When asked about the importance of risk reduction by securing data throughout the IT asset disposal (ITAD) program, 74 percent of companies felt it was extremely important, according to the International Association of IT Asset Managers (IAITAM). Many companies opt for in-house data destruction so they can destroy the hard drive themselves. Hard drive overwriting and degaussing followed by drilling, shredding, or breaking are common internal methods of data eradication used by these companies. These methods can eliminate the upfront costs when compared to outsourcing this service, but as server rooms continue to grow, information continues to be stored across multiple platforms and regulations continue to develop, outsourcing may be the only option when handling the destruction of data in greater volumes.
As a great way for IT executives to get a head-start on their IT asset disposal vendor selection, Gartner, the world’s leading IT research and advisory company researched and identified top global companies offering ITAD services. This information was released for the second consecutive year in a December 2013 report titled “Magic Quadrant for IT Asset Disposition, Worldwide”. The scope of the initial Magic Quadrant report only included North American solutions, however due to the market demand for global ITAD services; this was replaced with one encompassing the global ITAD market.
Vendors are evaluated by Gartner according to their Ability to Execute and Completeness of Vision. They are then placed on a quadrant chart based on how well they are positioned for the future, along with their level of their services in comparison to the other selected vendors. These categories are broken down into Niche Players, Visionaries, Challengers and Leaders.
“Selecting the right vendor can be a daunting task and this report helps guide companies in the right direction to select a vendor that is best fit for them,” stated Sean Magann, vice president of Sims Recycling Solutions, Americas. Included as one of 11 international vendors, Sims Recycling Solutions was pleased to be recognized as a “Leader” in the ITAD industry in the latest report. According to the Gartner report, “leaders execute well against a robust vision, and are well-positioned for the future.”
A vendor’s ability to execute its vision and understand the market is seen as a beneficial quality by organizations seeking ITAD services. “With the expanded geographical scope of this assessment, we consider our position in the ‘Leaders’ quadrant by Gartner as confirmation of our ability to provide quality, consistent services across the globe,” stated Steve Skurnac, president of Sims Recycling Solutions.
For organizations seeking ITAD services, a vendor’s ability to execute and understand the market can be crucial to their success. It is critical for companies in search for a new IT disposal vendor to select a company that will have the capabilities to provide them with the service necessary to protect them from the environmental liabilities, and risks associated with data security and legal compliance. For the official announcement regarding Sims’ list recognition, view the full press release.
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