Author: ironcore

This year, Earth Day is April 22, and people will celebrate by participating in ways to be better stewards of the earth. At Securis, we love Earth Day and are driven to do our part to protect the environment – not just in April, but every day of the year. Our commitment to reusing every component of an obsolete machine, recycling old electronics, and avoiding landfills is part of what drives our business. Holding an electronics recycling event with Securis is a win-win for the organization and for the planet.

A special thank you to the following clients who are holding electronics recycling events in celebration of Earth Day:

• Republic Services and Brambleton Community Association Republic
• Republic Services and South Riding Community Association
• City of Laurel, MD
• City of College Park
• BOWA
• Manassas
• Chantilly
• Loudoun County
• Arlington County
• Penzance (4 locations)
• Simpli (2 locations)
• Henrico County

According to our commitment to Environmental Responsibility, “it is the responsibility of all companies, organizations, and individuals to reduce the scope of both their professional and personal carbon footprints.” We are committed to working with companies to reduce their carbon footprint with our “No Landfill Guarantee,” which promises that electronics at the end of their lifecycle with being recycled rather than thrown away. It is the sound choice, as it prevents dangerous and toxic chemicals from seeping into the soil and groundwater. 

It is also a smart choice. Every piece of recycled electronic equipment has the potential to earn money. Every time Securis hosts an electronic recycling event, hundreds of machines are handed in and thousands of dollars go into people’s pockets. Caring for the environment should always be this easy!

Just a small part of what we collect every month at our electronic recycling events throughout Virginia and North Carolina. Now imagine all of this sitting in a landfill unused for thousands of years.

Electronic recycling is the very definition of a virtuous cycle: a piece of recycled equipment is recycled rather than trashed. The organization recycling the electronics gets money back. The electronic components are repurposed, reused, or resold, bringing down costs of new machines. Many of the electronic components that are recycled means that less of the material needs to be mined out of the earth, which further helps protect the planet. The more often this continues, the more beneficial it is for everyone.

When working with Securis, organizations are guaranteed the Securis Environmental Promise:

• Securis will not export any electronics to developing countries and continents like China, India, and Africa to stay compliant with Basel Action Network (BAN)
• Securis will commit to doing all it can to recycle 100% of everything it receives
• Securis will do everything it can to protect customer information
• Securis will serve the community through outreach, charitable acts, and selfless service
• Securis will continually look for ways to improve e-waste recycling efficiency
• Securis will remain in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws

Earth Day tends to coincide with that other annual right of passage: spring cleaning. What better way to clean out your company’s old IT closest than partnering with a leader in e-waste and electronics recycling? When you do, you’re helping your business, and more importantly, helping the environment.

Securis is a strong believer in our Core Values and this week, one was put to the test. There was a large power outage in the area, and the warehouse was too dark for the disassembly team to see all of the pieces and parts required to securely remove hard drives and other data-containing devices.

Rather than giving up on the day’s project list of data security and electronics recycling, the team moved their work areas to where it was more well lit.

Securis’s core value innovation is truly at work here!

 

 

Securis is Hiring!

Interested in joining a fun, innovative team where management is dedicated to every employee’s work-life balance, having fun, and making a difference in the environment? View our open positions today and join us! Work for Securis!

Securis’ Core Values:

1. Helps First – Put the team first
2. Fun- Have the right attitude and stay positive
3. Hungry – Have big goals and want to conquer the world
4. Humbly Confident – Be humble, but be confident also
5. Work-Life Harmony – Both are important but must be in balance
6. Coachable- Always be learning
7. Innovative – Nothing’s carved in stone, Question everything, Look for new ways.

The Hampton Roads region of Virginia is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the largest navy base in the world. It’s also home to many other military installations and support businesses. Securis is committed to serving its community in the most professional way possible. When the military needs to destroy sensitive information on retired IT assets, they turn to Securis’ Norfolk.

Securis works with the military to ensure that DoD and NSA standards are used when a data erasure job is performed. Securis has been called on to destroy both unclassified and classified top-secret material for the military.

“We’re honored to work with the military to meet their specific requirements,” Al Jenik, owner of Securis Hampton Roads says. “Clearly, the stakes are higher when it’s data and material that the military needs destroyed. Job after job, we’ve built great relationships with our Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard partners. We’re proud to meet their data sanitization standards.”

When it comes to data erasure for the military, there must be a strict chain of custody process. Each disk, solid-state drive, and other storage media devices must be accounted for during every step of the project.

 

On-Site Data Destruction

“We go on-site for our data erasure jobs for the military. That way, they can observe the data erasure processes and confirm that everything is destroyed to DoD standards,” says Jenik. This is done through degaussing, shredding, and microshredding, or a combination of them.

Data erasure for the military is necessary for classified storage devices and drives. “There are also some large or unusual electronic devices that occasionally need to be destroyed. We work with our military customers to find creative ways to protect the data on every type of electronic device.”

Securis has also worked with NAS Oceana Dam Neck Annex, Joint Base Little Creek, Langley Air Force Base, and Ft. Eustis Army Base. “Everyone knows about the rivalry between the Army and the Navy,” Jenik says. “Luckily they agree that working with Securis is a no-brainer.”

This post is NOT an attempt to bash or knock Best Buy.  We like the company and think they’re a good retailer. However, when it comes to computer recycling, We don’t think a person or a company should use them for computer recycling. 

Here are my top five reasons to reconsider using Best Buy to recycle your computers:

They are Not a Computer Recycling Company

This one is obvious. Best Buy is a national retailer of electronics and household appliances. They began offering computer recycling services as a business strategy. They figure if they can get you to bring in an old monitor, you might buy a new one. It’s a nice service to offer.

Computer recycling services for consumers and small generators are fairly limited, and they fill an easy need. With that said, consider the fact that Best Buy won’t actually recycle your electronics. They’re going to load them into a truck and drive them back to a distribution center where they will then be driven somewhere else. It’s a lot of driving and while you think you’re doing good for the environment, all those diesel trucks driving your old monitor around are causing damage.

Best Buy Computer Recycling isn’t Consistently Offered

In March of 2020, Best Buy halted its electronics recycling program.  While you can chalk this up to the COVID-19 pandemic, it says a lot about how dedicated they are to this service. You’re also required to bring your items to their store. If your item is large, this could be difficult.  This isn’t a part of Best Buy’s main business model.

Data Security is a Big Concern

If you’re taking a TV or an old monitor to them, this isn’t as big of a deal, but if you’re taking an electronic item that holds sensitive data, such as a smartphone, computer, laptop, or tablet, you should think twice. Best Buy does NOT remove data.

Dropping off your hardware that contains sensitive data is like dropping it off at your local playground with a sign that says “Take My Info.” They offer solutions to remove the data but only for Windows computers and nothing else. Their webpage basically shows you how to do it yourself before showing up. Bottom line, this is a huge mistake and we advise people to think long and hard about doing this.

Support Small Business

While Best Buy offers this service, so do hundreds of small electronics recyclers across the country. All of them are much smaller than Best Buy. Small businesses always need more, and a great way to support them is by recycling your computers with them rather than with Best Buy. If your county or municipality offers electronics recycling services, use them. They undoubtedly use a local electronics recycling company.

Best Buy is a huge publicly traded electronics retailer. They don’t need your electronics recycling business.

They are Not a Certified Recycling Program

The electronics recycling industry has several certifications widely accepted as the standard, R2, and E-Stewards.  Most reputable companies in our industry have one of them. Securis is certified to R2 and NAID AAA. The industry also has NAID AAA certification. This certification deals mostly with data destruction. 

Best Buy carries none of these certifications. The industry has these certifications for a reason, and Best Buy has chosen not to certify to these very high standards.

As previously stated, this article is not an attempt to bash or put down Best Buy, but rather an attempt to give you reasons to think about whether it’s a good idea to use them for electronics recycling. We’ve outlined five very good reasons that using them for this service might not be the best idea. If you want to buy a massive big screen TV, we think they are a great option. 

Read our blog post to learn how to securely recycle electronics while helping others!

Sometimes, a standard shredder isn’t enough. For highly sensitive information, especially on smaller devices such as solid-state drives (SSD) and cell phones, it’s recommended that data is shredded using a micro-shredder.

For the most sensitive jobs, the material must be run through a micro-shredder that has been evaluated and verified by the National Security Agency (NSA). NSA-certified shredders have been reviewed, extensively tested, and approved by the NSA to ensure that SSD and phone particle shredded size is less than 2mm – the width of an uncooked spaghetti noodle.

Why Shred SSDs and Cell Phones to the NSA Recommended Particle Size?

There are a number of reasons. They all come back to the overarching need for data security and verification of destruction. It’s next to impossible to retrieve any useful information from such small components.

Shredding to the 2mm NSA standard means that sensitive data stored on solid-state drives and cell phones – be it corporate financial information, medical records, and even state secrets – is not able to be recovered. The 2mm size is necessary for solid-state drive destruction.

“Having an NSA-approved micro-shredder is really getting the agency’s seal of approval,” says Dan Mattock, Securis’ Vice President of Sales. “Some jobs require total destruction of their assets. For those jobs, we can offer either degaussing of magnetic drives – which erases and renders the drives useless – and shredding solid-state drives to the 2mm NSA standard. Both of these processes ensure total destruction of information and data.”

Given that Securis has the option to securely shred SSDs down to the NSA standard, the question arises as to whether or not this type of secure shredding is necessary for other businesses, as well. The answer is yes. There are tremendous benefits of shredding data on SSDs and cell phones down to the NSA standard for particle size. This holds true for government entities, banks, healthcare organizations, and technology companies.

 

 

“There is no better method of data destruction,” says Mattock. “We read all the time about data breaches and the damage they cause. Micro shredding to the NSA-approved size ensures that all information is eliminated completely. This means everything from customer data to business strategic plans and competitive analyses are destroyed and cannot fall into the wrong hands. It’s peace of mind that the highest standards of data destruction possible are adhered to.”

What it Means to be Certified for Data Destruction by the NSA

To obtain an NSA certification, a shredder must be verified to shred to the 2mm size. The shred particle size for SSD needs to be 2mm. Random samples are examined under a microscope by a team of NSA analysts. The examination team then needs to certify that the shredded components are rendered totally inoperable.

Other tests are run based on the latest hard drives, as well as the safety and security of both the machine and the shredded assets. Only if a shredder passes all of these inspections will it be considered certified by the NSA, granting the machine a seal of approval by a panel of third-party experts.

“NSA-certified shredders are like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for SSD destruction,” Mattock explains. “We are able to give our customers peace of mind that we are remediating their data to the highest, most exacting standards in the industry. That is why so many businesses across so many different industries team up with us for their data and asset destruction.”

Curious about phone and SSD destruction? Call Securis today for a free quote.

When it comes e-waste asset management, the chain of custody tracks where each asset is throughout the process. According to ITAssetManagement.net, the chain-of-custody is evidence that an ITAD vendor has physical possession of an IT asset. Suppose e-waste is found in a dump or sold on eBay with data. Chain of custody means that the vendor is accountable.

Securis understands the need for transparency for the entire lifecycle of a business’ e-waste. As a result, it has developed the leading chain of custody process for e-waste management. It ensures visibility into the disposal, destruction, and recycling of every asset included in a job.

Securis’ IT asset management chain of custody process:

• All electronics are inventoried by serial number. If there is no serial number or barcode, units are tagged with a proprietary Securis asset tag for easy identification and tracking.
• Data is destroyed in complete compliance with NSA and DOD standards, HIPAA, FACTA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and other compliance measures.
• Additional security protocols such as degaussing can be used.
• Corporate identifying information is removed from all electronics. Processing includes data anonymization to prevent a link between audit reports and specific destroyed hard drives.
• Materials are shredded using one of Securis’ industrial hard drive shredders. The material can be shredded down to 2mm particles.
• Securis clients receive an audit-ready IT inventory list.
• Clients are given a signed Certificate of Data Destruction. This Certificate is a nationally recognized legal document.
• Securis employees undergo extensive background checks and are U.S. citizens. Each must sign non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements. All participate in ongoing training on security procedures.
• Securis’ facilities are subject to constant monitoring and protection.
• Every Securis vehicle is equipped with the latest in GPS tracking and intrusion protection reinforcement.

Securis follows its stringent chain of custody protocols at all of its secure locations. Securis can also securely destroy assets on-site while you witness the destruction.

Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, many health care organizations have been pushed to the brink. They’re at capacity and low on essential supplies. And yet, those who work in healthcare continue to perform their heroic work saving lives.

While healthcare organizations continue to serve the public during this crisis, Securis is proud to work with many of these organizations, ensuring that they’re able to destroy sensitive data housed on their hard drives and other equipment. This helps keep them in compliance with HIPPA guidelines and gives peace of mind that data cannot be leaked due to Securis’ stringent destruction standards.

“Some of our best relationships are with healthcare organizations up and down the mid-Atlantic,” says Dan Mattock, Securis’ EVP of Sales and Marketing. “They know that we will securely, discreetly, and effectively destroy their old technology and data assets in a way that is unparalleled in the industry. We are well-aware of the value and sensitivity surrounding the types of data healthcare organizations need to access daily. More importantly, we know how to effectively dispose of that data so it can’t be hacked or leaked while maintaining their compliance with all relevant privacy laws.”

Securis is an essential business service for healthcare. Simply put, they need a trusted partner that not only meets – but exceeds – data destruction standards.

“There’s no shortage of businesses out there that will talk a big game to win your business but are lacking in either the chain of custody or in particle shred size,” says Mattock. “We are different. We give our partners visibility into what’s being destructed and how. We maintain a rigorous audit trail. We have the ability to degauss hard drives and can shred to a stringent NSA standard. That’s why so many healthcare companies see us as a trusted partner to secure their data.”

With COVID still top-of-mind, many healthcare providers face an influx of data due to the increase in testing, vaccinations, and routine visits. It is because of this reality that more organizations are seeing data destruction as an essential service.

“Let’s face it,” explains Mattock. “If someone makes an appointment for a COVID test, they don’t want that information to fall into the wrong hands. Patients assume that that information will be safe and secure. Too often, it isn’t. With Securis, you can rest assured that this type of data is fully erased and hard drives are thoroughly destroyed.”

Securis recently partnered with Loudoun County, VA to run their county-wide e-waste recycling and shredding event. Despite the cold, windy weather, the event was a massive success – one that Securis hopes can be a model for similar municipal events in the future. Securis staff professionally managed the steady crowd of almost 1,000 cars to ensure that everybody was able to participate.

“While we have done e-waste recycling and hard drive shredding events in the past, we’ve never done one on the same scale as the Loudoun County event,” said Jeremy Farber, Securis’ Founder and President. “Everyone was in a good mood – staff and participants alike – and we were able to keep the average wait time to 35 minutes or less, despite the extra safety protocols we put in place because of COVID.”

Despite the continuing pandemic and disagreeable weather, a total of 950 cars came through the drop-off site turning in over 60,000 pounds of e-waste material. Additionally, more than 200 hard drives were shredded during the daylong event.

“The event was better than we could have hoped for,” said Farber. “Around the holidays, folks try to declutter their homes. That’s even more true this year with everyone stuck at home. The event gave people the opportunity to get rid of all their old technology components without having them end up in a landfill. What’s more, we were able to give people piece of mind that all of their sensitive data was destroyed with the shredding component.”

         

The Loudoun County event, which was held behind one of the county’s municipal buildings, gave residents the opportunity to get rid of their unwanted technology without having to leave their cars. Once they got to the front of the line, Securis staff checked them in, asked what services they needed and directed them to one of the dropoff bays. Securis staff collected the material and hard drives were removed and shredded. The participant then was able to drive away knowing they made the sound, environmental choice by recycling rather than throwing away old technology.

“Technology goes obsolete really quickly, but the parts do not. If an old computer is thrown out, it lasts for literally tens of thousands of years in a landfill,” Farber explained. “By recycling those components, people are doing their part to keep this e-waste out of landfills and also helping preserve natural resources because there are so many reusable parts even in the oldest machines.”

Among some of the more notable pieces dropped off at the event was an 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System, iMacs in many different colors, first generation flatscreen TVs, and Gateway 2000 desktop computers.

“I’m always amazed what gets dropped off at these events,” said Farber. “It’s a walk down technology’s memory lane, and it allows Securis to work with its municipal clients to provide a valuable service for their residents.”

Securis is a company that takes its core values seriously. They are part of all that the company does – both on and off the clock. The first value Securis employees live by is “helps first.” For Al Jenik, owner of the Hampton Roads Securis franchise, this means getting involved in his local community. Recently, Al worked with Operation Healing Forces and mattress giant Tempur-Sealy on a terrific charity event.

Sealy donated 64 mattresses and Mr. Jenik, his family, and the Operation Healing Forces staff helped to unload and store the mattresses until they were ready to be distributed. Operation Healing Forces, a nonprofit organization, works with returning Special Operations Military veterans and their families to improve, enhance, and heal the relationship bonds that were strained during deployment.

Jenik’s and Securis’ involvement stems from personal relationships. “One of my neighbors is a Navy SEAL and his wife works with the charity,” says Jenik. “She asked me to help, so we had our family loading mattresses for SOF families all day Sunday and used our truck to deliver 15 mattresses to Special Operations families Sunday night.”

Started in 2011, Operation Healing Forces helps Special Operations veterans repair personal relationships by sharing their experiences in a safe, retreat environment with other service members with similar experiences.

“Given how much these Service Members do for all of us, it’s sad to see how rough many of these Special Operations vets and their families have it,” says Jenik. “They have huge amounts of stress, difficulty readjusting to home life after long deployments, and much higher than average divorce rates. Operation Healing Forces really does a lot for these families and I was honored to help them with this event.”

To find out more about Operation Healing Forces and to make a donation, please visit their website: https://www.operationhealingforces.org/donation

 

With Thanksgiving not looking the same for many families this year, we had a Securis group chat about which foods make Thanksgiving feel most like Thanksgiving. One of the things that’s really cool about Securis is the diversity of the team, comprised from all parts of the globe. The workforce’s varied cultural backgrounds showed wonderfully in the foods they’ll feast on this holiday.

Of course, we learned that Jeremy Farber – Founder and CEO – literally brings work home with him, and that Andrew Godman is fully on the Securis bandwagon with his humor and experience regarding the necessary preparation of hard drives as a food group.

Scroll down to learn what the Securis team plans to eat this Thanksgiving.

Wishing you and yours a happy, safe, and laughter-filled holiday.