Strategically Managing ITAM and ITAD Together
IT asset management (ITAM) denotes a systematic method to how assets are purchased, installed, moved, managed and tracked within your live environment. When assets are removed from the live environment, a complementary program, IT asset disposition (ITAD) refers to a disciplined approach to retiring, redeploying, selling or recycling these same IT assets. Particular attention is paid to tracking data bearing assets and ensuring data is destroyed on this equipment. A properly managed ITAD program also supports sustainability initiatives and helps avoid Scope 3 carbon emissions.
Structuring your ITAD program to complement and extend your ITAM program yields the following benefits:
- Inventory Management: ITAM involves tracking and managing IT assets throughout their lifecycle. It starts with the procurement phase and extends to their disposal. The data collected during ITAM provides the foundation for effective ITAD. Accurate inventory records ensure that retired assets are properly identified and accounted for in the disposal process.
- Data Security: One of the primary concerns during ITAD is the secure handling of data stored on retired devices. Accurate record-keeping from a disciplined ITAM program helps identify which assets contain sensitive data, enabling ITAD programs to prioritize data sanitization or destruction. This synchronization ensures that no data breaches occur during the lifecycle of the IT assets.
- Cost Optimization: Effective ITAM helps organizations make informed decisions about when to retire IT assets. By tracking an asset’s usage and performance over time, a robust ITAM program can help identify when an asset is no longer cost-effective to maintain. This information guides ITAD decisions, such as whether to resell, recycle, or donate the asset.
- Compliance and Reporting: A disciplined ITAM program includes compliance tracking and reporting, which ensures that organizations adhere to legal and industry regulations throughout an asset’s lifecycle. ITAD programs build upon this foundation, using accurate data to ensure that retired assets are disposed of in compliance with environmental and data protection laws. Integrated data from ITAM and ITAD programs provide a more holistic view on the total lifecycle of IT assets.
- Asset Remarketing: Many retired IT assets still hold value, and ITAD programs can recover some of this value through asset remarketing. ITAM provides the historical data needed to accurately assess an asset’s worth and marketability. This synergy helps organizations maximize their return on investment for retired assets.
- Sustainability Initiatives: Sustainability is an increasingly important aspect of IT asset management. Organizations today seek to track the environmental impact of their assets throughout their lifecycle. When it’s time for disposal, ITAD programs provide information to make eco-friendly choices, to minimize the carbon impact of the IT asset.
The coordination between IT Asset Management and IT Asset Disposition programs is a symbiotic relationship that ensures the efficient, secure, and cost-effective management of IT assets from procurement to retirement. By leveraging the data and processes across these programs, organizations can make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and drive sustainability initiatives while maximizing the value of their IT assets throughout their entire lifecycle.
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