Is Your Data Truly Safe? What Really Matters in ITAD’s Data Security Processes
Pulse Supply Chain Solutions
Sustaining the global supply chain through custom recycling, remarketing, harvesting, & secure destruction solutions.
By Jonathan Krimm | VP of ITAD Business Development
Data compliance is one of those things everyone agrees is important, until it’s time to actually enforce it. That’s when the gray areas emerge. How thorough does a data wipe really need to be? Is meeting the bare minimum enough? And who’s responsible when something slips through the cracks?
Regulations like NIST 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M ( and many others ) lay out clear guidelines, but let’s be honest: compliance isn’t just about rules . . . it’s about risk. A drive that hasn’t been fully sanitized isn’t just a technical oversight; it’s a potential security breach, a lawsuit waiting to happen, a front-page scandal in the making.
Yet, many organizations still treat data wiping as an afterthought. We’ve seen companies assume that formatting a drive is enough, only to find out later that sensitive data was still recoverable. Others assume their IT team “took care of it” without actually verifying the process. That’s the gap between compliance on paper and compliance in practice.
True compliance isn’t about checking a box, it’s about accountability. It’s having proof that data is gone, traceability for every asset, and confidence that your company won’t be the next cautionary tale. Because when it comes to data security, the real question isn’t “Did we follow the rules?” but “Did we eliminate the risk?”
What’s your answer?
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By Luke Duval, MBA | President Pulse Supply Chain Solutions
The ITAD industry is on the move, and fast. By 2028, it’s expected to grow by nearly $15 billion, but here’s the thing: that growth isn’t happening in the future. It’s happening right now.
So, what’s driving it? It’s a combination of forces reshaping how businesses think about IT asset disposition, sustainability, and security. Let’s break it down.
A Circular Mindset is Becoming the Standard:
Companies aren’t just dipping their toes into circularity anymore; they’re diving in. More organizations are rethinking their entire asset lifecycle, pushing ITAD from a back-end solution to a strategic priority. End-of-life planning is no longer an afterthought, it’s baked into procurement strategies from day one.
Security & Compliance Are Raising the Stakes:
Data breaches are getting costlier, and no one wants to be the next headline. Clients expect full chain-of-custody tracking, airtight data sanitization, and ITAD partners who can handle it all in-house. That’s raising the bar for what it means to be a trusted ITAD provider.
AI & IoT Are Changing the Game:
We might not see AI revolutionize ITAD tomorrow, but the pieces are already moving. Smarter tracking, predictive analytics, and real-time asset monitoring will become industry standards. The question isn’t if AI will shape ITAD operations, but when? and the smart players are preparing now.
Emerging Markets Are Waking Up:
Infrastructure investments are surging in developing regions, and with them, demand for ITAD services. These markets are consuming more tech than ever before, and right now, recycling rates are low. But that won’t last forever. ITAD providers who get in early will be the ones shaping how circularity takes root in these regions.
Specialization is Key:
ITAD has never been a one-size-fits-all industry. The types of assets we handle have changed dramatically over the last two decades, and that evolution isn’t slowing down. The most successful ITAD providers won’t just follow the trends, they’ll anticipate them, adapt, and stay ahead of what clients need next.
Bottom line? ITAD isn’t just growing... it’s evolving. The companies that thrive in this space won’t be the ones waiting for the change to happen. They’ll be the ones driving it.