Decomm & Restoration

MDSi provides extensive decommission and restoration services to support data centers, facility closures, corporate lease returns, and consolidation. Our team of technical engineers understands the importance of disposing of an organization's infrastructure in a manner that eliminates all risks related to sensitive data. We accomplish this through dedicated inventory segregation with secure data and disposition cages. We are R2 certified and deliver sustainable and compliant recycling programs. Our tool Acuity SaaS provides scale, visibility, and manages decommission and restoration projects throughout disposition.

MDSi decommission and restoration services include a comprehensive solution to support:

On-site Equipment Decommission
- SOW/MOP creation
- Decommission and Equipment Removal
- Cable Mining /Clean-up
- Transport of equipment for redeployment or disposal
Asset Retirement
- MDSi’s application Acuity provides visibility by serial number
- Ensures our customer’s accounting/finance organization has real-time data for asset retirement processing
Redeployment of Strategic Assets
- Equipment is triaged, sorted, and routed to a specific customer location based upon dispositioning rules
Disposal or Resale of Non-Strategic Assets
- Non-strategic assets are identified through scanning automation. Assets with low market value are disposed of in compliance with R2 certification requirements

Decommissioning your data center forces you to make many adjustments in the day-to-day business of your organization. Employees who have been accustomed to the old way of working take time to adjust to the new system. Many of your clients may still be accessing data from the old system.

It is important to create a comprehensive strategy before starting work.

To ensure that the entire process will be completed within the given time frame, it is important to develop a timeline for taking into account factors like time to decommission, environmental impacts, and the costs involved. Before starting the process, you may be required to do the following:

Review the lease agreement to make sure that you will not be in breach of the agreement
Inform all stakeholders of the plan to decommission the data center
Terminate existing service contracts for all your equipment
Create an inventory of assets to ensure that nothing will be lost
Hire professionals for data decommissioning services

Hiring a data center decomm company ensures that your data center will be decommissioned using EPA-certified standards, all federal and state safety standards will be met, and all security measures will be applied to prevent data loss and theft.

MDSi’s Technical Field Services provides 1-4 level Technicians performing Decommission and Restoration Services in accordance with GR-1275 -CORE Standards:

Level 1

Basic removal of Common Systems Equipment (equipment/hardware).
Level 2

Minimum of 2 years experience. Capable of performing the removal of common systems, removal of wiring and connections on non-active equipment, and lead verification/continuity testing.
Level 3

Minimum of 3 years experience. Capable of performing the removal of common systems, removal of wiring and connections, lead verification/continuity testing, analysis of job specifications, MOP preparation, resolving job specification and/or drawing problems, and final quality inspections.
Level 4

Minimum of 6 years of experience. Capable of performing the same work activities as level 3 technician without supervision or direction. These technicians can perform additions, removals, and modifications on working equipment and circuits. Job activities include circuit modifications, software additions or upgrades, power transition work, addition/removal of batteries, etc.

On-PREM and Off-PREM data protection services

Standard Name	# of Passes	Description
Air Force System Security Instruction 5020	2	Originally defined by the United States Air Force, this 2-pass overwrite is completed by verifying the write.
Aperiodic random overwrite/Random	1	This process overwrites data with a random, instead of static, pattern. Each sector of the drive will contain different data. This process is completed by verifying the write.
Bruce Schneier’s Algorithm	7	This 7-step process, presented by security technologist Bruce Schneier, overwrites using 1s, 0s and a stream of random characters.
BSI-2011-VS	4	This 4-pass system is the original BSI standard defined by the German Federal Office of Information Security.
BSI-GS	1	Defined by the German Federal Office for Information Security, this process begins by removing hidden drives (HPA/ DCO if existing) and overwriting with aperiodic random data. The next step triggers a firmware based command dependent on the type of drive. The last step is to verify the write.
BSI-GSE	2	The BSI-GSE adds one extra step to the BSI-GS. After the first overwrite, an additional overwrite with aperiodic random data is added before moving on to the last two steps.
CESG CPA – Higher Level	3	The UK government’s National Technical Authority for Information Assurance standard is a 3-pass process with a verification after each step.
Cryptographic Erasure (Crypto Erase)	N/A	This method uses the native command to call a cryptographic erasure, which erases the encryption key. While the encrypted data remains on the storage device itself, it is effectively impossible to decrypt, rendering the data unrecoverable. Because this method uses the native commands as defined by the manufacturer, it is only available if supported by the drive being erased.
DoD 5220.22-M ECE	7	This method is an extended (7-pass) version of the DoD 5220.22-M. It runs the DoD 5220.22-M twice, with an extra pass (DoD 5220.22-M (C) Standard) sandwiched in between.
HMG Infosec Standard 5, Higher Standard	3	Used by the British Government, this 3-pass overwrite adds one additional write. Like the baseline standard, this process is completed by verifying the write.
HMG Infosec Standard 5, Lower Standard	1	Used by the British Government, this 1-pass overwrite consists of writing a zero and then a random character. This process is completed by verifying the write.
National Computer Security Center (NCSC-TG-025)	3	Defined by the US National Security Agency, this 3-pass system includes a verification after each pass of 0s, 1s and a random character.
Navy Staff Office Publication (NAVSO P-5239-26)	3	Published by the US Navy, this 3-pass system uses a specified character (and its complement) and a random character. The process is completed by verifying the write.
NIST 800-88 Clear	1	The National Institute of Standards and Technology Clear requires the removal of hidden drives (HPA/DCO, if existing). The data is then overwritten and verified.
NIST 800-88 Purge	1	This method requires the removal of hidden drives (HPA/DCO, if existing). A firmware based command is triggered depending on the type of drive, and the last step is the verify the write.
NSA 130-1	3	Defined by the National Security Agency, this method uses a 3-pass overwrite: writes a random character, writes another random character and writes a known value. This process is completed by verifying the write.
OPNAVINST 5239.1A	3	Defined by the US Navy, this process is completed by verifying the write after a 3-pass overwrite—the first a random byte and static overwrite for the last two.