What happens when you stop using a device? If you don’t have a plan in place to dispose of old electronics, outdated tech can quickly become a cyber-risk. Technology recycling is a serious matter that is widely overlooked.
Don’t miss this threat. It’s time to develop an e-waste disposal strategy.
Why Storing Old Electronics is Risky
Does your business let old computers, servers, and drives pile up? These devices are an instance of unmanaged data at rest.
Besides taking up space, they represent a cybersecurity risk. Stealing old devices no one is paying attention to can be tempting for malicious agents. Without proper oversight, it’s also easy to accidentally throw away a device that contains sensitive data.
Instead, you should have a process in place for wiping these old devices and recycling them. The benefits include protecting your data, as well as ensuring your old electronics don’t end up in a landfill.
Improper E-Waste Disposal: A Tale of Caution
From 2015 to 2022, Morgan Stanley hired a moving company to dispose of old equipment. The company would then resell computers in online auctions without properly wiping them.
A buyer reached out to Morgan Stanley after discovering sensitive records on a second-hand computer. Besides accidentally leaking millions of customer records, Morgan Stanley had to pay a $35 million fine for its negligence.
Take Control of Your Technology Recycling With Tech Audits
Scheduling regular tech audits to assess what’s in your inventory and identify the devices you no longer use is the first step toward taking control of your e-waste. Tech audits are an essential part of an effective IT security solution.
Next, you should develop a process for decommissioning these devices and wiping sensitive data from them. You can then implement a technology recycling plan to send these clean devices to a company that can recycle them responsibly.
How MSPs Can Manage Technology Recycling
Securing old devices doesn’t have to be difficult. A managed services provider (MSP) can do it for you, including identifying the equipment you no longer use to implementing a wiping and recycling plan.
As a San Antonio-based MSP, SecureTech can help you manage your IT assets as they reach the end of their lifecycle and dispose of them safely with proper technology recycling. Contact us to learn more about our best practices for wiping and recycling old IT equipment.