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Data Centre Decommissioning

  • 13.7M
    Disk drives erased, certified and destroyed
  • 19.2M
    Parts recorded
    and processed
  • €1.75B
    Components recovered for reuse

Data Centre Decommissioning can be a tricky business but Wisetek is a global powerhouse in the field. The services offered by Wisetek enable businesses to securely dispose of data center equipment that is no longer in active use. Getting rid of data securely is a problem that is faced by many modern organisations, whether they are small or large-scale.

Organisations store data on a massive scale and on a wide variety of devices that range from specialised data servers to desktop PCs and laptops.

Wisetek has the know-how needed to securely decommission these devices when they are no longer needed.

Why Choose Wisetek?

  • Secure Comprehensive Services

    Comprehensive Service Offering

    Wisetek takes security and a comprehensive approach to data centre decommissioning seriously. The services offered can cover every type and size of business, from smaller scale to large multi-national corporations.

  • Maximize IT Asset ROI

    Improved ROI on Retired Assets

    IT assets are often expensive and the investment mustn’t be completely lost when the time to decommission the assets comes around. The professional IT disposition services that Wisetek offers allow clients to maximise the ROI on redundant and/or retired devices.

  • Robust Quality Control

    Robust Quality Control

    Modern IT assets and infrastructure need to perform at every turn. Wisetek’s asset testing and evaluation service make sure that IT assets perform as they should. When this is no longer the case, the repair and refurbishment service can get things running along smoothly again.

  • Certified ITAD Services

    Certified ITAD Services

    Peace of mind is important when it comes to IT asset disposal. Wisetek offers full reporting and can issue certificates for every data destruction procedure, making sure that your business remains compliant with prevailing data protection legislation.

What is Data Centre Decommissioning?

Data is all around us and companies make extensive use of it in their day-to-day operations. Inevitably, this data ends up on a variety of devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers. This data can often sensitive and, if it should fall into the wrong hands, there could be serious consequences for the company.

This is especially true in the case of large corporations that make use of data centers with high-capacity servers. Data center decommissioning involves several steps:

Data Centre Decommissioning

Planning

This is the first and most important step in the data center decommissioning process. Data centers can often be large and filled with a variety of equipment. A proper action plan must be created before the actual decommissioning begins. This plan should include all the steps required to complete the process so that it can serve as a roadmap and checklist.

Data Centre Decommissioning planning phase

Implementation

The next step is the physical decommissioning of the infrastructure. This includes the removal of the servers, storage media, and in some cases collection of end-point devices such as laptops and smartphones. It is important to make sure that all devices are accounted for to ensure that all the sensitive data is destroyed.

Data Centre Decommissioning Implementation Phase

Disposing

The last, but most important, step is destroying the data and disposing of the physical devices. There are several data destruction methods available and the appropriate method can usually be determined by the sensitivity of the data. The physical hardware can then be recycled or sold to recover some of the capital that was invested in the equipment.

data centre decommissioning

Key Considerations When Decommissioning a Data Centre

A shift in the way companies work with their data has led to a significant increase in the number of data center decommissioning projects. More and more companies are opting to use cloud-based technology to store their data instead of maintaining their own data centers. Some of the key considerations when embarking on the data center decommissioning process includes:

IT Asset Disposition Service

Make sure that you use an experienced IT asset disposal service provider. The choice of a service provider is one of the most important decisions during the process and doing a little research on potential ITAD service providers will be well worth your while. Data center decommissioning is a relatively recent phenomenon, which makes it important to hire a specialist team that possesses the skills required to execute the job in accordance with industry best practices.

data centre decommissioning

Audit/Reporting

Having access to real-time progress updates during the data center decommissioning process is invaluable. Audits are vital because they provide the data center owner with information on items like the re-sell value of equipment which makes it easier to reduce the financial impact of decommissioning a data centre. Real-time reporting also allows a client to follow the process in detail and understand exactly what is happening during each step in the process.

Data Centre Decommissioning planning phase

Data Destruction

Ensuring that all the data earmarked for destruction during data centre decommissioning gets destroyed is essential. In most cases, a data centre store vast amounts of data, making it easy to lose track of a device which can lead to a data leak. However, this does not extend just to data. From an ethical standpoint, it is important to choose a reliable IT asset disposal team that adheres to environmental standards so that e-waste does not cause further harm to the environment.

data centre decommissioning process

Health and Safety

The importance of observing proper health and safety measures during the decommissioning process cannot be overemphasised. This applies to both the removal of the IT equipment and the possible building renovation work that might follow once the data erasure process is complete.

Health and Safety

The Importance of IT Asset Inventory Procedures

IT asset inventories play an important role in every IT-driven company and they ensure that IT assets can be located easily at all times. There are various advantages to having a rigorous IT asset inventory protocol in place, such as:

  • Hard drive destruction - Safety & Security icon

    Security

    Knowing where IT assets are and who is using them at all times greatly reduces the risk of devices falling into the wrong hands.

  • Clear Data Destruction Policy

    Compliance

    Remaining compliant with the various laws that govern the use of personal data is a challenge at the best of times. The GDPR, for example, specifically requires that organisations must exercise due diligence when handling personal data. Remaining compliant reduces the risk of a costly data breach significantly.

  • Cost management

    Understanding where your IT assets are and which assets you have reduces costs because it avoids situations where IT assets are replaced unnecessarily. In addition, having an up-to-date and complete IT asset list makes accounting much easier.

Data Centre Decommissioning Checklist

Planning

Measure twice, cut once. This is very true when it comes to data centre decommissioning and planning forms the cornerstone of the entire operation. The planning phase involves creating a step-by-step roadmap that can be used throughout the decommissioning procedure to track important milestones and should include items such as budgeting data, timelines, and documentation. By creating and following this plan closely, you can ensure that the procedure runs smoothly and the chances of sensitive data leaking during the process is reduced.

Planning

Inventory

As the name suggests, during this phase inventory is taken of all the IT assets in question. This count should correspond to the existing records to ensure that no items are missing or unaccounted for. This is also the part of the project where decisions can be made regarding the fate of decommissioned equipment. Some equipment might be destined for re-use within the company while other devices can be recycled or sold to third parties. Inventory should also be taken of the staff who will be responsible for the decommissioning itself, background checks can be performed to ensure that only trustworthy personnel have access to the data centre during the decommissioning process.

Inventory

Decommissioning

Only after all the preparatory work is complete, can the actual data center decommissioning begin. It is important to make sure that everything that the ITAD company may need during their work is ready. This included items such as access to the data center room and the provisioning of power connections for equipment. Depending on whether the data will be destroyed on- or off-site, make sure that the ITAD team can remove hardware safely. It is also prudent to ensure that health and safety are taken into consideration. Make sure that devices earmarked for removal are disconnected from their electricity supply and that the ITAD service provider also has their own health and safety policies in place.

Data Centre Decommissioning

Full Suite of Data Centre Services

Handover

This is the final part of the decommissioning process. Ensure that the chosen ITAD team can provide certificates that can serve as proof of the data destruction process. This is especially important since, without this certificate, the data remains the responsibility of the company in the eyes of the law. Also, make sure that licences for decommissioned products are removed/revoked and that items that are destined to be sold are packed securely and safely. Last but not least, make sure that the premises that housed the data center are completely vacated and ready for repurposing or returning to the owner.

This is checklist is not exhaustive and you can find more information from the Wisetek data center decommissioning checklist.

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  • Manufacturing & Fulfilment

    Manufacturing & Fulfilment

    Wisetek helps customers with the design and assembly of their IT infrastructure. This includes services such as supply chain and inventory management, assembly and configuration, and import/export processing. Full system testing is also available so that you can use your IT infrastructure with complete peace of mind.

  • Data Centre & Office On-Site Services

    Data Centre & Office On-Site Services

    Know where your IT assets are at all times with Wisetek’s real-time cloud-based portal for audit reporting. If you haven’t performed a recent on-site physical audit of your IT assets, Wisetek can perform an audit and/or assist you with the relocation of IT services.

  • Leave No Trace Behind: Destructive Recycling

    Reverse Logistics & IT Asset Disposition

    Managing IT assets can be a pain at the best of times. Wisetek can take care of problems such as OEM swap refresh and/or swap out, recovery of used parts, and returning of defective equipment to vendors. In addition to this, Wisetek’s global footprint gives customers access to a large market to maximise the resale value of used parts.

  • Certified Recycling

    Certified Recycling

    Wisetek is fully compliant with the latest environmental practices and ensures that all discarded items are recycled in line with a zero-landfill policy. Customers also have access to environmental reporting on a per commodity basis.

Contact Wisetek Today

Do you have a data centre decommissioning dilemma? Contact Wisetek for expert advice and assistance on securely destroying your sensitive data in Ireland & Europe. We also offer a host of other data-related services such as on- and off-site data erasure and certified recycling of used IT assets.

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