This Cybersecurity Awareness month, SK tes, a leading provider of secure IT asset disposition (ITAD) and lifecycle services, is calling on organizations to take a closer look at one of the most overlooked cybersecurity threats: end-of-life IT equipment.

While companies invest heavily in firewalls, endpoint protection, and threat detection, many fail to recognize the hidden risks lurking in their retired hardware. From hard drives to mobile phones, switches and routers, outdated devices often retain sensitive data that can be exploited if not properly managed.

“Managing retired IT equipment isn’t just a logistical task, it’s a cybersecurity imperative,” says Tom Hoof, Group IT Director, “There are many examples of routers resold with corporate credentials still intact, and storage drives containing medical records end up in in second-hand markets. These are evidence of poor or missing processes and systemic risks.”