How to Safeguard IT Assets from Data Theft

As we enter what seems to be an era prevalent of cyber-attacks, data protection has never been more important. Having the necessary precautions in place along with staff training and data planning should be a mandatory practice for organisations. If you neglect your security, your company could be exposed; facing several consequences from fines to an unpredicted cybersecurity outbreak.

Data security might be a priority – but what about IT assets at the end of their lifecycle?

When it comes to your IT infrastructure, all electronic assets contain data that could be compromised. In the event of a breach, this will most likely lead to costly monetary fines and damage to brand equity.

Article 17 of GDPR: “The Right of Erasure” states that all businesses that process personal or sensitive data from EU citizens must have appropriate methods in place to erase and delete information on demand. This means that your organisation is responsible for securely erasing any clientele data contained on assets.

To counteract this, organisations should have a policy implemented in place for asset and data disposition.

Recycle or Reuse your old electronics

Don’t neglect your old IT and Mobile assets, they store vital data that can be recovered by malicious hackers. Organisations should have a procedure within their digital device policy. This should clearly state what to do with data bearing devices when they become useable.

By recycling devices such as Laptops, PCs, Mobile Phones, Hard Drive Disks, and CDs, you’re being economically responsible and compliant. Furthermore, you are also ensuring your redundant assets don’t end up in the wrong hands.

Find a trustworthy IT Asset Disposal company who will securely dispose of your end-of-life IT equipment as well as any confidential data it may possess.

Consider a Data Disposal solution

Have a secure destruction policy in place for electronic media can play an important part in compliance and ensures that build-up of stock-pile data is managed effectively.

• Data Shredding / Degaussing

The most efficient way to destroy hardware and documentation is via physical destruction via Data Shredding and Degaussing. These processes render information held illegible and unrecoverable.

Degaussing is one of the most reliable ways to destroy stored data held on media such as Tapes, Hard Drive Disks, and CDs. Using degausser machinery guarantees your data is no longer decipherable through demagnetization processes. It’s known as the standard method of data destruction.

• Data Erasure

Performing a factory reset doesn’t completely remove your data, it simply hides it instead. Using approved Data Erasure software will guarantee full data sanitization through a verified process to MOD (Ministry of Defence) Standards.

Erasure reports are produced for certification that your data has been securely erased. Assets such as Laptops and Mobile Phones then can be redeployed into second user markets for re-use.

By using a trustworthy enterprise to perform these processes, you can be left completely reassured and confident that your data has been taken care of responsibly and prevent what could even be a devastating cyber-security breach.

Learn more about our Data Destruction services or get in touch with a member of the S2S team for specialist advice on 01709 878878.