What to Do With EOL Equipment?

We all know technology doesn’t last forever, but what happens when it’s completely out of date? When is the right time to retire aging information technology (IT) equipment, and what’s the best way to do it to ensure data security? Knowing what signs to look for and the safest methods for disposing of outdated IT equipment can help you protect your organization from cybersecurity risks, performance declines and budget overruns.

As an established company in the media destruction space, the team at Phiston Technologies knows what we’re talking about. Here’s a quick and easy guide to what to do with end-of-life (EOL) equipment.

What Is EOL?

EOL is a term manufacturers use to refer to the date they plan to retire specific hardware and software products.

While they may continue to provide support for some time, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) will no longer market, sell or update the equipment past the EOL date.

Devices usually reach EOL when the manufacturer releases a newer model to replace it, as with popular consumer electronics like smartphones and laptops.

What Is EOSL?

EOSL stands for “end of service life” or “end of support life.” A piece of equipment reaches the EOSL status when the OEM stops providing support for it, which usually happens after its EOL date.

EOSL is the final phase of a product’s life cycle. At this point, you must make a decision — you can either hang on to your EOSL equipment and use third-party support services to keep it running for as long as possible or upgrade to a newer model.

What Are Some Signs Your Equipment Is EOL?

You’ll know your equipment is EOL or EOSL if you:

• Receive an official notification: You might receive an EOL announcement that says something like, “Your computer is running an outdated version of this operating system.” Similarly, an EOSL announcement might read, “Support for this device will end on [date].”
• Lose access to support: When you can no longer receive support from the OEM, your equipment is officially EOSL.
• Cannot download new software: If your system can no longer accommodate new software updates, it’s likely reached the end of its life.
• Notice declining performance: Lagging, crashes and other performance issues are signs of aging equipment that you should pay attention to. For example, dying hard disk drives (HDDs) often cause computers to slow down or suddenly stop working.
• Spend more on routine service: If you are spending more than usual on preventive maintenance and similar services, your equipment is likely close to the end of use.

What Are the Risks of EOL Hardware and Software?

While there are some advantages to maintaining EOL equipment, it’s usually best to get rid of it as soon as possible.

Some of the biggest risks of continuing to use it include:

• Security: Using outdated equipment and legacy software exposes your devices to cyber threats like malware and ransomware, which can enter one device and infect your entire network.
• Lost productivity: Obsolete equipment can lag or crash due to incompatibilities between system upgrades, newer hardware or wear and tear.
• Compliance issues: While many data privacy and cybersecurity regulations require you to stay updated with the latest software upgrades, aging equipment can make meeting these requirements near impossible.
• Cost increases: The longer you continue using equipment past its EOL date, the more third-party maintenance providers will charge for routine services.

What to Do When Equipment Reaches EOL?

So, what should you do with devices like hard drives or servers that are officially past their expiration date? Here’s a quick step-by-step walkthrough of what to do with EOL equipment:

1. Contact the manufacturer: Reach out to the OEM to get the specific details on when they plan to end support for that equipment and what levels of service they will be offering in the meantime.
2. Backup your data: Next, make a copy of all your most important data to ensure that you can easily recover it in the event of a crash or other disaster. This step is also important for a smooth transition to new equipment later.
3. Replace the device: Research the market to find the most effective replacement. This product might be a newer model of the EOL equipment, or it might be a similar device from a different company.
4. Dispose of the EOL device: Once you have purchased and implemented the new equipment, it’s time to dispose of the original device. Although you can send it to third-party data destruction companies, it’s best to ensure you keep your equipment retirement and destruction processes on the premises to ensure maximum security and keep costs low.

You might be wondering how to get rid of this old equipment without opening your company up to unnecessary risk or harming the environment. A media destruction solution from Phiston Technologies can help you achieve those goals without driving up costs.

How an On-Site Disposal Solution Can Help

You know what to do with EOL equipment, but how can you ensure you’re disposing of it correctly? The advanced media shredding solutions from Phiston Technologies are the way to go. Some of our most popular options include:

• A2: We developed the MediaDice^® All Media Disintegrator A2 (MD-HTP-A2) to securely destroy various devices — including hard drives, switches, laptops and more — from within data center secure zones.
• A10: The MediaDice^® All Media Disintegrator A10 (MD-HTP-A10) features an advanced multi-stage media shredding system that can handle all types of media while keeping e-waste out of landfills and reducing your environmental impact.
• MDS-2C: Built specifically for destroying solid state drives (SSDs) in offices and data centers, the MediaDice^® Solid State Drive Disintegrator 2C (MDS-2C) is a rugged, powerful media shredder that can handle large volumes of SSDs.
• Combo Disintegrator: Our MediaDice^® Combo Disintegrator delivers high performance and unmatched speed for warehouses, data centers and other facilities with large-scale media destruction needs.

Safely Dispose of Your EOL Equipment With Solutions From Phiston Technologies

If your company is looking for a comprehensive solution for disposing of your EOL equipment, Phiston Technologies has a range of options. Our equipment comes with magnetic separators so you can properly filter out all metal pieces to reduce the amount of e-waste entering landfills. We can help you minimize risk for both your network and the environment.

Plus, for companies with extremely specific requirements, our highly skilled team of engineers can help you build a custom solution that addresses all your needs. We’ve collaborated with some of the world’s biggest tech companies to create all-in-one data destruction solutions tailored to their organizations.

See why we’re the worldwide leader in safe, secure EOL media destruction. Contact us today to request a free quote.