases, actually provides a revenue return for the company.
