If you’re disposing of business IT equipment, one of the most important terms you need to understand is chain of custody.
In the world of IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), chain of custody refers to the documented path your devices take from pickup to final disposition. And without it, you’re exposing your organization to serious risk.
What Is Chain of Custody?
It’s a formal, step-by-step record showing:
- Who handled your devices
- When and where the handoffs occurred
- What was done to them (wiping, shredding, resale)
- Proof of final outcome (Certificate of Destruction)
This documentation ensures transparency, traceability, and accountability.
Why It Matters
Without a proper chain of custody:
- You have no proof of what happened to your devices
- Your business could fail a compliance audit
- Lost or mishandled equipment could lead to a data breach
This is especially critical for healthcare, finance, education, and government agencies.
What a Strong Chain of Custody Includes
At IITS, we provide:
- Serialized tracking for every asset
- Signed pickup records
- Photos of high-value items
- Certificates of Destruction for data-bearing devices
- Audit-ready reporting
Explore how our process works.
Don’t Assume. Verify.
Some ITAD vendors skip this step entirely. But if you’re serious about compliance and data protection, chain of custody isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Talk to IITS about setting up an ITAD process that gives you full visibility from start to finish.
