What is Chain of Custody?
- Definition
- Chain of custody is the documented trail tracking the handling and location of IT assets from the moment they leave your facility through final disposition.
Chain of custody in ITAD refers to the complete, documented record of every person and location that handles your IT equipment from the moment it leaves your possession through its final disposition — whether that's resale, recycling, or destruction.
A proper chain of custody includes pickup documentation (manifest of items collected, serial numbers, condition notes), transport records (who transported, when, to where), processing records (what happened to each item — wiped, shredded, recycled), and final disposition records (certificates of destruction or recycling, downstream vendor documentation).
Chain of custody documentation is essential for compliance with data protection regulations. If a data breach occurs from improperly disposed equipment, the chain of custody trail demonstrates that your organization followed responsible practices. Without it, your organization could face significant liability. Certified ITAD providers maintain chain of custody as a standard practice and can provide complete documentation for audit purposes.
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