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ITAD Glossary
What is chain of custody?
Chain of custody is the documented record of who had possession of an asset, where it was and what happened to it, from the moment it leaves your control until its final disposition. In ITAD, it links each device’s serial number to pickup, transport, receipt, data destruction and resale or recycling.
Chain of custody
Why it matters for IT and security teams
Gaps in custody are where devices go missing. A complete record lets you answer an auditor’s question about any single device and shows the provider can account for everything it collected.
Chain of custody
How it works
- Inventory before or at pickup.
- Secured transport.
- Serialized receiving and reconciliation against the pickup list.
- Records of data sanitization and final disposition for each device.
- Reporting back to the client, including any discrepancies.
Chain of custody
How HOBI handles it
HOBI tracks devices by serial number from intake to final disposition.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
When does chain of custody start?
When the provider takes possession, ideally with an inventory taken before pickup.
What happens if counts do not match?
The discrepancy should be reported and resolved before the job closes.
Does chain of custody extend to downstream vendors?
It should. R2v3 requires certified facilities to manage and verify their downstream recycling chain.
Keep learning
Related terms and services
Need help retiring IT equipment?
Talk to HOBI about secure data destruction, value recovery and certified recycling, or call 877-814-2620.