Millions of electronic devices handed back to employers during pandemic
Some 4.5 million electronic devices have been handed back to employers as people have been made redundant. This is according to new research from DSA Connect, an IT asset disposal company which specialises in the permanent deletion and destruction of electronic data.
Its research reveals that of those people who have been made redundant or furloughed since the COVID-19 crisis started, 26% have had to give back electronic devices to work. In 50% of cases, they said that these devices had personal information on them including their bank and credit card details, personal passwords, and photos.
With England in a new lockdown and more staff being furloughed or made redundant, the number of devices returned to employers is set to increase further.
Harry Benham, Chairman of DSA Connect said: “There is a mountain of electronic devices that have been returned to employers due to staff being made redundant or furloughed during the crisis. Employers should be looking to clean these devices professionally, ensuring that all data is wiped from them so that they can be reused by staff or sold. Sadly, in too many cases this is not done properly, and new users inadvertently find themselves able to access confidential data they shouldn’t be seeing.”
DSA Connect provides a secure IT asset disposal service utilising a methodology created in partnership with the Ministry of Defence. Its IT end-of-life service allows for the complete removal and data eradication from IT equipment and electronic devices by using tools certified by CESG and approved by the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Also, depending on the quantity and type of equipment for disposal, DSA Connect offers a rebate of up to 60% on all re-saleable assets.
