Too many organisations treat secure IT disposal as an afterthought. Once a laptop or hard drive is no longer in use, it’s often left to gather dust or sent to recycling without proper data wiping.
That’s a major risk.
Sensitive information doesn’t disappear when a device is formatted; it remains stored on the hardware and, if not securely removed, can lead to data breaches, identity theft, multi-million-rand losses, and exposure of confidential company and customer records.
Proper disposal is an essential part of protecting data and maintaining compliance.
In South Africa, large organisations report an average cost of a data breach of around R44,2-million per incident but even smaller breaches can have serious financial and business consequences. Globally, the average cost stands at $4,44-million. These figures show that data loss is a worldwide, high-cost problem.
Human error such as accidental sharing or poor handling of sensitive information continues to be the leading cause of data breaches, accounting for 68% of incidents.
Approximately 82% of data breaches globally involved personal data, including names, email addresses, phone numbers, health records, financial info, biometric data and passwords. When old devices are discarded without being wiped, they become breach gateways.
Dispose-IT MD Clayton Heldsinger says companies must stop seeing disposal as a low-priority admin task.
“Secure disposal should be a planned, recurring process, not an occasional task,” he says. “It needs clear policies, accountability, and a culture that values data protection at every level.”
He adds that unmanaged hardware is “a cyber-security vulnerability you didn’t realise you had”. Retired equipment can still hold years of financial, HR and customer records, and if those end up in the wrong hands, the results can be devastating.
Many organisations focus heavily on cybersecurity for active systems – but overlook the data sitting on idle or decommissioned devices. That’s where the greatest blind spot lies.
The risks of doing nothing
- Operational risk – Decommissioned equipment that hasn’t been properly sanitised can still hold access credentials that act as back doors into your environment.
- Fines and compliance failures – Under South Africa’s POPIA and the EU GDPR, data lost from old devices counts as a breach.
- Reputational damage – Customers lose trust when their data is exposed.
Making it part of the process
A responsible IT asset disposal plan should form part of every organisation’s data protection strategy. It’s not a once-off clean-out but a routine, documented process that shows compliance and care.
- Regular disposal cycles (quarterly) – Schedule disposal rounds throughout the year to identify and remove redundant equipment before it becomes a risk. Regular cycles prevent data build-up on forgotten devices and keep compliance records current.
- A clear audit trail and chain of custody – Track every device from decommissioning to destruction or reuse. Keep serial numbers, transfer records and certificates of destruction to prove compliance with local and international laws.
- Certified data wiping or physical destruction – Deleting files isn’t enough. Use certified sanitisation methods that meet NIST 800-88 standards or use physical shredding. Work only with certified providers who issue destruction certificates and recycle e-waste responsibly.
- Training and accountability – Assign responsibility to a trained team. Staff should follow a clear disposal procedure: identifying redundant devices, logging them, securing them, and handing them over through the proper chain of custody. Regular training reinforces best practice and reduces the risk of costly mistakes.
Once hardware leaves your premises without being properly wiped or destroyed, you’ve effectively lost control of the information on it. Building secure disposal into everyday operations is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to prevent a breach and it protects both your customers and your reputation.
“Working with a reputable IT asset disposal partner is essential,” says Heldsinger. “The right company will provide certified data sanitisation or destruction, full audit trails, and environmentally responsible recycling. They’ll also help you meet compliance requirements and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.”