What Exactly Is ITAD?

Levi Hentges, Director of Business Development with SEAM

When speaking with businesses in our community, I often hear: “I had no idea you guys existed!”

This comes as no surprise. Most organizations only consider IT Asset Disposition, or ITAD, as an afterthought when they have to “get rid of stuff”.

Computers, servers, smartphones and other data-bearing devices are constantly being updated. When they become obsolete, they must be properly disposed of — Not only to prevent pollution by keeping them out of the landfill per City ordinance, but also to recover their precious materials and securely destroy the data they hold.

ITAD, at its core, does just this. It is defined as the management of decommissioning retired IT assets in a manner that ensures data security and environmental compliance while maximizing return on value.

However, not all ITAD vendors are created equal. Many scrap dealers, auctioneers, and resellers will pay cash for devices upfront, reassuring you that the data will be destroyed. But be wary, as standards and practices vary greatly. Without any third-party verification, devices containing data can easily be sold, donated, or carelessly dumped in the landfill if the value isn’t worth the effort to resell it.

According to a recent study from Blancco, 78% of drives purchased from eBay and Craigslist contained easily recoverable personal and company data. We just saw this play out in real-time with the ITAD blunder from Morgan Stanley after their unencrypted, unwiped hard drives were auctioned off.

Trusting someone with your IT equipment means trusting them with your company’s reputation. If one memory card ends up online or an old desktop is found in the dump, the costs you saved upfront with the highest bidder are never worth the penalties, fines and ultimate loss of customer trust you’ll face.

Fortunately, industry certifications like eStewards, R2, and NAID AAA exist to verify all equipment is handled securely, legally and responsibly. Certified vendors are rigorously and routinely audited by independent third parties to ensure compliance.

Many people aren’t aware that one of the most elite ITAD providers in the entire country is located right here in Sioux Falls. As one of only two providers in the US certified to all three current standards, SEAM proudly holds the highest worldwide certifications for data destruction, environmental management, and quality processes.

Contact us to learn how we can help your South Dakota or North Dakota business incorporate ITAD into your overall lifecycle management program to stay in compliance, recoup value, ensure data security, and support sustainability goals.

Piece contributed by Levi Hentges, SEAM’s Director of Business Development