Data centers have become the most prominent part of your IT infrastructure. It is the one-stop destination that houses all your electronic devices, from basic hardware to all types of security servers. A vast majority of this equipment contains the sensitive data of your business, while other devices serve as back-up tools. The tools stored in your data center might be functioning flawlessly, but once they go obsolete, you’ll need to find replacements. This may include computers, hard drives, servers, and other IT-related devices.
If this is the case, it might be time to migrate your data to the cloud in order to streamline data operations, ensure data security and commit to a sustainable and environment-friendly future but first, you’ll need to decommission a majority, if not all, assets that currently reside in the data center.
Data decommissioning refers to the process of shutting down the traditional and outdated servers and replacing them with upgraded versions in order to deliver optimal performance. Most organizations hire a certified IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) provider for data decommissioning in order to remove the outdated equipment and migrate the data to the cloud. You may have already moved to the cloud, but if not, now is the time to do so.
Why Do You Need to Decommission?
You may need to conduct a data center decommission when you move from one data center to another or for various other reasons. However, the most common is when migrating IT infrastructure to the cloud. Or, you may simply be upgrading your IT infrastructure and now you need to install the latest versions of the existing hardware just to save on the electricity and maintenance costs of these tools.
No matter the reason, what’s important is that you hire a professional and qualified ITAD company that has experience shutting down existing hardware and migrating the sensitive data to the cloud. Only a professional who has done it before can execute the data destruction process seamlessly, recycle your outdated electronics equipment, and manage your IT assets that still hold value in order to obtain maximum return on those assets. Once you have selected the decommissioning company, the next step is to plan the process so that everything is carried out as efficiently as possible. This can be done by proper planning and preparation:
- Set a decommissioning timeline and make sure that the entire process is executed by the set deadline. This includes downtime, security processes, and if decommissioning a data center, potentially, time outside of business hours. The decommission doesn’t have to be during working hours. Instead, it should be a rather cautious and steady process.
- Arranging for the required machinery, such as forklifts and pallets to lift the necessary IT equipment.
- Tagging each asset to get a clear picture of which one has to be recycled, which one will be replaced, which is to be destroyed, and which can be reused.
- Check your backup system to ensure efficiencies and accurate power throughout the decommissioning process.
Ideally, you wouldn’t need to track all these processes as long as you are working with a professional ITAD company that takes care of the data decommissioning, data security, and any other processes. The most important step for successful decommissioning is ensuring the safety of the system. Since it consists of your personal information, it is extremely important that the devices are first assessed properly. The data in your system must be erased before the hardware equipment is discarded or sent for recycling. That’s where an ITAD company helps.
Hire the best ITAD professionals for decommissioning a data center and you will have your project done efficiently, on time, under budget and in accordance with your specific needs.