Achieve Maximum Value Recovery with Data Center Decommissioning
When a data center is no longer needed, it must be decommissioned to recover as much value as possible from the assets. Data center decommissioning is the process of safely and securely removing all equipment and materials from a data center so that the space can be repurposed or demolished.
In the US alone, the primary market supply in 2021 for data centers was 3,358.1 MW. This figure is expected to rise at ~8% per annum, but with the focus on cybersecurity and digital assets, the growth could also be higher. With such a large number of data centers in operation, there will inevitably be a significant number that will need to be decommissioned as well.
In this article, we will discuss data center decommissioning and how to achieve maximum value recovery from the process.
What Is Data Center Decommissioning?
Data center decommissioning is the process of dismantling or recycling a data center, such that the parts are removed so that impeccable data hygiene is maintained while maintaining pique functionality of all the equipment and materials.
The data center itself should then, ideally, be ready for repurposing or demolition. Data center decommissioning aims to recover as much value from the assets as possible while also ensuring that data and environmental security risks are minimized.
Datacenter liquidation process typically includes the following steps:
- Planning & Documentation
- Equipment Removal
- Data Destruction
- Environmental Remediation
- Building Demolition (if necessary)
The idea is that data center decommissioning is similar to hardware shredding or hardware decommissioning to repurpose or recycle it.
Why Is Data Center Decommissioning Important?
Data center decommissioning is important for a number of reasons. First, it allows organizations to recover some of the costs associated with data center construction and operation. Second, it helps to minimize data and environmental security risks. Data center decommissioning can also help prepare a site for future development projects.
When done correctly, data center decommissioning is similar to hard drive shredding (but on a much larger scale) and can be a very cost-effective way to free up valuable space for other uses.
How To Achieve Maximum Value Recovery In Data Center Decommissioning
There are a number of factors to consider when planning for data center decommissioning to achieve maximum value recovery.
- It is important to develop a comprehensive plan that considers all of the assets in the data center. This includes physical and digital assets such as servers, networking equipment, storage arrays, cabling, environmental controls, etc.
- The next step is to remove all equipment from the data center. This process must be done carefully to avoid damage to the equipment. In some cases, it may be necessary to hire a professional data center decommissioning company like CompuCycle to assist with this process.
- Once all of the equipment has been removed from the data center, the next step is to destroy any data that is stored on it. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as data erasure, physical destruction, or data encryption.
- Finally, the data center itself must be properly cleaned and remediated. This includes removing all hazardous materials, cleaning the floors and walls, and ensuring that the space meets all environmental regulations.
When all of these steps are completed, the data center will be ready for demolition or repurposing.
Data Center Liquidation & E-Waste Recycling – How They Come Together
When shutting down data centers, it’s important to ensure that all electronic waste (e-waste) is properly recycled. E-waste recycling is recovering valuable materials from electronic devices and equipment.
Datacenter liquidation is the process of selling off data center assets to generate revenue from the sale. It can be a very effective way to generate additional revenue from data center decommissioning. On top of that, e-waste recycling of the different parts within can help reduce environmental pollution, conserve resources, and recover valuable materials that can be used in new products.
In many cases, data centers will partner with e-waste recyclers to ensure that all of the data center’s e-waste is properly recycled. This helps to ensure that data centers can generate the maximum possible value from their assets.
The data center decommissioning process can be complex and time-consuming. However, it is important to ensure that all data center assets are properly decommissioned to minimize environmental and security risks.
Achieving maximum value recovery in data center decommissioning, data center liquidation, or other hardware decommissioning requires careful planning and execution. By working with a professional data center decommissioning company, like CompuCycle, data centers can maximize value recovery while also ensuring that all environmental and security risks are minimized.
CompuCycle is known for recovering the most value from data center decommissions while providing industry-leading asset logistics and collection procedures. Our team of experts can help you plan and execute your data center decommissioning project from start to finish. Contact us today to learn more about our data center decommissioning services.
