Why Your Old Devices Leave You at Risk for a Data Breach

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May

Every business, no matter how big, small, old, or new has old unused devices laying around. It’s easy to forget about all those old devices, but perhaps you should be a little more careful. Learn why your old devices leave you at risk for a data breach.

How Do Data Breaches Happen

Everyone knows about data breaches, and most people assume that they happen in the same old ways. Someone opened an attachment they shouldn’t have or some hacker broke into a system. You train for these things. Most companies of scale will have countless training programs and tutorials so that they can avoid a data breach. That’s all great for best practices, but it misses out on a major security risk that some companies and IT departments just don’t think about.

Can Throwing Away Old Devices Lead to a Data Breach?

Your old devices may hold a treasure trove of data. Everything from customer information to personal and even financial information. When you throw those devices away, resell them, donate them, or give them to your good friend who you know you can trust, you are exposing yourself to a potential data breach.

It only takes one bad actor in the chain to find your precious data, and then you have a breach on your hands. Sometimes even small breaches are more like cracks in a dam. It doesn’t even have to be passwords. If data provides someone with enough info to impersonate an employee this could be the foot they need to get in the door and at the rest of your data.

This is not a small problem. Last year, the U.S. treasury department issued a $60 million fine to a large investment bank for improper management of decommissioned equipment. Remember, it’s not just you that you put at risk, but also your customers.

What is IT Asset Remarketing

How Can You Mitigate Data Breach Risk

If you want to protect yourself from a data breach from those old devices, then there are a few things you can do.

  • Laptop with receiptBe sure that your vendor discloses how your data will be wiped or destroyed and by whom.
  • Check to see if your vendor is qualified to handle your data.
  • Will your vendor provide reporting?
  • Does your vendor comply with all applicable legal requirements for your data?
  • Is your vendor R2 certified?

R2 certification is a rigorous certification process for those that handle data and data destruction. What’s more, it has to be renewed on an annual basis.

Maintain a Proper Chain of Custody

Many of the things you have to look out for deal with chain of custody. Data destruction or IT resale services rely on other vendors to handle data wiping and even resale. Counting on a trusted data destruction and IT resale service, especially one that handles all your data internally without the help of further outside vendors, is a big benefit.

When that isn’t an option, you are going to want to record and research all the vendors that your vendor works with. Your data is important to you. Make sure that it’s also important to everyone who has their hands in its processing and destruction.

Report: Annual E-Waste Outweighs the Great Wall of China

Data Destruction and IT Asset Remarketing in Wisconsin and Nebraska

Looking for a certified vendor that can handle it all? Want someone that you can trust, that discloses and reports on everything, is R2 certified, and ensures that your data never gets in the hands of bad actors? If you are looking for these services in Wisconsin or Nebraska, then you are in luck, Sadoff E-Recycling & Data Destruction provides all that and more. Be sure to reach out to us today.

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