Comments on: Can IT Security Be ‘Green’? http://www.securityextra.com/can-it-security-be-green.html News for the information guardian Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:59:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Jon Selby http://www.securityextra.com/can-it-security-be-green.html#comment-794 Jon Selby Mon, 19 May 2008 09:03:00 +0000 http://www.securityextra.com/can-it-security-be-green.html#comment-794 The disposal aspect of green IT security is an important subject to raise. Far and away the best environmentally sound end of life soluton is to re-use equipment, but this in itself can often be a security concern. Without exception, companies should look for a specialist disposal organisation that can guarantee secure data erasure. The process should be accredited to Infosec 5 standards with a similar HM Government vetting of the physical security of the premises the equipment is stored in. The other advantage of using a specialist IT disposal expert is that following disposal, equipment can be re-used, as opposed to recycled. This then means that revenue return can be used to cover the data erasure and other service costs. In Tier 1's case, 85% of our clients pay nothing for a secure and ethical service, with the majority actually receiving revenue back. When green services are usually accompanied by a premium price tag, this makes a refreshing change, and the Cost / Risk conundrum is made considerably easier to handle. The disposal aspect of green IT security is an important subject to raise. Far and away the best environmentally sound end of life soluton is to re-use equipment, but this in itself can often be a security concern.

Without exception, companies should look for a specialist disposal organisation that can guarantee secure data erasure. The process should be accredited to Infosec 5 standards with a similar HM Government vetting of the physical security of the premises the equipment is stored in.

The other advantage of using a specialist IT disposal expert is that following disposal, equipment can be re-used, as opposed to recycled. This then means that revenue return can be used to cover the data erasure and other service costs. In Tier 1’s case, 85% of our clients pay nothing for a secure and ethical service, with the majority actually receiving revenue back. When green services are usually accompanied by a premium price tag, this makes a refreshing change, and the Cost / Risk conundrum is made considerably easier to handle.

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