Managing IT Assets through Audits and Disposal with ITAM and ITAD

Over time, we accumulate things; it is a fact of life. Historically, “shaking the house” or doing a spring cleaning is integral to building a healthy lifestyle. In order to thrive, we have to get rid of the things we no longer need. 

This concept is a little more challenging when you are an Office Director being told by the Division of IT that those ancient monitors in the basement are worth some money – and the desktop that broke down last week could actually be repaired – and yes, it is easier to get a company to come pick up the “e-waste”, but you could be losing out on thousands of dollars or more! 

These types of discussions regarding information technology (IT) frequently occur in office spaces. Our lives circulate around technology. In order to remain successful as a business, the tech needs to be operating to its greatest capacity, which includes knowing what needs to be improved and what needs to be removed.

The most successful businesses employ IT best management practices, which include two key programs: Information Technology Asset Management (ITAM) and Information Technology Asset Disposition (ITAD). If you are a leader in Global Procurement or Infrastructure, you are probably familiar with the terms ITAM and ITAD; they are core tenets of business optimization. However, many businesses remain unaware of what these IT programs do and the associated best management practices.

 

Information Technology Asset Management (ITAM)

IT includes tangible things like computers, monitors, and modems – but also more elusive forces, like ethernet, internet, and of course, the cloud. In order to keep all these different technologies operating efficiently and effectively, it is important to have an understanding of what assets exist within the IT department. This includes having an understanding of what technology is needed, but also, where these assets are required. 

To gain a thorough understanding of all the technology assets within your company, effective IT management programs include ITAM, which involves a deeper understanding of every individual IT asset. If your company chooses to conduct an audit, the depth of how far your IT investments extend may surprise you. Hiring an outside company to implement ITAM is recommended because of the expertise needed to conduct a thorough assessment. 

When Smart Waste conducts an IT audit, we focus on the question: is this asset in the most strategic place? If the answer is no, then the IT and Procurement teams must decide whether to relocate or dispose of the asset. Disposal further complicates the process because of the rules and regulations associated with proper e-waste management, however, ITAD is able to help solve these challenges.

Information Technology Asset Disposition (ITAD)

ITAD is the practice of responsible disposal of IT hardware. When disposing of IT assets, teams often hire a third party to address how it will be disposed of. IT teams need support with this practice because e-waste is complex and the rules and regulations for disposal are constantly changing. Smart Waste supports ITAD programs through their experience of proper waste disposal in various locations and jurisdictions. As an R2 certified recycler, Smart Waste will ensure all the IT equipment will be disposed of properly and responsibly. 

Within a successful ITAD program, teams need to have an intimate understanding of the assets that need to be updated, upgraded, or removed; in order to remain proactive with these best management practices, teams implement ITAM. Therefore, both practices are needed in order to have an effective waste management program. ITAD helps you determine proper disposal, but in order to know when an IT asset should be retired, your company must have a handle on the assets you have (ITAM). 

 

Implementing Smarter IT Management Programs 

 

In order to solve IT waste management challenges for your business, Smart Waste understands it is not a one-size-fits-all. 

Smart Waste offers a full life cycle of IT management, from assessing what needs to be disposed of, planning how it will be accomplished, and coordinating vendors for disposal. With extensive industry experience, Smart Waste can help remarket the assets through assessing their value and facilitating a recycling process with verified destruction of confidential data.

Smart Waste frequently demonstrates expertise on compliance and security. Smart Waste is aware of all the things that are at risk when it comes to a company’s data. We are transparent with our depth of experience and have shown to demonstrate compliance and responsibility when it comes to data security. Within our secure disposition projects for technology companies, Smart Waste recycles all items with confidential destruction tracked and verifies using pictures and certificates.