IT asset management: Best practices of recovery and disposition

All IT asset management programs must counter all risks and issues related to IT wastes or electronics wastes in an absolute planned and strategic manner. The most important and valued practices must include the following factors.

Track the IT assets-

Asset tracker involves tracking the movement of physical assets. It’s done by scanning barcode tags attached to the assets or by using smart tags which show their location.

So to make this process work, a systematic solution must be taken up which would automatically discover hardware, software and network assets located throughout the enterprise. Proper control on reporting documentation would be helpful for audits on potential legal issues.

Asset optimization-

Asset optimization is a regulated process to improve business operations by recognizing, preparing and applying initiatives that would yield potential value from the current assets.

Preparing for different calculative analysis and maintenance for total ownership cost, asset depreciation and residual value, would help determine the impact to the accounts involved in IT asset management.

Retirement of assets-

The elimination of an asset from the asset portfolio is known as asset retirement. All public companies are required to identify the just value of their tangible and old assets in order to make their balance sheets accurate.

A company-wide strategy, proper budget and out-of-use asset management procedure is highly essential to devise a well maintained process. This would decide the best retirement and disposition time.

Data security-

The meaning of data security is protecting important data which can be anything like database or some codes and security passwords or account information. Organizations need to protect them from destructive forces and illegal actions of unauthorized users.

The data security course should conform all legislated compliance practices laid by the Government. The vendors should ensure proper documentation and control throughout the asset recovery service.

Disposition of assets-

IT asset disposition is the business of disposing obsolete equipment in a harmless and ecologically-responsible way. The destruction of data stored in such assets, needs careful consideration because of its sensitivity. It’s also important to note if there is any data that actually needs to be protected.

Data destruction can be software based or manual. Both plans should ensure right destruction, locking and sanitization during the retirement of the disposition process.

Outsourcing for IT asset management-

As the complexities of IT asset management is high and needs careful vigilance to reserve core business resources, most of the organizations desire to assign the work to reliable vendors.

So it’s necessary to select a robust and qualified vendor. Periodic audits would ensure appropriate working. Continued smooth operations are only possible by a long-term association with a skilled and responsible vendor.

As every retired computer, storage system, server, tablet, smart phone or other IT assets can lead to data security risk and environmental threat, so implementing a strong IT asset management system is extremely important for all organizations.