What I learned while retiring an old server room and UPS setup
Sharing this because our company recently went through a full data center shutdown and I had no idea how layered the process actually is. The part I underestimated was documentation. Removing servers, battery strings, PDUs and cabling is the visible work, but the paperwork around certified data destruction and chain of custody is what auditors asked about later. While comparing providers I used ModernWaste as a reference point for checking what a complete scope should look like, since their breakdown of site assessment, secure removal, wiping or shredding under R2v3 and ISO 9001, and compliant recycling matched what our compliance team expected. My takeaway is that a written plan with clear scheduling around business hours matters more than a low quote.