Part 1 of 3
Announcing layoffs is one of the toughest decisions companies need to make. With more and more companies announcing layoffs daily, particularly in the Technology sector, countless articles and tips on how to personally bounce back after a layoff have been written. However, another side effect of layoffs is often not discussed; and that is how to handle the IT assets left behind. What happens at the company after the dust settles? After all the phones, laptops, tablets, desktops, and more are returned, what can be done to wipe the data securely? What is the status of all this technology? Are some things obsolete, and some needing refurbishment? Where do you start? Who can you turn to for help?
For the IT department, the radar should be on high alert as soon as there is a whisper of layoffs coming. Why? Employees leaving the company, many times en masse, means employees leaving IT assets behind.
If your company is facing downsizing, be sure to keep IT services and assets in mind, especially when many employees leave the company at the same time. IT and HR should work together to ensure compliance with data security and asset recovery standards.
A skilled partner can ease the way to asset recovery
The tough decisions have been made, and now the clean-up and restructuring can begin. Time to think about ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) — the process surrounding the safe, secure, and environmentally responsible disposal of unwanted or obsolete technology assets. Is there a complete inventory of the technology assets now on hand? How will the data on those devices be properly secured and disposed of? What is to be done with obsolete or unwanted technology? A comprehensive strategy is essential, and all stakeholders should understand the value of working with an experienced, certified ITAD service provider. Sipi Asset Recovery (Sipi-AR) specializes in IT asset recovery tailored to your complex needs. Learn about Sipi’s full spectrum of ITAD services.
5 Steps to Take
1. IT asset inventory.
Getting your arms around the inventory is an important first step. Knowing what you have will allow for decisions about what to keep and what to repurpose or recycle. Sipi provides inventory audit services that include reporting and consulting to provide answers to questions about inventory. What exactly are our IT assets? Do we have lost, misplaced, or stolen assets? Which of these assets is outdated? Have these assets lost value? Which assets can we wipe the data and reuse?
2. Office decommissioning
When it comes to office decommissioning, the first step is determining what items will be removed and what will be kept. This includes furniture, technology, and other items. Once the items are identified, they should be properly packed and labeled so that they can easily be removed. This process is labor intensive, so it may make sense to hire a qualified partner to complete it. Sipi’s On-Site Services team has the capacity to complete all necessary decommissioning processes securely with minimal distractions. More information to come on this subject in part 3 of our three-part series.
3. Hard drive wiping
One of the most important responsibilities of an IT Asset Manager is to ensure the security of the organization’s data and maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Data wiping ensures that any sensitive information is completely removed from the device, making it impossible for a malicious actor to access confidential data. Additionally, wiping data can help reduce the chances of a data breach, as it eliminates the possibility of data remaining on the device after it has been disposed of.
Sipi AR is NAID AAA certified, assuring that your data needs are handled under a certified system focused on data security.
Learn more about secure, certified data destruction.
4. Remarketing of redundant devices
Once you have a comprehensive inventory, you may notice redundancy.
Capture remaining value and lower the cost of ownership by remarketing.
Remarketing IT assets is a great way to maximize the value of your IT investments. It involves reselling used IT hardware, such as computers and servers, that no longer serve your organization’s needs. By remarketing IT assets, you can generate revenue and free up capital to reinvest in the latest technologies that will meet your evolving business demands. Additionally, remarketing IT assets allows you to dispose of outdated IT assets in a responsible and sustainable manner. Sipi AR offers a unique approach to IT asset remarketing.
5. Recycling of end-of-life assets
Some recovered assets will be at the end of their lifecycle. Now is a good time to assess all your equipment, repurposing or recycling where appropriate. Recycling is good for the environment and helps reduce your ecological footprint. Sipi AR is certified by e-Stewards and R2 standards to carry out enterprise IT recycling services, meeting the highest standards for quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. Learn more about our recycling services.
Following these 5 steps can help keep your asset management program running smoothly going forward. Layoffs are never an easy decision, but by planning and initializing standards, data and assets need not be compromised.
Contact Sipi AR to aid in setting up an action plan to handle layoffs at your business.
