Data Center Decommissioning refers to the act of shutting down all your old end-of-life IT systems and replacing them with modern devices. A Data Center Decommission is a complex and time-consuming process. It takes several devices and many pieces of equipment to ensure safe decommissioning. And, it should be done while keeping federal and state regulations in mind so that you don’t end up violating any privacy or security standards in the process.
Ever since the public cloud launched, companies are getting a chance to reduce their overheads while making their IT management operations more efficient and systematic. With a majority of the workload moving to the cloud, decommissioning has become more of a necessity than an option.
Let’s take a closer look at the seven steps for a successful Data Center Decommission:
1.Initial Setup
The initial setup is about setting a budget, determining who will be involved in the project, and establishing a time frame for the project. Start with establishing the output you’d like to achieve from the decommissioning project. You must specify a complete scope of the project, including the deadline, disposition method, procedures, safety standards, and your goals.
2.Create an Inventory List
First things first, you must identify the inventory and create a list of all the hardware and software devices you have. If you know what you have on hand, it’s easier to execute the decommissioning plan accordingly.
You can try network discovery tools for a listing of all items. And so that you don’t miss out on any item, conduct a manual review as well. Gather the list of the assets, which includes firewalls, storage, HVAC equipment, and so on. If possible, try to recover as many assets as possible. Decide if you’d like to reuse or sell these systems and replace them completely or modify the existing ones.
3.Plan the Procedures
Once you have an inventory list, the next step is to plan the roles and responsibilities of each member and the procedure for executing the operation. Of course, you will want the process to be completed as soon as possible, as decommissioning often results in service downtime. Before you start the process, backup your data so that you don’t end up losing anything essential.
4.List the Tools You’ll Need for the Job
Create a list of the materials and workforce you will need to execute the decommission project as you’ve planned. This includes pallets, crates, packing foam, and other manual devices for a smooth decommissioning of hardware and software infrastructure. At this stage, you need to decide which packing material is perfect for the equipment you will remove, how many employees are needed for the job, and how much time the decommissioning will take.
5.Remove the Hardware
Before you begin, go over your inventory list and get the stakeholders involved in the project. Ask if everyone is clear about the process and if they understand the requirements properly. Before you disconnect the hardware, make sure the data has been backed up.
6.Pack and Clean up
Once each item has been disassembled successfully, you can start packing the equipment up to send to a recycling center or other location.
7.Coordination and Recovery Process
Check with your IT team to ensure that each device is disposed of properly. You also need to check if you have a certificate of data destruction for each item that was deemed not recoverable.
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