We recently revealed the results of our 2017 security survey, which was carried out in association with TechPro magazine. 137 senior IT decision makers across a range of industries took part in the survey, and the results present an interesting snapshot of companies’ approach to the disposal of their old IT assets.
Companies waiting too long to replace IT equipment
When asked how often their company replaces its desktop and laptops nearly half of respondents said that their organisation waits four years or longer before replacing IT equipment. This is too long, and you should be aiming to replace IT equipment within in a maximum of a four-year timescale.
One of the main reasons that you should replace equipment on a more regular basis is that standard warranties on most hardware tend to last up to three years. You may find yourself facing a number of issues after this point, ranging from compatibility problems when it comes to integrating new devices with old equipment, to security and performance issues stemming from lack of manufacturer support.
Significant number don’t have formal processes in place
When companies were asked how long end-of-life assets remain on their premises, one-quarter of respondents said that old equipment remains in storage for over a year prior to being disposed of. This shows that a significant number of organisations don’t have formal processes in place to cover the disposal of end-of-life IT. Those who do would not take such a long time to move equipment.
What’s more, 12.8% of those surveyed that they don’t know how long assets remain on-site prior to processing, indicating that they don’t keep records of equipment being stored. Without the ability to refer to precise records, it can be extremely difficult for organisations to account for each and every device. This can considerably increase the chances of a data breach.
Companies could be leaving themselves open to huge GDPR fines
Our survey revealed that even companies that currently work with IT retirement providers are putting themselves at risk. One –third of those who do work with third-party IT retirement companies admitted to not receiving formal confirmation from their supplier that their data has been completely erased. These companies could be leaving themselves open to huge fines of up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover under impending GDPR legislation.
We make it easy for you to manage your asset registers by providing detailed reports. We use the most technologically advanced equipment and processes to ensure that data-bearing equipment is erased to the most stringent global standards, and provide a 100% tamper-proof data-handling and destruction audit trail. All of our customers receive certification stating that their data has been completely destroyed. This is why the most security conscious companies, including 25% of Ireland’s top 200 ICT user organisations, comprising data centres, banks and blue-chip corporations, choose AMI.
To find out more about how we can ensure the lowest risk of harmful data leaks for your organisation, contact us today. If you’d prefer, fill in your contact details below and we’ll call you…
