6 considerations when decommissioning a Data Center

Posted in Blog

Glenn Laga

Decommissioning a data center is a complex undertaking. For our clients, maximizing return on investment while mitigating risks is usually at the top of their list and with good reason. Decommissioning a data center is serious business and there are so many elements to consider. Avoiding damage to the building’s infrastructure, implementing proper tracking and auditing procedures, complying with current State and Federal laws, and transporting logistics are just naming a few of those considerations.

Before starting the decommissioning process, it is important to get a checklist in place and hire a reputable company to do the job. By doing both these things, the chances that the move or consolidation of your data center will go more smoothly. Here are six additional things to consider doing before decommissioning a data center:

1. Assess operating expenses and financial liabilities.

Decommissioning a data center takes more expertise and time than you might think so make sure to create a timeline. Consider the costs, the actual process and the breakdown and disposal methods.

2. Assign a project manager.

Data center decommission is definitely a process with a multitude of elements that need close attention. If you have the resources to assign a project manager to the project, it is wise to do so. Having someone directly manage the job is always a smart decision.

3. Review Your Existing Lease.

Dig out the lease and make sure you know the requirements for how the space should be left once you have vacated and if there is additional paperwork that must be completed.

4. Make a list of vendors if you plan to sell the data center equipment.

If you plan to sell items within the data center, such as computer room air conditioner units, generators or towers, first have them appraised. Next, make a list of vendors who might be interested in purchasing these items.

5. Track and audit equipment and serial numbers.

We suggest hiring a reputable data destruction company that will handle this task for you. Tracking and auditing equipment can be a lengthy and confusing process and without enough manpower, it is easy to make mistakes. Leaving this to a professional is truly the best choice.

6. Inquire about how your data destruction company is disposing of items.

While there are no federal regulations for the disposal of e-waste, the Environmental Protection Agency has created regulations and standards under a program they call “e-cyclying”. Make sure the company you hire follows this document. For example, Guardian Data Destruction follows the EPA’s rules in order to ensure all e-waste is properly disposed of without negatively affecting the environment.

Have questions about the data decommissioning process? Contact us today about our mobile on-site IT lab at 888-556-WIPE (9473) or visit www.guardiandatadestruction.com.

Not sure why you should hire Guardian Data Destruction to decommission your site? Here’s one reason:

“After a recent acquisition, we were consolidating and closing data centers from multiple locations into a new facility. It was critical to make sure all data was securely erased on-site before old equipment left the building to be remarketed and recycled. In addition, our compliance department mandated that Guardian perform an audit to verify all assets for disposal and capture the serial numbers off each hard drive and associate it with the server where the original drive resided. Guardian’s expert team made the process flawless, securely erasing all of our old drives, as well as handling the disposal and recycling of the obsolete equipment.” –Charles Bentzinger, Merck