ADISA wants to be world's policeman for IT asset disposal

UK standard promoting security and re-use seeks wider dominion in 2014

The founder of a security standard aimed at UK IT asset disposal firms (ITADs) has spoken of his desire to take it global in 2014.

The Asset Disposal and Information Security Alliance (ADISA) counts SCC and Sims Lifecycle Services among its 33 UK members, all of which must adhere to 150 separate criteria relating to business credentials, logistics, processing of equipment, disposal of waste, re-use and onsite services.

But its founder is now courting ITADs in mainland Europe, North America and Asia to ensure multinationals disposing of old IT kit are guaranteed the same level of service outside the UK.

"Our aim is to create a global network of ADISA-certified companies so that large corporate firms can place business - whether it's in Mumbai, Dubai, Frankfurt or Manchester - with different companies that operate with comparable standards," revealed Steve Mellings, who launched ADISA in 2010.

The low barrier of entry to becoming an ITAD in the UK came under scrutiny last summer after a second-hand PC containing 3,000 NHS patent records showed up on an online auction site.

However, Mellings said he had discovered that other countries are often even more lax in their attitude to disposing of retired IT assets.

"There are perhaps only one or two companies per country that are operating at anywhere near the standard you'd want," he said

Three international firms - Germany-based DiskShred, Greek outfit Alfanet and Arrow Value Recovery, part of global distributor Arrow - have already become ADISA certified. Nine more firms are on course to make the grade in 2014, meaning ADISA would have representation in seven European countries, as well as India, the USA, Dubai, Australia, Brazil, Singapore and China.

Mellings admitted to lukewarm feelings about the use of the term "ITAD" because ADISA supports extending the life cycle of the asset where possible, either through resale or cannibalisation for components.

"Our focus first and foremost is on security, but we also promote re-use," he explained, adding that ADISA plans to work with, rather than compete against, alternative bodies or standards such as NAID, PAS141 and e-Stewards, the latter of which recently accredited its first UK member.

ADISA's goal is to allay firms' fears over the security of their data "once the van doors are shut and they have waved goodbye to their assets", Mellings explained, adding that all members must undergo two spot checks a year and that two UK members have been given the boot in 2014.

"Generally, businesses have an approach to physical and network security that is equivalent across all their sites - we are trying to extend that downstream," he said.

Jon Godfrey, who sits on the advisory council of ADISA, said it is currently "intensely complicated" for global businesses to comply with data and WEEE regulations and laws across Europe and North America.

"This is a huge step forward," he said. "You currently have this huge complexity and patchwork of regulations and laws and you need someone like ADISA to say this is what is expected as a minimum."