A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. It generally includes redundant or backup power supplies, redundant data communications connections, environmental controls (e.g., air conditioning, fire suppression), and various security devices.
Your data center is like your company’s brain: it’s complex, it houses all the information you need to survive, and it has to be protected at all times. And just as you would only trust brain surgery to a brain surgeon, hiring a professional ITAD company is highly recommended when retiring critical components of your IT infrastructure.
CompuCycle’s data center decommissioning services deliver a comprehensive solution at competitive rates to the challenge of tackling the process yourself. Our experienced team handles everything from planning to decommissioning to disposal for even the largest corporate data centers, keeping your information secure while adhering to best electronic recycling practices. Our services include:
There are many reasons why you may opt for data center decommissioning. Replacing outdated technology with more efficient equipment can lead to significant savings in personnel time and maintenance costs. Companies migrating their data to the cloud may wish to decommission and lower their overhead costs. Large companies with multiple or redundant data centers may choose to consolidate to a centralized location or move a center from one location to another.
Whatever the reason, the job is far more complicated than meets the eye and requires extensive pre-planning before anything gets unplugged.
Whether your company uses an internet-facing data center or an enterprise data center, our team progresses through an extensive checklist of important tasks before the actual decommissioning begins. This may include:
Once the proper planning has been done, CompuCycle staff advance to the task of data center decommissioning. During this stage, we will see:
The CompuCycle team will use either data sanitization software or cryptographic erasure software to remove data from your devices during the decommissioning process permanently. Alternatively, our mobile shredding equipment can be used to physically destroy hard drive assemblies and other memory devices on-site at your location. Upon completion, we will issue a certificate documenting the equipment’s sanitization or destruction.
After data destruction, the decommissioned equipment or shredded e-waste will be securely packed for transportation inside polyethylene foam. Everything will then be loaded into a CompuCycle truck equipped with real-time tracking for the trip to its final destination. You may then opt to engage CompuCycle’s asset remarketing services to secure the best value for your no-longer-needed hardware or our EPA-recognized, R2-Certified e-cycling capabilities. We accept servers, power supplies, fax machines, and many more IT devices.
Defining the scope of work Conducting network discovery using software discovery tools, and physical discovery to craft a hardware inventory Identifying the necessary machinery to complete the job, including forklifts, hoists, tip guards, and pallets
Identifying requirements/parameters of the project Drafting a proposal detailing all procedures
Obtaining sign-off on the asset purchase agreement (if selling assets) Delivering decommissioning project contract
Determining a schedule of activities (potential downtime, safety procedures) Asset tagging devices to specify whether they are to be repurposed, replaced, or destroyed Creating and verifying all necessary backup systems are in place to guarantee continuous power supply
Disconnecting hardware from firewalls, subnetworks, and power supplies Removing all server rails, racks, shelves, and drawers Packing hardware in polyethylene foam for travel to CompuCycle facility or other destination
Erasing data according to NIST 800-88 guidelines Shredding hardware at end-of-life Issuing Certificates of Data Destruction and Certificates of Data Sanitization for wiped or destroyed devices
Visually inspecting data center to verify completion of project Signing-off of decommissioning team Reinstalling data center at new location, if necessary