The Importance of Properly Decommissioning Hardware

As businesses, schools, and colleges increasingly rely on technology, managing mobile & IT hardware throughout its lifecycle becomes a critical responsibility. Yet, one crucial stage is often overlooked or mismanaged: the decommissioning process. Failing to correctly prepare devices for recycling can lead to significant financial losses and environmental waste, making proper decommissioning not just a best practice but a necessity.

Common Pitfalls in Decommissioning Tech

One of the most common issues during the recycling of mobile and IT hardware is the failure to remove user credentials and management profiles from devices. Whether it's leaving iCloud or Google accounts logged in, neglecting to remove BIOS locks or MDM (Mobile Device Management) profiles, or factory resetting devices without properly unlinking them from accounts, these oversights render devices locked and, ultimately, unusable.

Locked devices that are iCloud Activation-locked (Apple) or Factory Reset Protection-locked (Google/Android) cannot be resold, refurbished, or repurposed. As a result, their value drops to zero, and organisations lose out on potentially thousands of pounds in buy-back value.

A Costly Example: Lessons from 183 iPads

A recent case highlights the importance of proper decommissioning. Preloved Tech received 183 iPads from a large organisation for recycling. These devices had been assigned to users who were allowed to log in with their personal iCloud accounts. However, when the organisation decided to recycle the devices, they failed to ensure that users logged out of their accounts before sending them in, with the large proportion of users simply heading for the 'Rest all setting' feature and erasing their iPads. Big mistake!

Of the 183 devices, only 9 were successfully unlocked and prepared for resale. The remaining 174 devices, while still in good working condition, were permanently locked and unusable. This oversight cost the organisation thousands of pounds in lost buy-back value, as locked devices are generally worthless in the recycling market.

Why Proper Decommissioning Matters

Proper decommissioning isn’t just about financial returns; it’s about responsible technology management. Here’s why it’s essential:

1. Maximising ROI Devices that are prepared for recycling—free of accounts, locks, and management profiles—retain their value. This ensures organisations can realise the highest possible buy-back value, turning outdated technology into a valuable revenue stream.
2. Promoting Sustainability Locked devices are often discarded as electronic waste, even when they are still functional. Properly prepared devices can be refurbished and resold, reducing electronic waste and supporting a circular economy.
3. Enhancing Data Security Decommissioning is also a critical step in ensuring data security. Devices left logged into accounts or linked to management profiles could potentially expose sensitive information or grant unauthorised access to accounts.
4. Compliance with Regulations Proper decommissioning aligns with legal and regulatory requirements for data protection, such as GDPR in the UK and EU. Failure to comply can lead to significant penalties and reputational damage.

How Preloved Tech Can Help

At Preloved Tech, we understand the challenges organisations face when decommissioning IT hardware. That’s why we work closely with our customers to ensure a smooth and efficient decommissioning process.

From guiding organisations on removing user accounts and management profiles to offering full reporting and secure data destruction, our comprehensive services help businesses maximise asset value while ensuring compliance and sustainability.

By partnering with Preloved Tech, you can avoid costly mistakes, such as sending in locked devices, and realise the full potential of your IT assets at the end of their lifecycle.

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