Project management is a critical component in any IT project yet end of life disposal process is often lacking the proper amount of attention. Proper IT disposal planning will minimize data security risks and cleanly close out the life cycle of computer equipment with the creation of key asset management records.
Throwing together an IT disposal plan at the last minute or making it the afterthought to a refresh plan will put your firm at a higher risk of a data breach as well as vulnerable to poor evaluations or audits of your general IT practices.
According to Project Insight there are 5 Basic Phases of Project Management:
- Project conception and initiation
- Project definition and planning
- Project launch or execution
- Project performance and control
- Project close
Let’s briefly look into utilizing these 5 phases to accomplish the goal of safely and securing completing an IT disposal project.
Planning facility relocations, equipment upgrades, or the regular need for IT disposal will define the project conception and initiation piece. The conception phase is the ideal time to contact an IT asset disposition firm to qualify vendors and define the parameters of future services through a Master Service Agreement. At this stage it is not necessary to select vendors but to instead make sure the services are budgeted for and qualified service providers and tools have been identified and vetted.
It is important to take appropriate efforts to perform due diligence and gain an understanding of a disposal vendor’s insurance, data security policies, and environmental standards. This type of due diligence is difficult to perform at the end of an equipment upgrade where physical space, time, and human resources are limited.
In the defining and planning stage thoughtful preparation must be invoked. Typical action items for a disposal project will include taking physical inventory, vendor selection, backing up critical data, physical relocation and consolidation of surplus equipment, and coordinating logistics for the equipment collection.
The project launch and execution involves informing staff of their responsibilities. Included in this are milestones expected, end dates, and any required reporting along the way. Each employee must be clear on tasks, deadlines, and requirements to other departments such as asset reporting to finance, adhering to security requirements set by info security and upper management, or meeting site access restrictions and insurance requirements for facilities.
Closing a disposition project will be defined by physical removal of the equipment from the site followed up with asset reporting, certification, and confirmation and reconciliation of the serialized data.
Project performance and control is all about flexibility. Adherence to schedules is ideal, but not always possible. When necessary adjust schedules and keep staff and vendors informed of any changes.
IT asset disposition is a regular result from various technology implementations and is worthy of serious consideration by project managers. With the proper management of surplus computer equipment disposal a firm will avoid data breaches and environmental liabilities as well as create a depository for managing an organization’s fixed assets.