Data center decommission projects are a difficult, time-consuming, and expensive process that most companies would prefer to avoid. It’s also a challenge that most data center operators don’t fully understand how to implement this type of project plan.
Here at Liquis, we want to help you overcome this conundrum by providing you with information on what you need to know about data erasure and data center decommissioning services that can make this transition smooth.
Getting Your Data Destruction, Data Center Decommissioning Project Off The Ground
Decommissioning your data center doesn’t have to be something that takes you months, years, or even decades to complete. It can be broken down into several smaller, more manageable projects that each have their own timeline and budget.
Setting Up
The first step to getting your data security decommissioning venture up and running is to create a comprehensive blueprint for the plan, which will scale with the amount of funding you have available for this process.
The blueprint or data center decommissioning checklist should include:
- your budget
- how much time you have
- cost benefit analysis
- asset disposition
- vendor maintenance contracts
- emergency power systems
- software discovery audit
- asset recovery plan
- appropriate risks
- backup systems
- building shutdown process
- expected outcomes
- list of your software licenses, network discovery tools, hardware assets, asset inventory, associated systems, and other relevant equipment and auxiliary equipment like HVAC equipment
Itemizing
The next step is itemizing everything in your data facility that has to be removed. This includes anything that takes up space, including racks, cables, computers, desks, chairs, cabling systems, and so on.
Planning
Once you have identified everything in your data facility that has to be removed, examine each piece of equipment and plan how it will be removed from the facility.
In some cases, vendors might be able to help you with this process. In others, you’ll have to employ the assistance of a skilled professional. Either way, maximize the value of your investment by knowing how each part of your decommissioning project can benefit both your organization and the community in which it operates.
Physical Review
Once your implementation plan is done, it’s time for your project manager and temporary personnel/team members to make sure they complete tasks. This is also when the following will happen:
- post decommissioning review
- safety procedure and background checks
- service downtime
- firing up the emergency generator
- ensure compliance with the removal plan, decommissioning process, packaging considerations, tracking sheets,responsible recycling, local regulations, packing materials, internal cooling units and final disposition
- With your hardware slated, and the entire process done, the physical audit ends and your hardware, other servers, and other hardware like external chillers, cooling systems and control panels is transported offsite to their final designation
Data Sanitization
Once your data center equipment is dismantled, you will need to complete a data sanitization process. You can do this from scratch or use a third-party service.
In either case, make sure data sanitizing is done by a qualified professional with the required resources to safely and efficiently remove all data from your servers.
Liquis: We Take Care Of Decommissioning Your Data Centers
At Liquis, we have the tools, the training, and the experience needed to give you peace of mind during your data center asset removal or migration. Our expert data center demolition teams are made up of specially trained individuals with years of experience in handling even the most sensitive equipment. Ready to get started? Get in touch with us NOW!