Streamlined and fully secure data center decommissioning services near you
Securely decommissioning a data center takes careful planning and serious expertise. Any miscommunication or missed connection can lead to costly disruptions or disastrous security breaches. We’re here to help you minimize the risk and expense of data center decommissions with a certified process that includes close collaboration, hands-on guidance and execution, and even a robust IT remarketing service to help you get more value from unneeded assets.
7 Steps to Successfully Decommissioning a Data Center
Our certified technicians follow a strict, 7-step process to ensure a fast, smooth, and secure data center decommission, so you can get back to business confident that your operations are intact, your data secure, and your liability minimized.
1
Planning
This involves identifying the data center components that need to be decommissioned and developing a plan for the entire process. This plan should include details such as the timeline, resources required, and any potential risks or challenges. Prior to any project, Data Slayer will provide a Statement of Work and a Certificate of Insurance.
2
Data Backup & Migration
All data stored within the data center needs to be backed up and migrated to new locations or storage devices.
3
Documentation & Reporting
Once all data has been backed up and migrated, the hardware components of the data center can be disposed of. This may involve recycling, repurposing, or securely destroying the hardware to prevent any data breaches or environmental harm.
4
Software Decommissioning
All software licenses should be terminated and any software applications should be uninstalled from the servers.
5
Security Measures
The data center should be thoroughly cleaned. All security measures should be disabled or removed, including firewalls and access controls.
6
Environmental Considerations
Proper disposal of all hazardous materials, such as batteries, should be considered.
7
Verification & Certification
Finally, the data center should be audited and certified. All data and equipment should be disposed of in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.
Data Center Decommissioning Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Data center decommissioning is often the result of a need to replace legacy hardware with new tech — and thus keep up with operational and security best practices. It’s also a key part of the process of moving data center infrastructure to a larger facility, a different region, or the cloud.
Read more about data center migration here.
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Because of the potentially serious risks it presents — such as the loss of important data, susceptibility to breaches, and possibility of violating strict and difficult-to-understand data privacy laws — successful data center decommissioning requires not only careful planning but extensive experience and industry knowhow. It’s not the kind of job you want to tackle without due expertise.
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When performed professionally, data center decommissioning is virtually risk free. But without the help of a reliable service provider, the process could lead to the loss of important data, open security vulnerabilities for hackers to exploit, and even violate regulatory requirements for the proper handling of data and data storage equipment — which could result in severe fines, loss of customers and damage to your reputation.
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Make sure that any data decommissioning company you work with has NAID AAA Certification, reflecting their understanding of — and adherence to — industry standards for handling data. You should also ensure that your partner has the experience and equipment to reliably handle every aspect of the decommission process, from de-racking hardware and cable mining to packaging, shipping, auditing, sanitization and/or HDD destruction.
Before entering into any agreement, you should also make sure to get a Statement of Work (SoW) that clearly outlines responsibilities, timelines, fees, and other important information, plus assurance that you’ll receive an official certificate of destruction for any hardware needing disposal.
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Today, the process of decommissioning a data center is more environmentally friendly than ever before. At Data Slayer, we help you understand what hardware may be eligible for recycling or resale, which could also help offset decommissioning costs and help fund future hardware upgrades.
We’re also a proud member of the Circular Drive Initiative (CDI), a global partnership dedicated to pioneering new solutions for environmentally sustainable IT asset disposal.
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As a NAID AAA Certified provider of data center decommissioning services, Data Slayer can get the job done quickly, cost effectively, and in full compliance with the most stringent data privacy and management guidelines, such as NIST and NSA’s Media Destruction rules.
We provide a clear SoW before work, as well full certification of all services performed when the job’s done. We may also be able to add additional value to your investment by re-purchasing eligible hardware for resale — contact us today for more details.
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From planning and packing to moving and auditing, you can trust Data Slayer to ensure your space is restored to its original condition in a way that’s cost effective and fully compliant with all applicable regulations.