ITAD: What is it and what are the benefits?

Are you scratching your head over how to get rid of your used, redundant, or excess company IT equipment?  

It can be difficult to know how to remain compliant with e-waste disposal (WEEE) and data protection regulations. Even knowing how you are going to transport your redundant devices from A to B can cause a significant logistical headache.  

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a service that could collect and transport your IT devices, dispose of them in the most sustainable and secure way available, and maybe even offer you a rebate value for your assets?  

What is ITAD?  

IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) is a sophisticated process that helps organisations from all industries dispose of IT equipment securely and sustainably. The process aims to extend the lifespan of IT devices by erasing all residual data and putting the equipment into the hands of secondary users and avoiding landfill. The ITAD process primarily aims to achieve three main goals:   

1. Transport your IT assets to a secure facility.   
2. Sanitise all data-bearing assets. By sanitise we don’t mean clean or disinfect, we mean complete data erasure using specialised software.   
3. Repurpose all functional IT equipment by putting it into the hands of secondary users.  

What are the benefits of using an ITAD service?  

Sustainability   

IT Asset Disposition is the most environmentally responsible IT disposal solution. Where traditional electronics recycling will usually take a blanket approach to disposal and mark the end of a device's lifespan, ITAD works to extend the life of IT assets by sanitising, refurbishing, and re-marketing to secondary users.  

Techbuyer’s ITAD service involves individually grading the functional and cosmetic condition of every asset that comes through our doors. By doing this we can ensure that all quality functional IT equipment has an extended lifespan or is responsibly recycled. This means that devices will not end up in landfill.  

Want to hear something shocking? Electronic waste (including computers, laptops, phones, tablets etc.) caused by improper disposal methods, is the fastest growing waste stream on the planet! In 2021 alone there were over 57 million tonnes of it. This mountain of e-waste weighs more than 350 full-sized cruise ships or every adult in Europe put together.  

If your organisation is committed to sustainability and tackling environmental issues, then ITAD really is the only option for disposing of your redundant IT equipment. Find out more about our commitment to sustainability here.  

Security  

ITAD is also the most secure IT disposal option. When data-bearing IT assets are no longer in use and are left dormant in storage, they pose a risk to your organisation's data security. Even if you use standard delete commands, residual sensitive data can still be retrieved from your redundant assets.  

Any organisation that processes and stores customer, client, employee, student/pupil information must remain compliant with data protection regulations; they must actively ensure that sensitive data entrusted to them is kept safe. ITAD vendors use specialist sanitisation software to completely erase all residual information on data-bearing IT assets (Techbuyer uses military-grade sanitisation software trusted by NASA and The US Department of Defense). They also provide full certification which demonstrates compliance and gives you ultimate peace of mind.  

Techbuyer’s ITAD service is certified by ADISA. The ADISA group are an independent body that operates to ensure that organisations act responsibly in relation to data security practices. The ADISA group offers data security accreditations to ITAD vendors; to be awarded these accreditations organisations must pass an extensive evaluation that assesses their competency in safeguarding clients' confidential data. To get an ADISA certification vendors must show that they are not just actively putting countermeasures in place to mitigate data security risks, but they are eliminating security risks altogether! 

Efficiency   

ITAD is a service that is heavily focused on efficiency. It is the job of the ITAD vendor to plan and execute the most efficient disposal solution, saving the client as much time, hassle, and cost as possible. Other IT disposal methods like independent re-sale or sending equipment to an e-recycler, not only put your data security at risk and potentially damage the planet, they also take up your valuable time. Trusting an ITAD vendor alleviates the stress and hassle and allows you to carry on doing what you do best.  

For the last 16 years, we have been perfecting every aspect of our ITAD service to ensure that we can provide the most value to our clients. Every step of our process has been designed with you in mind. Whether it is our stress-free secure IT transportation service, our decommissioning technical support service, or the fact that we aim to respond to all enquiries within an hour, we do everything we can to ensure that our service is easy and hassle-free.  

Value Recovery   

When you send your redundant IT equipment to Techbuyer, it is individually assessed and graded on its functional and cosmetic condition by one of our expert technicians. If the assets are saleable, we utilise our global sales expertise and infrastructure to re-market your devices to secondary users (only once they have been 100% data sanitised). We stock over £5million worth of IT hardware globally and have over 16 years of experience in selling extensively through trade and retail channels whenever there is demand. This enables us to maximise the amount we can pass back to our valued suppliers. 

We then deduct the incurred ITAD costs from the potential resale value and this calculates your rebate value. It is important to note that rebates and value recovery are not always possible. In some circumstances, the associated ITAD costs outweigh the value of the devices. However, our efficient processes and unrivalled sales links maximise the rebate potential. In 2021 we gave out over £1million in ITAD rebates!  

A Fresh Start   

ITAD helps to facilitate your IT refresh. If “out with the old, in with the new” is what you are going for in 2022 then ITAD is what you need. By removing redundant hardware, you can focus on your next chapter and acquire IT equipment that will aid in the realisation of your organisational goals.   

In addition, when you select Techbuyer’s ITAD service you are joining the Techbuyer community. We are committed to supporting all our clients by delivering expert IT advice to help you operate more sustainably, cost-effectively, and securely.   

We have a wide range of sustainable IT solutions which will empower you to make more eco-friendly and informed decisions on your organisation’s IT journey. Check out our full list of services and take a step towards becoming a more sustainable and more efficient organisation in 2022.  

If ITAD sounds right for you, fill out this brief form and one of our experts will aim to be in touch with a free quote within the hour!