The last decade bred a significant technological evolution and thrust the world into a digital age. Business is conducted almost entirely digitally, and communication relies heavily upon internet access and mobile devices. This influx of technology has improved many aspects of life and produced many challenges. For instance, as technology has evolved, so have hackers. Data theft has skyrocketed alongside mobile device sales, and it is becoming more challenging to spot hackers and to keep data protected. Without proper steps to ensure data safety, data is often at its most vulnerable when IT assets are retired. Partnering with an ITAD provider that offers services like data security and erasure will help keep sensitive enterprise data safe even after disposition.
Data Security & Proper Storage with ITAD
Many users are unaware that data remains on a device until properly wiped. A common misconception is that all data can be erased from IT equipment with a simple reset, but this is not enough to protect data against hackers, and leaving IT assets anywhere with residual data still on the device puts enterprise and employee data at risk of data theft. ITAD providers offer data erasure services to ensure no data breaches occur even after disposition. HOBI’s internally developed data erasure tool, HOBI Shield, is just one of three data security steps we take to prevent data leaks. HOBI Shield completely wipes data from a device, and any hard drives that cannot be entirely erased are destroyed via shredding technology.
Security doesn’t exclusively apply to data. During the disposition process, back-ups can occasionally happen. IT assets may spend the night in storage until they are processed, which can lead to equipment theft or damage. ITAD providers understand what is at stake, and many take extra safety measures to prevent incidents. HOBI utilizes cameras, padlocked cages for additional security insurance, and fully traceable data destruction.
Avoid Hackers Before Disposition
Hackers have become more sophisticated and are more difficult than ever to spot. Scams come in the form of emails, claims of delivery issues, and links to realistic web pages containing viruses. Each one will request personal information or prompt users to click suspicious links. Fortunately, there are several ways to safeguard against hackers before your IT assets are ready for retirement.
In addition to being cautious of suspicious emails and links, keeping software up to date helps prevent viruses and hackers from accessing private enterprise information. Consider turning on Automatic Updates or using secure browsers such as Firefox or Chrome, which frequently receive security updates. Installing antivirus or anti-malware protection from a trusted source and keeping the programs up-to-date helps protect data. Another safety tip is to change passwords periodically. Utilizing password managers to create strong passwords is one way to prevent creating passwords that may be easy to guess. Viruses and data breaches may result in data erasure and software reinstallation. To prevent data loss, keep critical enterprise or employee information backed up in case of security breaches.