ITAD is an important function no IT enabled company can overlook as the consequences may be very serious. Due to this, the ITAD program must be implemented in all the departments of your organization. This is necessary to avoid risks in the IT department which will have a rippling effect affecting all the departments as the ITAD touches every part of your organization. Everybody has a stake in it.
Due to the executive- buy-in, it is not always possible to implement the ITAD programs in the way they have to be implemented, making strict compliance impossible. This leads to serious flaws in the organization’s operations like data loss, loss of revenue or failure of the internal systems, etc.
The 5 C Approach:
Though ITAD programs are complex and difficult to implement, they have to be implemented to benefit the organization as a whole. There are many resources available to follow and execute the ITAD by way of industry examples so that the defined outcomes are received as planned during the ITAD program’s execution. All the stakeholders should understand that- the 5Cs of compliance, code, cloud, cost, and consolidation are all about the ITAD risk management during the implementation.
The First C of ITAD Risk Management: Compliance
Strict compliance with the legal requirements, as well as internal dictates of ITAD, is necessary, and in case of failure, the organization as a whole has to face unwanted, unexpected, and serious consequences that will have a terrible impact on the operations of the organization like 
- Causing serious and widespread data breaches
- Environmental violations leading to serious financial and other implications
- Loss of confidence in the business among the investors and consumers etc
Due to this, it is necessary to address each issue connected with ITAD with utmost care and caution with 100% compliance with the set procedures.
Second C of ITAD Risk Management: Code
There are specific codes available by way of legal frameworks and regulations that should be scrupulously complied with as a part of the proper disposal of consumer information and related data fields. There are uniform codes that set apart the information relating to the disposal of electronic data and give specific instructions as to the responsibilities of the parties that are concerned with the electronic data disposal, data destruction, and care that must be taken while dealing with electronic consumer information. These codes are meant to be complied with as a part of the internal disposition as well as third-party compliance.
Third C of ITAD Risk Management: Cloud
Cloud computing has completely changed the way organizations have been installing, operating, and maintaining the in-house IT infrastructure. When migrating to the cloud, the ITAD must be a part of the migration strategy so that proper handling of the old IT infrastructure is done as per the prescribed standards. These are followed during all types of reselling, recycling, and repurposing of the used IT infrastructure. This is an essential part of your existing IT infrastructure and must be done following a well set out ITAD program and strategy.
Any failure in this vital aspect of the migration to the cloud may have serious implications for the organization, with the possibility of leakage of critical business and consumer data, leaving the organization vulnerable to data-related risks. Hence, it is necessary to make ITAD a part of your cloud migration strategy. The benefits will help the organization realize better compliance and maximize your cloud ROI.
Fourth C of ITAD Risk Management: Cost
A well-planned ITAD strategy is much more than just disposal of used hardware; but it is an action plan with which the organization can control the risks and manage them in a less harmful way to the company.
Your ITAD program, apart from providing for recycling of hardware, must also take care of
- Process of asset removal from the property tax logs
- Proper management of software licenses
- Proper accounting of costs and incurred internally for IT assets
- Management of data and strict compliance of regulations in force for handling and disposal of electronic data
The ITAD program must be implemented in such a way that you can realize both your short-term and long-term benefits besides saving money that will otherwise be spent on risk management and avoidance of liabilities due to improper disposal of IT assets.
A well-planned ITAD strategy will be able to add more to the bottom line of the organization by providing enough funds to invest in new technologies or on the ones that are necessary for the current version of your IT infrastructure. This also benefits the environment by not sending all the used IT assets as scrape for unscientific disposal, causing pollution of land, water, and air with potentially dangerous chemicals.
Thus, the ITAD program you follow must be able to offer the best cost advantages to you besides helping others who need your used IT assets for reusing them to extend their lifetime.
The Fifth C of ITAD Risk Management: Consolidation
Consolidation is the one process in the ITAD scenario that will add more benefits to the organization and is capable of giving a stable and well-planned way of disposing of all the used and end-of-life IT assets. Your ITAD planning must be straightforward and easy to implement for better management of the processes connected with the ITAD. If they are too complex to follow and implement, the person taking care of your ITAD operations are susceptible to lapses that may bring in unwanted consequences and may lead to the failure of the entire ITAD process.
Due to this, it is necessary to involve as few entities as possible for implementing your ITAD strategy and avoid including multiple providers. So, always go for one single trusted ITAD service provider, and this will give more transparency and uniform implementation of the ITAD requirements across all types of IT assets. This will bring down the complexities associated with implementing the ITAD plans and help streamline the system for better results.
Evaluate your Potential ITAD Risks
Ordinarily, risk managers are invited to appraise ITAD dangers when planning an IT asset disposal program.
Q.1 Are you going to be in a position to understand whether an ITAD risk contributes to losses?
Q.2 What arrangements are set up to record losses?
Q.3 Can your workers have the capacity to conceal losses?
Q.4 Have workers been trained on applicable characteristics of the ITAD procedure?
Q.5 How can your ITAD app rank if it had been exposed to direct evaluation?
Thus, adopt the 5C strategy as part of your ITAD planning. This will bring in more benefits and help you properly use the used IT assets systematically and scientifically to realize all the benefits of a well-executed ITAD plan.
Relevant Resources:
How to Use ITAD as A BYOD Strategy for Protecting Your Corporate Data
How to Find IT Asset Management Talent amid the Current Shortage
