Your assignment: clear out the unused equipment from the IT department.  You inventory the assets and find many high dollar items in there, like IBM, HP, Dell or Sun servers you think you could sell.  Management thinks selling the servers is a great idea, but they are very concerned about data security.  You have heard others talk about selling IT assets.  How do you sell servers and ensure that the data has been securely sanitized/destroyed?  Where do you begin?

All good business decisions are based on research and analysis.  Some decisions are easy, requiring little analysis before the right answer becomes apparent.  But when it comes to the business-critical data in your company, ensuring security is paramount.  Search for an electronics recycling company that recycles for resale.  Call a few and talk to them.  Ask about certifications, standards, and documentation they provide on secure data destruction.

1. Research your options for destroying the data in-house.  While experts will tell you there is no such thing as a do-it-yourself wipe, there are plenty of software programs out there.  Since management is sure to want to know that you have investigated that option, research the available data destruction software and be sure to read the forums and comments. Keep in mind that there currently is no software online that provides the security of a certified data destruction process performed in a secure facility by a company that specializes in the procedure.
2. Take inventory of the servers you want to sell.  Electronics recycling companies will pay handsomely for IBM, HP, Dell and Sun servers. Most also will buy laptops, computers, printers, and other electronics.  As long as you’re at it, you might as well clear out everything you no longer need.  There is a vibrant resell market for high dollar servers and other electronics equipment, and retired assets have value.  You’ll want to focus on an electronics recycling company that buys for resale and that provides certified data destruction.
3. Once you have inventoried what you have to sell and the companies that can manage the process, request estimates.  Chances are you will receive a range of quotes.  Some may charge you for packaging, pick-up, data destruction and recycling.  Others will charge fees for data destruction but will buy your used servers, resulting in a net gain back to your company.  Some companies can even handle nationwide buy-outs.
4. Don’t accept a low ball offer for your high-end equipment.  There is value in used IBM, Dell, HP and Sun servers, and they can be resold and are purchased by growing companies every day.

One of the fastest-growing electronics recycling companies in the nation is independent-owned and R2 certified OceanTech.  OceanTech pays top dollar for retired assets, including Sun, Dell, HP and IBM servers.  For more information, visit www.oceantechonline.com or call 612 331 4456.