TORONTO, Nov. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While nine out of 10 IT professionals from major Canadian organizations confirm data security is a primary concern when disposing of used IT equipment, only two in 10 say their company hires a specialized company to manage this critical task, according to recent Canada-wide research.
The study, conducted by Leger, Canada’s largest polling and marketing intelligence firm, and commissioned by TechReset, a leading Canadian IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) firm, confirmed that data security – proof that data was erased – is the main concern for 93 per cent of IT professionals. Given that the average total cost of a data breach in Canada is $5.78 million, according to the Ponemon Institute, ITAD is increasingly on the minds of decision-makers.
At the same time, survey results show there doesn’t appear to be an agreed-upon or standard way of dealing with a company’s end-of-life IT equipment. Roughly four in 10 IT professionals (38 per cent) say their company sells its used equipment, while nearly as many (37 per cent) say their company gives old equipment to employees. Read the full report here. https://techreset.com/research.
“The results indicate that companies may be risking more than they realize when upgrading IT equipment,” says Jack McSorley, CEO of TechReset. “Companies often limit their thinking to processes surrounding cyber security, with much less regard to the all-important data passed on through equipment replacement.”
The research was gathered to better understand the choices being made when it comes to end-of-life equipment. Respondents were 301 IT professionals from Canadian companies employing 100 or more people and earning at least $10 million in revenue in 2017.
“This is an environmentally conscientious group with 89 per cent of respondents believing it’s important that end-of-life IT equipment disposal be done in an environmentally friendly manner,” says Lisa Covens, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at Leger. “However, since there does not appear to be an agreed-upon industry standard for dealing with end-of-life IT equipment, corporations need to better understand the best-practice options available to them."
TechReset is also releasing a white paper, IT Asset Disposition the Right Way: Pursuing True Data Security that looks at real-life examples and lists the options available to decision makers when it comes time to upgrade computers, tablets, and mobile devices, along with a “Buyer’s Guide” of what to look for when considering an ITAD Firm.
White paper insights include:
- What to look for when partnering with an ITAD firm
- Potential breaches that can happen internally when not using a certified ITAD firm
- Key certifications required to manage this sensitive and critical process
“The digital devices we use – computers, tablets, and phones – have significant value, but not when compared to the information stored within them,” says McSorley. “Do-it-yourself methods, even when done by in-house IT departments, pose potential risks and can fall short of guaranteeing complete data erasure or protection.”
ABOUT TechReset
TechReset, a division of OEM Corporation, is a Canadian company with more than 17 years of experience providing secure and sustainable end-of-life IT management services. The company operates on the principle that the proper solution to IT disposal is to repurpose older equipment in a secure and sustainable process that redirects landfill diversion and extends the life of IT equipment beyond its first use. TechReset is R2 licensed, ISO 14001 environmental certified, ISO 9001 management systems certified, OHSAS 18001, follows protocols for the Ontario Electronic Stewardship and Basel Global Convention. Clients include AGF, Maple Leaf Foods, Ryerson University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Moneris, CB Richard Ellis, Zayo, Sheridan College, and Rexall.
ABOUT Leger
Founded in 1986, Leger is the largest Canadian-owned independent full-service research firm in Canada. Its size and independence give it the flexibility to pursue a broad range of ideas and actions to lead the way forward. With more than 400 employees spread over offices in Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Quebec City, and Philadelphia, Leger’s research capabilities span across every dimension of the marketplace and opinion landscape. The company conducts quantitative and qualitative research on behalf of an extensive array of public and private sector clients on a local, national, and global scale.
Media contacts:
Michelle McSorley
E=M² Communications
michelle@mcsorleycommunications.com
Lisa Covens
Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
lcovens@leger360.com