Data Center Decommissioning Checklist

By Author: Michelle Phillips
Total Articles: 1
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The First Steps

To begin, create a project scope document that outlines the objectives and expects outcomes of the project. Determine a timeframe and milestones for your project. Identify the project's budget and the internal parties involved.

Assembling

It's impossible to avoid having to account for every piece of gear and software that will be affected by the decommissioning. Make a detailed inventory of the data center's assets, arranged by the facility's owner and operator. Compare your results to the CMDBs that already exist (configuration management databases). A full inventory of all assets should be created once all assets have been accounted for. This includes physical components such as servers and racks as well as networking gear like firewalls and routers. Retain all software licenses and virtualization hardware linked with servers and networking equipment and compile them all.

Steps to a Successful Project

Create a list of tasks and responsibilities for each member of the team. How long do you expect the data center decommissioning process to take, and when will it begin? Is it ...
... likely that the work will be done at the busiest times? Is it necessary to offer warnings about the possibility of service interruptions? In order to avoid a catastrophic data loss, implement the required workflows and backup mechanisms. Before, during, and after the project, put together a list of vendors you may need to contact. Find out how you're going to clean your storage media.

Assemble or Modify Assets

The materials, tools, and labor you'll need to execute the project should be listed out. Decide on the most appropriate tool for the project at hand: Your data center's needs dictate what kind of hoist you should use. What is the finest kind of packing foam to use for the various items you'll be shipping? Is there any thought given to the packaging of equipment that will be reused? Determine how many people and how many hours it will take to complete the task. Task your project manager with ensuring that work is completed on time and in accordance with the project's schedule and workflow.

Dismantling and Cleaning

Review the hardware asset strategy and the asset recovery checklist with stakeholders and the decommissioning team leaders on-site before decommissioning, after reviewing the checklist and verifying that all data has been backed up and that apps have been correctly migrated, power down and disconnect all devices. All hardware components, including cables, should be tagged.

Packing of Equipment

It's time to begin dismantling and packaging. Is there a designated area for packing up the assets that you have reserved? Each item should be packed with the right materials, as detailed in the plan. The handoff policy should be followed for objects that are intended to be reused within the organization. If an asset is to be repaired or recycled, label and package it for the appropriate destination. In the case of colocation, how should the abandoned space be left behind? Make careful you adhere to the project plan's requirements for clearing and cleaning the breakdown area on-site.

Recovery and Coordination

Make sure discarded assets are properly recorded by working with the IT and accounting departments. Make that your ITAD provider has a safe chain of custody and that sanitization certificates have been issued for any refurbished storage devices. If you are destroying or deeming an object unrecoverable, make sure you get an itemized certificate of destruction for each one. How much money has been saved and restored to your IT budget as a result of this? Recycled hardware should be evaluated in the same way. Your ITAD provider will handle each step of the IT asset disposition process to guarantee that you are getting the most out of your retiring assets.

Read more.. https://compucycle.com/data-center-decommissioning/