We originally spoke to the new client a year ago, about Return On IT collecting and processing their redundant computers. At that time they decided it couldn’t be that difficult to do it themselves. The newer working PCs had user files deleted, and were put on an online auction site to sell, while the older broken PCs were to be disposed of. This turned out to be easier said than done, and in retrospect they realised this was not a viable approach.

The time spent to manage the auction, answer questions, and pack the items was more than the value raised, and detracted from the real job of the member of staff asked to undertake this task. The disposal at the municipal tip of the broken PCs incurs trade waste charges, and is again time consuming. To cap it all, their lack of expertise with PC data security meant that the deleted files were not properly wiped from the disks (only the pointers were erased) and hence the data would have been easily recovered by anybody in the know.

They have now turned to Return On IT to let us take away the end-of-life hassle by collecting and processing their old PCs and other IT in a WEEE compliant and environmentally sensitive way. The data disks are properly wiped or destroyed, and they receive an audit report showing the outcome.

The weather overnight in the Forbury Gardens Reading was not kind, with rain bringing a glimpse of the reality of sleeping rough. Phil thought he had found a good spot for his sleeping bag, ‘I chose the shelter of a tree but was woken in the early hours by water dripping through from the torrential downpour. By then my clothes were wet and I was cold. I had the luxury of returning to my warm home at daybreak, but many children do not have that option which is when Action for Children can help.’

With 211 sleepers in 2012 there were twice the number compared with last year and the Thames Valley group are well on track to exceed the £138,000 raised by Byte Night in 2011.

Phil has burst through his personal fundraising goal of £750 (including Gift Aid) by exceeding £1,000 for Action for Children. He’d like to thank all his friends and clients of Return On IT who have sponsored him. It is not too late to donate to this excellent cause at Phil’s sponsorship page. 

Phil Reakes of Return On IT prepares for ‘Byte Night’ 2012

Personal data belonging to patients and staff was taken from Brighton General Hospital in September 2010 when disks which should have been destroyed were removed from a store room and subsequently sold online. See BBC News – Brighton Hospital Fined for the full story.

This story highlights the need for both public and private organisations to responsibly manage the protection of data on the retirement of IT equipment:

• Timely disposal of unwanted equipment minimises the risk of theft from the site and can maximise the returned value from items
• Obtain an audited report showing data wiping and destruction has been performed to the level required for the sensitivity of data

Needless to say Return On IT works with clients to ensure data security is maintained. Depending on the sensitivity of the data, data wiping can be performed once or multiple times to military level specifications, and a report showing that data has been removed provided down to individual serial numbered disk. For clients who require the highest level of assurance, data wiping and/or destruction of disks can take place on your premises.

As a Kroll Ontrack Certified Partner we have expanded our service portfolio for clients who have high level data security requirements. The Ontrack Eraser software for PCs, laptops and servers provides a secure and complete data erasure solution to protect sensitive data and intellectual property.

By using Ontrack Eraser, the overwriting technology follows stringent international standards and has been certified by the CESG (part of Goverment Communications Headquarters) to Infosec 5 standards. We can provide extensive reporting back to you on the outcomes of the data wiping, which can include the erasure methods used through to the model and serial numbers of individual disks.

Contact Return On IT to discuss your individual requirements for data wiping when disposing of your old IT. Our bespoke services can include data erasure and/or destruction at your site.

Test engineer Geoff Brown working on the disk test and erasure rig.

Informa has offices around the world including Tokyo, Japan where all of the staff were safe after the disaster. The money raised from the old IT is just one of many innovative responses from staff and Informa to raise donations for the Japanese Tsunami Relief.

David Troup the IT Support Manager at Taylor & Francis commented, ‘With Return On IT’s help we have extended the life of unwanted IT and the value realised was donate to the Japanese Tsunami Relief effort which is supported by many of our employees. Informa’s environmental and community practices place Corporate Responsibility at the heart of what we stand for.’

* One to Watch Company
* One to Watch Product
* Recycling Project of the Year with easyJet.

Voting is now underway and finishes on the 5th of May with the awards ceremony being held at London Zoo on May 19th. We hope that the many clients who have benefited from our reuse and computer recycling Regeneration service will vote for us in these three categories.

More information and the on-line Vote Now form can be found at Green IT Awards.

Return On IT are finalists at the Green IT Awards

The eventual winner was Simon Kasimili from Kenya who ran the 13 mile course  in 63 minutes and eight seconds. Phil and Ruth both completed the run, although their times were a little slower. Return On IT, through its EIT Foundation, along with their friends and family sponsored Phil and Ruth in aid of Launchpad Reading, the single homeless charity.

Phil Reakes of Return On IT running well at 4 miles

Front runners at 4 mile stage, including winner Simon Kasimili.

Read the article at Get Reading the online version of the Business Profile.

Additionally, Return On IT can now save you money with our new IT Asset Retirement service by using our technical expertise to audit your existing IT estate and identify systems that are under used or expensive to run because of maintenance, support, licensing or power consumption costs.

So why have we changed our name? To avoid confusion with other similar companies, and to make it clearer that we return money to you from reuse of your old IT.