Highlights:
• Certifications are third-party endorsements that verify requirements have been met.
• Enterprises need to consider if they want a security, environmental, or other certification that meets their needs.
• Certification applies more on the supply side than outbound resale/recycling of ITADs.
• ITAM and NAID both offer education certifications and an end-user certification respectively.
Rike’s Assesment:
Certifications are an endorsement or a verification that you’re following certain requirements, rules that we’re trying to follow. And so, the certification is typically a third-party endorsement or review of your practices. Enterprises need to consider whether they are looking for a data security-related certification or a or an environmental certification or other areas that meet their internal needs. But most of these certifications are really focused on the supply side. It’s the sources of equipment, that is the enterprises, the OEM, etc., that are looking at ITAD firms and want to know that the equipment they’re providing is being handled properly. On the outbound side, the resale of equipment from ITADs or the recycling of equipment, downstream producing commodities, the certifications apply there, but just marginally not to the same degree as it’s focused on by the sources of equipment, who have the greatest risk associated with their businesses. I saw both ITAD businesses, as well as end-user enterprises, that have sought credentials or certifications for their own personal capabilities. And so, the ITAM organization (International Association of IT Asset Managers) has a number of education certification programs around ITAD and ITAM, the management side of things, they’ve got variations available and so that’s a great program, which I highly advocate. NAID, the National Association of Information Destruction, also has an end-user certification. It’s mainly geared towards people that are destroying data. But it is a good credential for an enterprise end-user to consider.