In companies that handle sensitive client data – like legal, insurance, and accounting firms – IT plays an integral part in overall security compliance. IT managers think about compliance on a daily basis and weigh many of their decisions with compliance needs in mind.
But even if your enterprise is known for rigorous compliance, there may still be a hidden flaw.
Your sensitive data may be vulnerable when your old and outdated hardware leaves your possession.
It may seem counterintuitive at first, but it’s true: A company’s liability can extend to the whole lifecycle of its e-waste. Until the data on your obsolete devices is completely neutralized, the items you dispose of can still come back to haunt you. In fact, it may happen months or years later.
How can you be sure the data media you send away is really gone for good?
There is an alternative to time-consuming in-house data scrubbing or overpriced security consultants: You need an R2- compliant or certified recycling provider to manage your e-waste disposal process.
R2 Certification Means Secure and Responsible e-Waste Disposal
R2 is the leading certification in modern e-waste disposal. Overseen by the nonprofit SERI – Sustainable Electronics Recycling International – it is a global standard for protecting the environment and human health during e-waste recycling operations. It can also have a major impact on your compliance posture!
R2 stands for Sustainable Recycling, and it provides clear standards for recyclers to use when they recycle electronics from companies like yours. R2-certified vendors are trained to ensure that end-of-life electronics and their components are handled safely. With their expertise, unforeseen consequences are minimized.
The responsible management practices used by R2 vendors have five clear benefits for you:
1. Guaranteed Data Destruction for All Recycled Products
Many enterprises use a separate third-party vendor to perform the destruction of sensitive data, then pass obsolete equipment on to be recycled. R2-compliant and certified vendors can eliminate the middle man: They guarantee the destruction of data on all media using industry-standard practices. If you have sensitive data, the best way to destroy it is by device for example by hard drive, leveraging the serial number of the device. With methodology, you will receive a serialized Certificate of Destruction.
2. Full Tracking of Throughput in the Recycling Process
It’s all too easy for items you intend to recycle to become lost or stolen. In the R2 process, all waste movement is documented and monitored. In the rare case that there’s a breakdown in the process, your enterprise will be able to prove all reasonable steps were taken.
3. End-to-End Legal Compliance
R2 vendors demonstrate compliance with all applicable standards for environmental protection, data security, and human health prior to certification. This allows many organizations to scale back or eliminate in-house expertise on these non-core compliance areas.
4. A Clear Commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility
Executives and ordinary consumers alike are becoming more aware of environmental issues. No matter whether you serve a B2B or B2C market, using R2-certified or compliant recyclers for e-waste handling will show a clear commitment to minimizing your environmental impact.
5. Added Confidence for Your Consumers and Investors
Over the last few years, the business world has been rocked by a long series of high-profile data breaches. Companies are spending millions to defend data on their networks – it makes sense to invest in protecting that data once it goes out the door, too. That extra diligence boosts confidence in your brand all around.
If You Manage Sensitive Consumer Data, You Need an R2-Certified Recycler
Compliance becomes more costly and complex every year, but choosing an R2-certified or compliant vendor is a way to cut out some of that overhead. That’s especially crucial in industries entrusted with confidential financial, legal, or healthcare data—where a single oversight can prove disastrous.
Contacting an R2-compliant or certified recycler for your e-waste will provide true peace of mind.
