Secure ITAD Services: Protecting Your Data & Business

One of the biggest risks in IT disposal is data security. Improper handling of old IT assets can lead to data breaches and compliance violations. Secure ITAD services ensure:

• Certified Data Wiping & Destruction to Prevent Data Leaks
  Simply deleting files isn’t enough. Professional IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) services use industry-standard data sanitization methods such as DoD 5220.22-M, NIST 800-88, and sometimes physical destruction to permanently eliminate data from hard drives, SSDs, and other storage devices.
• Regulatory Compliance with Local & International Standards
  Companies handling personal, financial, or confidential data must comply with data protection laws like Malaysia’s PDPA, GDPR (Europe), and ISO 27001. Non-compliance can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage.
• End-to-End Tracking & Reporting for Transparency
  A secure ITAD process includes asset tracking, detailed reporting, and certificates of data destruction, ensuring full accountability and transparency in how IT assets are handled and disposed of.

How ITAD Helps Businesses Save Money

• Cost Recovery Through Remanufacture, Refurbishment & Resale
  Many IT assets still hold value even after they are no longer needed by a company. Secure ITAD services enable businesses to recover a portion of their initial investment by selling their retired IT equipment for remanufacturing and refurbishment IT equipment instead of just scraping it.

• Avoiding Heavy Fines & Compliance Risks
  In Malaysia, improper disposal of electronic waste can lead to regulatory fines and non-compliance issues. Adhering to environmental and data protection laws ensures businesses avoid unnecessary financial penalties. Under Section 34B of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Act 127), offenders can face penalties of up to RM500,000 or five years’ imprisonment or both for illegal dumping activities.
• Reducing IT Storage & Maintenance Costs
  Storing unused IT assets takes up valuable office space and leads to unnecessary maintenance costs. ITAD helps declutter workspaces while reducing overhead expenses.
• Lowering Procurement Costs via IT Remanufacturing & Refurbishment
  Through ITAD programs, companies can access remanufactured and refurbished IT equipment at lower costs instead of purchasing brand-new devices, resulting in significant savings.

Reducing E-Waste for a Sustainable Future

The environmental impact of e-waste is alarming. According to data from the Environment Department, Malaysia generates an astonishing annual volume of e-waste exceeding 365,000 tonnes, surpassing the weight of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. Without proper disposal, toxic materials such as lead, mercury, and cadmium from IT equipment can contaminate the environment.

How ITAD Supports Sustainability

• Recycling & Proper Disposal: Ensures IT waste is processed responsibly, preventing harmful chemicals from polluting the environment.
• Extending IT Lifespan: Through remanufacturing or refurbishment, businesses can contribute to a circular economy by giving IT assets a second life.

• Reducing Carbon Footprint: Manufacturing new IT equipment generates significant carbon emissions. By opting for ITAD, companies help lower their overall carbon impact.

Empower the Next Generation with Rentwise Digital Learning Empowerment Program (DLEP)

A transformative initiative designed to bridge the digital learning gap in under-resourced schools. By partnering with our clients, we repurpose 20% of our retired IT equipment through remanufacturing, and then donate these remanufactured devices to underserved schools. This effort not only provides essential technology for productive IT-related lessons but also inspires students to explore the vast opportunities in the digital world. With DLEP, Rentwise is committed to creating a sustainable, tech-enabled future for young minds who need it most.

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What Are Remanufactured IT Devices?

Remanufactured IT equipment refers to devices such as laptops, desktops, or servers that have undergone rigorous remanufacturing processes. These devices are sourced from enterprises, thoroughly inspected, repaired, and upgraded to meet high-performance standards before being reintroduced to the market.

Think of it as giving the device a second life with a fresh start. Components like memory, battery and storage are replaced or enhanced, while the devices are cleaned and tested to ensure they work as efficiently as new ones. The device also undergoes a complete color restoration, bringing its exterior back to like-new pristine condition.

The Cost Advantage

One of the biggest draws of remanufactured IT is the significant cost savings. Businesses can save up to 40% compared to purchasing new devices. For SMEs and large corporations, this makes high-performance IT accessible without overstretching budgets.

These savings allow companies to reinvest in other areas, such as training, marketing, or innovation, without compromising on technology quality.

Who Benefits from Remanufactured IT?

Remanufactured devices are ideal for:

• Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) looking to optimize budgets.
• Large corporations aiming to meet sustainability targets without sacrificing performance.

The post Redefining Value: Why Remanufactured is the New Premium appeared first on Rentwise.

Definition: 
Remanufactured computers undergo a comprehensive restoration process, designed to bring them up to the same specifications as brand-new items. This involves disassembling the device, replacing or repairing all faulty components, and reassembling it to meet original manufacturer standards.

Definition:
Refurbished computers, on the other hand, are pre-owned devices that have been repaired and restored to working order for resale. However, the extent of this restoration can vary widely depending on who performs the refurbishment.

In conclusion, when choosing between remanufactured and refurbished computers, consider your priorities. If you need a device that performs like new and comes with quality assurance, a remanufactured computer is your best bet. If your budget is the primary concern and you’re okay with some variance in quality or performance, a refurbished computer might be the way to go.

Both options offer a more sustainable alternative to purchasing brand-new devices, so whichever you choose, you’ll be making a positive impact on the environment.

The post Understanding the Difference Between Remanufactured and Refurbished Computers appeared first on Rentwise.

IT plays a central role in any organization and it’s only logical that a carbon reduction strategy begins with using remanufactured computers

The earth’s population is projected to reach 8.6 billion people by 2030. There is an urgent need to provide enough food, water and energy to power this growing demand in the next decade and beyond. This is simply not going to happen unless we change the way we consume.

Today, atmospheric CO2 is at a higher level than at any point in the last 3 million years. Humans are injecting more CO2 into the atmosphere at one of the fastest rates ever. The information & communication technology sector’s global share of greenhouse gas emission stood at 4% in 2020, and is projected to rise to 14% in 2040.

Production and use of a new laptop and desktop emit about 350 kg and 800 kg of CO2 respectively. In 2019, only 17% out of 54 million metric tonnes of e-waste generated was properly recycled. The balance 83% was either dumped into landfills or incinerated. We owe humanity’s progress in the past century to technology, but it appears our soaring IT-related carbon footprint due to unsustainable consumption is holding us back. Is IT working for us, or against us?

Out of 54 million tonnes of e-waste generated in 2019, only 17% is recycled properly

With this in mind, there’s growing realisation that using the latest and greatest in IT is never necessary. Using remanufactured computers helps reduce as much as 75% carbon emission. At Rentwise, the balance 25% carbon is offset via our reforestation initiative, thereby allowing us to be recognised as the first carbon neutral computer in Malaysia.

As the world gears toward achieving Net Zero by 2050, decarbonisation in all sectors becomes a priority. To make this a reality, we need technology to fight climate change. Today, organisations are not only under increasing threat from business-disrupting weather patterns but also from punitive government policies that limit their business opportunities and growth if decarbonisation is not observed.

IT is an indispensable tool that plays a central role in running any business today. Therefore, it is only logical that a sound carbon reduction strategy begins with using remanufactured computers. Essentially, using remanufactured computers by Rentwise is the first step towards improving an organisation’s ESG profile.

Using Rentwise’s remanufactured computers is the quickest, simplest and most cost-effective way to improve an organization’s ESG profile

Founded in 2001, Rentwise’s circular business model has served more than 200 medium to large corporations in Malaysia and Singapore. A pioneer remanufacturer of IT equipment in Malaysia, Rentwise has to date reduced over 280 million kg of CO2 emission from more than 378,000 used computers repurposed. As an award winning, accredited and leading independent lessor for end-to-end green IT infrastructure, we take great pride in our strict 16-step remanufacturing process. This process has enabled us to extend the use of a PC by up to 3 cycles, thereby maintaining product utility at its highest value over an average lifespan of 10 years.

As a registered social enterprise and signatory member of the United Nations Global Compact, aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4, 12, 13 & 17, Rentwise is especially committed to providing equitable access to digital learning among underprivileged school children. Our digital learning empowerment program has seen more than 100 schools with over 31,000 students benefitting from donated remanufactured computers in a joint collaborative effort with our project partners, many of whom are also our clients. This is timely especially in light of the pandemic where remote learning has become the norm.

We owe it to our future generation to do better. Green IT represents the power to control and pivot towards a sustainable future and achieve our best.

Let us help you become the ground zero for change towards net zero.

Together, let’s seek to ensure sustainable computing for a sustainable planet.

References:

1. https://www.un.org/en/desa/world-population-projected-reach-98-billion-2050-and-112-billion-2100
2. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/03/extreme-climate-change-history/617793/
3. https://www.greencarcongress.com/2018/03/20180306-mcmaster.html
4. https://www.dell.com/en-th/dt/corporate/social-impact/advancing-sustainability/sustainable-products-and-services/product-carbon-footprints.htm#tab0=0
5. https://css.umich.edu/factsheets/green-IT-factsheet
6. https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/compliance/eco-declaration/

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1. How to keep your business resilient
2. Disruption or Continuity
3. Better be safe than sorry

The buzz word is “the new norm”. Mankind is still learning to maneuver and adapt around the course the COVID-19 pandemic has left in its trail. Amid this upheaval, many have made abrupt shift to working from home. So, is that enough? It is not just the matter of uprooting from office to home. The shift is massive and consequential with major considerations from policies and processes that need to be attended to.

THE VULNERABILITIES:

• IT management
  • Availability of tools for IT teams who work remotely to provide secure and sufficient access to employees working from home.
  • The complexity in organizing the multiple managed and unmanaged devices, to mitigate problems swiftly to the wide spread of remote employees so that it does not affect their operations and the employees.
  • Ensuring assess mechanisms for connectivity – video conferencing etc.
  • Audit, pack and delivery to Work from Home users for IMACD process are likely to have non-compliance issues for service level as well as being costly for internal effort vs outsource.
• Data Security
  • It is noted the cybercriminals take full advantage of this scenario. According to a survey commissioned by Barracuda and conducted by Censuswide from 1000 business decision-makers in the US, UK, France and Germany, 51% of them have seen an increase in email phishing attacks since shifting to a remote working model. 51% also feel their workforce is not proficient or adequately trained in cyber risks associated with remote working. These are red flags to data protection. ¹
• Back Up
  • Ensuring reliable data backup and recovery plan to manage any disasters or unexpected situation. When employees work remotely, they will usually use laptops or mobile devices to access, update or change business-critical data. However, many companies do not implement a backup system on mobile devices, meaning that remote employees often have problems syncing data automatically to their organization file servers from their laptops which may result in further disruption to the business activities.
  • If an outage of online services occurs, your cloud provider may not be liable for any disruption or loss. Even Microsoft recommends the following in its user agreement,
  • “In the event of an outage, you may not be able to retrieve Your Content or Data that you’ve stored. We recommend that you regularly backup Your Content and Data that you store on the Services or store using Third-Party Apps and Services.”¹

https://datastorageasean.com/blogs/why-backup-essential-remote-working

• Recovery Strategies
  • It is critically important to have a robust backup that companies can fall back on when the worst does happen. It not only allows you to avoid paying huge ransomware fees but also gives you the peace of mind that your business data is always available to you, ensuring business continuity. ¹
  • With so much data being generated in so many places, your backup and disaster recovery (DR) solution should also execute frequent backups from your employees’ devices—every few minutes at a minimum—to the user’s local external drive, your corporate network, or to the Cloud. That way your users can quickly recover critical lost data. And that’s why you need a backup and disaster recovery solution that goes further in the WFH era. ²

https://blog.storagecraft.com/rethinking-your-data-backup-and-recovery-strategies-in-the-work-from-home-era/https://datastorageasean.com/blogs/why-backup-essential-remote-working

THE SOLUTION:

One of the biggest advantages of cloud-based compared to on-premises backup is that the cloud is lighter-weight to get up and running and to maintain for IT personnel.

That’s very important, considering that over 90% of IT employees are currently working from home, according to the IT professionals surveyed for Evaluator Group’s recent study, “Enterprise IT Responds to COVID-19.”

Backups play a critical role here in providing available recovery points, including in the cloud, where malware and other issues can quickly replicate across sites and resources.³

https://searchdatabackup.techtarget.com/tip/How-cloud-backup-can-help-remote-workers

DaytaPol, The Future of Cloud Storage

DaytaPol Cloud Backup Solution allows you to secure all your critical data with military-grade encryption. Be it office users or remote users, all user data located on computers, mobile devices, external drives, servers, network devices and services like Dropbox, can be imported into DaytaPol for safe keeping and discovery.

With the automatic protection feature, backup is easy with DaytaPol. DaytaPol automatically uploads all data from the selected computers and servers. The technology also allows you to discover your big data just like a search engine – quick and secure. In just a few clicks, you can get relevant results in near-real time, meaning you can focus on your business.

Besides, DaytaPol cloud backup solution comes with a centralized administration console, where you can deploy, configure, grant access, audit and restore data to users all without having to leave your seat. Talk to our sales personnel today via our business hotline: 1800-22-2088 to find out how DaytaPol can help protect your business data.

https://www.daytapol.com/

Reference:

¹ https://datastorageasean.com/blogs/why-backup-essential-remote-working
² https://blog.storagecraft.com/rethinking-your-data-backup-and-recovery-strategies-in-the-work-from-home-era/
³ https://searchdatabackup.techtarget.com/tip/How-cloud-backup-can-help-remote-workers

The post Better be safe than sorry appeared first on Rentwise.

Software piracy is defined as an act of illegally copying or distributing software without being the rightful owner or having legal rights. Thus, if you are copying or sharing software to multiple computers or multiple individuals without having the proper multiple licensing, it is considered piracy.¹

What you need to know:

1. Repercussions Of Fines Or Imprisonment Or Both

Software piracy is considered as cybercrime and theft and it is a felony. Under the Copyright Act 1987, those found guilty of using unlicensed software could be fined up to RM20,000 for each illegal copy of software while senior managers of a company could be imprisoned for up to five years.  As reported in The Star on 25^th Feb 2020, Malaysia has an unlicensed software rate of 51%. Globally, you will hear people who illegally download software and content online use the same excuses: the prices for the original software is too expensive, downloading pirated versions is so much easier². However, it is still deemed unethical.

2. Viruses and Potential Malware Attacks

Some of the common risks you are exposed to when using unlicensed software include credit card and banking info theft, identity theft, ransomware ( being locked out of your system until you pay the ransom), ad fraud and even risk the quality of your work being compromised. In actuality, individuals that visit piracy sites or download unlicensed software are almost 50% more likely to suffer from malware attacks on their devices or networks. You can expect random crashes while you’re working, not being able to save, and even, corrupted files after you’re done. Once your operating system is compromised, everything, literally everything is compromised!³

Microsoft has stopped support for Win 7 a year back. PCs’ running on Win 7 or older window systems are defenseless to ransomware attacks such as WannaCry, Petya which have effected more than 200,000 computers across 150 countries with damages ranging from hundreds of millions to billions of dollars.⁴

According to BSA-GSS Report, each malware attack can cost a company up to $2.4 mil and can take up to 50 days to resolve.  Think about the business losses – downtime, loss of data, your brand and reputation. As report, IDC estimates companies taking the pragmatic steps to improve their software management can boost their bottom line as much as 11%.⁵

3. No Updates For Your Software

With unlicensed and pirated software installed on your devices, you may find you will not be able to do the constant updating of the software. Over time, it becomes susceptible to bugs and other malware attacks. Because a pirate program is cracked by illegitimate individuals after certain updates, the software fails to download the legitimate updates for the actual software developer, thus, leaving your devices and networks vulnerable.

Those with legitimate software are worry free as software developers provide constant updates to counter the problem and leave crackers a step behind.⁶

4. Refurbished or New PCs

It is to the user’s advantage and peace of mind to install licensed software when acquiring new or refurbished PCs. However, many assume that these PCs are with licensed software.  Another misconception is that refurbished PCs that had been data wiped retains its licenses.  Do you know that the license is only valid for the original user?⁷

References:

¹https://codecondo.com/5-dangers-of-using-pirated-software-in-emerging-businesses/)
²https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/03/ministry-raids-companies-for-using-unlicensed-software/
³https://vulcanpost.com/652744/pirated-softwares-danger-costs/
⁴https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WannaCry_ransomware_attack
⁵https://gss.bsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2018_BSA_GSS_Report_en.pdf/https
⁶https://vulcanpost.com/652744/pirated-softwares-danger-costs/
⁷https://www.msregrefurb.com/RRPSite/Information/LicensingGuide/LicensingGuide_en.pdf
⁸https://gss.bsa.org/

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We are responsible and are witnesses to the destruction and deterioration of the environment. Before conditions become irreversible and irreparable, being a social enterprise, Rentwise adopted the agenda of Digital 2030 as a call to action to drive transformation towards eradicating poverty, quality education, protecting the planet, just to name a few. Digital technology is the critical tool and a bridge that connects the world, to accelerate momentum and to achieve the same goals for a sustainable environment.¹ Technology is evolving continuously. One of the better option of technology that has emerged is the process of remanufacturing.

To reduce IT carbon footprint in Malaysia.

Not many realise that manufacturing of IT desktop and laptop PCs are one of the contributing factors to environmental issues. It has been calculated that the manufacturing of a new computer and monitor requires an approximate 240kg of fossil fuel, 21.8 kg of chemicals and 1.5 tonnes of water (natural resources angle) which is adding to greenhouse gas emissions.²

The current state of the environment is at an alarming stage with the increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions, loss of habitats, depletion of natural resources that is resulting in global warming (incl. Basel Convention:- “ratify to reduce national carbon footprint by 45% by 2030”). Carbon footprint of a newly manufactured laptop and desktop emits 350kg CO2 and 800kg CO2 respectively. Figuratively, 15 laptops generate as much CO2 of a mid-sized car. ³ In 2019, over 2.34 million PCs were shipped to Malaysia of which over 1 million tonnes of e-waste was recorded. We will see a rise in damages which maybe irreversible, in the years to come unless we relook into avenues to decrease such effects with immediate effect.

Remonetise used PCs to reduce cost of ownership and encourage change out at year 4.

With the explosion of new equipment been manufactured worldwide, the market is flooded with used desktop and laptop PCs as the need arises to refresh and upgrade them. Used equipment can be remanufactured to perform as well as its succeeding model. In this context, corporates who normally refresh their equipment after 3-4 years usage are able to monetise on their used equipment through a trusted IT disposition partner to ensure the by-products are ethically disposed.

The emergence of remanufacturing industries will not only give rise to special skilled labour force but, as a sustainable solution that preserves the environment and at the same time, gives cost efficiencies to the user. At that juncture too, a percentage of used computers can be donated for CSR purposes. These donated PCs can be repurposed for usage in schools benefitting thousands of school children in their ICT studies.

To have all SMEs in Malaysia adopt a new-remanufactured hybrid model.

Many businesses have been re-evaluating their processes, cash flow and staff management post Covid-19. Common office workers’ environment only requires productivity applications hence the need for latest/greatest is not warranted. From experience, >80% falls into such type.

An ideal situation is to encourage SMEs adopt remanufactured desktops and laptops pc (which looks and performs like new). These remanufactured equipment are business grade class which is durable and reliable, can be packaged with an end to end solution which includes a minimum of 3 year warranty, software solutions and support services. In essence, a better option as oppose to new non-business grade PCs should affordability be a critical decision-making factor.

To equip all schools with IT infrastructure.

With the latest Malaysian Education Blueprint (2013-2025), the focus is on quality education. ICT integration will enhance and accelerate collaborative learning skills, developing transversal skills that stimulate critical thinking, problem solving and maximise the students’ abilities in active learning and hands-on activities. These are core values that the students need to achieve in an active teaching and learning environment.⁴

The criteria to a successful implementation of an ICT environment is, the infrastructure, the supply of computers and connectivity in all schools throughout the country. Schools in urban areas enjoy such facilities, however, not all. Moreover, the student-computer ratio is high. Many of the computers and infrastructure sponsored during the initial implementation of this programme has seen better days. To obtain replacements or an upgrade to the IT infrastructure such as bandwidth and even technical assistance, is the main challenge. The situation in the rural areas is beyond comprehension with the very basic or outdated or none at all.

Remanufactured desktop and laptop PCs are an inexpensive solution attached with warranty and support would suffice for another 2 cycles (1 cycle is equivalent to approximately 3 years of usage), at the least, without compromising its quality or technology, thus ensuring the future generation acquire the fundamental ICT skills. This process of reusing will result in one of the ways to reducing the ever increasing carbon footprint.

References:

¹https://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/going-digital-with-purpose-to-achieve-climate-goals-and-2030-agenda/
²https://www.itpro.co.uk/green-it/28423/how-the-tech-industry-is-becoming-more-environmentally-friendly
³https://www.cnet.com/news/curbing-the-co2-that-comes-from-pc-use/
⁴https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Effectiveness-of-ICT-Integration-in-Malaysian-A-Simin-Sani/2e781031750284c3b7cdfc3fd5623d9d8465efad

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We commemorate World Environment Day today.

The planet has undergone many phases of destruction, contamination and pollution, resulting in the rise in CO2, leading to a drastic global warming. A change in mind set is imperative. The earth is sick. We as guardians of this planet, for the generations to come, need to be consciously committed towards conservation and to be innovative in how we can reuse, recycle and remanufacture what we have in hand before it is beyond our control.

¹Extracted from Wikipedia, remanufacturing is the rebuilding of a product to specifications of the original manufactured product using a combination of reused, repaired and new parts. It is a form of product recovery process that differs from other recovery processes in its completeness. A remanufactured machine should match the same as a new machine. In layman’s term, remanufacturing is overhauling or rebuilding of a product. It is a GREEN process – keeping hazardous products out of landfill for a much longer period.

Remanufacturing has been in place long before the word was coined. The automotive industry for example, where spare parts and components were a major focus of the remanufacturing activities. Likewise, with the IT industry.

It is a known fact and now practiced worldwide, that remanufacturing is a catalyst to a cleaner environment. A newly manufactured desktop computer and monitor uses an approximate 250kg of fossil fuel, 21.8 kg of chemicals and 1.5 tonnes of water (natural resources angle). IT equipment alone accounts for 9% of all energy consumed by businesses. This is the 3rd largest source of power for the commercial sector². Remanufacturing preserves much of the original product thus reducing the consumption of raw materials and CO2 emissions. Carbon footprint of a newly manufactured laptop/desktop emits 350kg CO2 and 800kg CO2 respectively³. Figuratively, 15 laptops generate as much CO2 of a mid-sized car. In 2019, Malaysia alone shipped in 2.34 million PCs!!

Remanufacturing also creates a large pool of opportunities especially for employment. As new machines are mainly manufactured overseas, it provides the local community, the industrial problem solving skill knowledge as opposed to production skill sets and the art of manufacturing processes. It is a process of dismantling, repairing, rebuilding, rigorous testing and inspection before it is rolled out to the customers. This then is an ideal way to train and re-skill new labour force in the industry. This is a holistic and a complete process, where customers’ expectation of a used product’s performance is the same as if it were brand new and to look like new as well. Warranties for remanufactured products may or may not differ from the original supplier thus reiterating that quality is not compromised⁴.

At the same time, the process of remanufacturing reduces cost benefitting the consumers. Typically, a remanufactured equipment is less than 50% the cost of new equipment. This saving is derived from the recovery of materials and energy consumption of the product. Besides the significant cost factor, remanufactured computers comes with support and services, giving you the assurance of low downtime.

Remanufacturing will be the “new norm” for many industries going forwards. Citizens of the earth are more educated and informed and are becoming more accountable towards environmental issues that is currently affecting the eco system and the climate.

Plants and animal species are facing extinction, pollution of our waters and land has increased. Habitats are lost due to mining of raw materials, landfills with toxic waste and the increase of the sea level due to global warming that is melting the ice sheets. Economy suffers as we are not able to reap the once available bounties of nature.

All in all, in essence, remanufacturing can help reverse the worsening effects of the eco-system and global warming.

References:

¹ Wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remanufacturing
² Study : http://archive.unu.edu/update/archive/issue31_5.htm
³ https://i.dell.com/sites/content/corporate/corp-comm/en/Documents/dell-laptop-carbon-footprint-whitepaper.pdf
⁴ http://www.remanufacturing.org.uk/reasons-to-remanufacture.php

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An effective IT Asset Management (“ITAM”) programme uses a systematic approach to focus on managing cost, increasing agility and reducing compliance risks associated with software audits. According to Gartner, a successful execution of ITAM as a discipline, typically achieves 30% cost savings in the first year and at least 5% cost savings in each of the subsequent five years.

What is IT Asset Management?

According to the International Association of IT Asset Managers (“IAITAM”),
“ITAM is a set of business practices that incorporates IT assets across the business units within the organisation. It joins the financial, inventory, contractual and risk management responsibilities to manage the overall life cycle of these assets including tactical and strategic decision making”

IT Assets not only includes the hardware, but also the software that are found in the business environment.

Building a Successful ITAM Programme

It is clear that businesses today cannot function without IT assets – inclusive of hardware, software, network and other technologies – supporting business operations. These assets are not only numerous, but they are also expensive to acquire, configure and maintain. With IT equipment frequently replaced due to the rapid advancement of technology, it’s important that these large numbers of constantly churning, costly assets are effectively managed from beginning to the end, to achieve the highest possible return on investment (“ROI”)
For any organisation planning to embark on an ITAM programme, Gartner Inc. provides some guidance. According to Gartner, there are 4 components to a successful IT asset management programme;

Effective IT Asset management addresses the entire lifecycle of the asset. Most businesses mistakenly believe that IT lifecycle management begins upon receiving the assets and ends when the asset is no longer operational. However, the cycle actually commences during the requisition phase and ends at the disposition/disposal phase. It is important to realise that disposition is not disposal. The former is merely getting rid of the IT assets. The latter is the practice of executing the most efficient, secure, cost-effective and sustainable way to manage its end-of-life equipment.

Increasing benefits accrue as maturity level increases. All organisations start at a low to modest level of ITAM maturity. However, organisations progress towards increasing maturity as a result of (i) process improvement through the adoption of industry best practices, and (ii) adoption of tools that support every process in each phase of the lifecycle.

Adopt good practices which are designed to achieve specific goals and objectives while taking into account corporate policies, standards and procedures. Good practices are modelled on established and proven industry practices.

Using proven tools, build 4 core capabilities to deliver an effective IT asset management programme. Firstly, you need an ITAM repository which serves as the central store for the required financial, contractual and physical data. Secondly, a hardware and software inventory and usage information system to support ITAM processes such as receiving and assigning inventory. Thirdly, build tight integration with adjacent IT and business systems where data is reliant upon each other. Lastly, enable data import to provide capabilities of filtering and transforming source data to either create or update asset records in the repository.

Aligning ITAM Metrics with Business and IT Goals

The key prerequisite for the success of any ITAM programme is to map the priorities of your business to the value expected to be delivered through your ITAM discipline. This should be done for all core functional areas of your business. Gartner’s 2011 ITAM survey results underlined the important benefits expected of an ITAM programme.

It is not uncommon that organisations today are embarking on sustainability and/or green IT programmes. Many such programmes are narrowly focused on reducing the carbon footprint and environmental waste. However, there is a much wider spread of metrics to be considered. The table below highlights some examples of how you can look at ITAM metrics that convey progress towards sustainability goals.

Aligning your ITAM value metrics with critical business initiatives, will allow businesses to maximise the impact of results. The more tightly integrated ITAM practices are with key business goals and objectives, the more indispensable ITAM will undoubtedly be.
Rentwise assists organisations to manage their entire IT asset lifecycle from requisition to disposition. Talk to us to find out how we can help your IT asset management be more effective.

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The Advantages of Leasing Equipment for Your Business

One of the key decisions you have to make when running a business is whether you should buy or lease your IT equipment. With technology being a fast evolving industry – risking IT equipment obsolescence – leasing your IT equipment can be a better option compared to purchasing. Leasing provides a level of automation, flexibility and simplicity coupled with a strong IT asset management plan for customers that reduces total cost of ownership.

One of the first questions you should ask whenever you are considering to invest in an asset for your business is: “Do I really need to buy this?”

What is IT Equipment Leasing?

Each business is unique, and the decision to buy or lease business equipment must be made on a case-by-case basis. Even if a business has a healthy cash-flow, leasing can still be a better choice. Here are a number of benefits of leasing IT equipment which makes it a great option for many businesses.

IT equipment leasing allows business owners to rent IT equipment from a third-party leasing company for a specific period of time. The company would then have to make monthly payments for a predetermined number of months according to the agreed lease. At the end of the lease, the company must return the IT equipment, renew the lease, or purchase the equipment.

Leasing enables you to do more with less. Leasing stretches your available budget dollars so you can acquire more equipment and the latest technology on the market. Optimising your investment dollars this way enables you to lower your organisation’s overall cost of ownership while providing your employees with the tools they need to be efficient.

Leasing allows businesses to make regular monthly payments to use the IT equipment for a fixed term rather than paying a high upfront cost. This releases more money for the business to invest in other revenue generating initiatives. The assumption is that the company is expected to generate cash flows with this investment, hence increasing the present value of money.

The implementation of MFRS16 allows a lessee to claim tax deductions based on lease rental expenses. Where the lessee is deemed to have purchased the IT equipment, the lessee is eligible to claim interest expense as a deduction and capital allowances on the principal portion of the assets.

Leasing provides 100% financing on the equipment hardware and software you need. Service contracts, training, freight and installation charges are incorporated into the lease structure, reducing initial cash outlay.

When you lease a computer, you receive technical and maintenance support. Business owners who rely heavily on their computers may not have the time or the skills to troubleshoot if something goes wrong. If a computer is in need of service, the lessor covers the costs. This also makes it easier and cheaper to upgrade technology as leasing takes the maintenance responsibility off your hands.

When you lease a computer, you get the most up-to-date technology. The advantage to having updated equipment is that it often works faster and smarter. New hardware and software means your business avoid dealing with outdated technology which puts you at risk of malware and other online threats.

Cost is a major factor in sourcing assets and often businesses feel that they only have two options: either spend a fortune to buy it or go without it.

Want To Know More About Leasing?

Being sure about the decisions you’re making for your business can be tricky. You would want to be convinced you have considered all the angles and know the details of each option. When selecting a lessor, vet all aspects of the agreement including up-front negotiations, delivery, and installation; midterm support for upgrades; and end-of-lease return and disposal policies. Rentwise is a reliable and experienced lessor and data disposal specialist that provides a range of services and expertise to help ensure you get the absolute best out of your lease agreements. Our mixed approach of right-fit technology and effectively priced solutions will allow you to enjoy the best cost-effective services. Talk to us now and we’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

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