Introduction

I have worked in Information Technology for many years in every conceivable role.  Every company I worked with would, from time to time, buy new computer equipment.  Maybe it was newer, faster networking equipment, maybe they outgrew the old servers, maybe the manufacturer was simply phasing out the old models and the maintenance cost was more expensive than buying the new model.  Whatever the reason, the IT staff, sometimes with heavy heart, found themselves looking at a pile of old computer equipment and wondering what to do with it.  Sometimes, a staff member would try to save the old machine and maybe give it a home in his basement.  Trust me, I have a collection of HP9000s myself. Sometimes a manager with all the best intentions would have the staff refurbish the machines to sell to employees. And, sometimes, the machines would just end up in the dumpster.  I even know of a company who puts the old machines into storage never to be seen again.

The three main issues that need to be considered when any company decides to dispose of old equipment are: Security, Cost, and the Environment.

Security:

We all probably know someone who has a few old computers in their basement that have been discarded by some former or current employer.
As an IT manager, you have to ask yourself if you would like to explain to your boss that sensitive company or customer data got out of your IT department and into the wild because you let someone walk out with it in their hands.
It is imperative, and often required by law that companies take precautions to protect customer data.
This means that before computer equipment can be disposed of in any way, the data must be wiped clean, or the hard drives destroyed.
Putting your old computers in the dumpster is not enough to protect the data.  The dumpster is the first place the bad guys look.

Cost:

You pay your IT staff to keep your systems running.
You pay them to come up with technology innovations that will give your company an edge over the competition.
You want the best people to keep your company ahead of the competition and you pay them well to do it.
Do you really want to pay them to watch software wipe data from hard drives?
Do you want to pay them to refurbish old PCs?
Has an IT project been late or nearly late because of a lack of resources?
Do you really want to waste those resources refurbishing junk computers?

Here is a simple cost analysis to drive this point home.

1 IT resource @ $30.00 per hour, 3 hours collecting, wiping and refurbishing an old PC. - $90.00.
60 non-IT resources @ $30.00 per hour, reading emails announcing that there are company PCs for sale (5 minutes each). - $150.00.
1 IT resource and 1 non-IT resource asking and answering questions about the PC, phone calls, emails, arranging pick-up and payment for the PC, etc. - ½ hour each - $30.00. 

Total cost to sell an old PC for $50.00 - $270.00

Your net loss is $220.00.  And what about that project that isn’t getting done?

I know it sounds bad, so feel free to do your own analysis and then call us to pick up the old machines.

Environment:

Most companies who are required to meet EPA guidelines have people on staff to help them comply with the law.
Most companies do not fall under special EPA restrictions and do not have those resources available.
Do you know the laws pertaining to the disposal of your old equipment?
Do you meet those requirements?
Every year, more states put laws on the books regarding the disposal of electronic waste. 

Please give us a call.  We can pick up your old equipment for a very low rate and certify that the data has been wiped.  We refurbish and resell working computers and recycle everything else we can.  Your IT staff can get back to doing what you pay them for.  A family, who would otherwise not be able afford a computer, will finally get on-line.