Certified ITAD vs DIY Disposal
Why professional IT Asset Disposition beats doing it yourself — every time.
The Real Cost of "Doing It Yourself"
Many businesses think they can save money by disposing of old electronics themselves. The reality? DIY disposal creates massive data security risks, compliance gaps, and environmental liability — all of which can cost far more than professional ITAD services.
The Data Security Gap
Simply deleting files or reformatting a hard drive doesn't destroy the data. Studies show that over 40% of used hard drives sold on secondary markets contain recoverable sensitive data. Professional ITAD uses NIST 800-88 compliant methods — multi-pass overwrites, degaussing, or physical shredding — to make data truly irrecoverable. Without these methods, your company's confidential information, customer records, and intellectual property remain accessible to anyone with basic recovery tools.
Compliance Is Not Optional
If your organization handles healthcare data (HIPAA), financial data (SOX, PCI-DSS, GLBA), student records (FERPA), or government information (NIST), you're legally required to properly destroy data on retired equipment. DIY disposal without documentation is a compliance violation waiting to happen. A single HIPAA breach can cost $100 to $50,000 per violated record, with annual maximums reaching $1.5 million.
Side-by-Side Comparison
The Verdict: Certified ITAD Wins Every Time
The risks of DIY disposal — data breaches, compliance fines, environmental liability, and lost asset value — far outweigh any perceived savings. Certified ITAD through EverTrade is free for qualifying business volumes, eliminates your risk, and provides the documentation your organization needs.
Don't gamble with your company's data and reputation. Let EverTrade handle your electronics disposal the right way — securely, compliantly, and responsibly.
Ready for Professional ITAD?
Schedule a free pickup and get certified data destruction with full compliance documentation.