Data Center Decommissioning in Toronto & the GTA
From a single comms room to a full data hall, Alta E-Solutions removes server racks and storage arrays, sanitizes every drive to NIST 800-88, and documents the environmental outcome for your ESG reporting.
Data center decommissioning is the controlled shutdown, removal, data sanitization and disposition of the servers, storage, networking and supporting infrastructure in a data center or server room. Alta E-Solutions has performed IT asset disposition for organizations in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area since 2010. Our projects combine NIST 800-88 media sanitization, R2v3 certified recycling and ESG documentation backed by an EcoVadis Platinum rating.
Audited credentials
- R2v3
- i-SIGMA NAID AAA
- ISO 9001
- ISO 14001
- ISO 45001
- EcoVadis Platinum (Top 1%)
- Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher
- OECM Approved Supplier
Key Facts & Compliance Summary
| Service | Decommissioning of server rooms, colocation cages and data halls |
|---|---|
| Equipment covered | Server racks, blade chassis, storage arrays, SAN and NAS, network switches, PDUs and cabling |
| Data sanitization standard | NIST SP 800-88 (Clear, Purge or Destroy, matched to media type) |
| Destruction certification | i-SIGMA NAID AAA Certified |
| Recycling certification | R2v3 certified, ISO 14001 environmental management |
| ESG documentation | Recycling and reuse reporting to support Scope 3 and sustainability disclosures |
| Sustainability rating | EcoVadis Platinum, top 1% of companies assessed |
| Value recovery | Eligible hardware assessed for remarketing to offset project cost |
| Coverage | Toronto, the GTA and Ontario |
Decommissioning without the risk
Retiring a data center is one of the highest-risk events in the life of an IT organization. A single rack can hold hundreds of drives containing customer records, intellectual property and credentials. At the same time, decommissioning projects are usually tied to hard deadlines such as lease expiry, a cloud migration cut-over or a colocation contract ending. The disposition partner you choose has to protect data, respect the schedule and leave the space clean.
Alta E-Solutions plans decommissioning projects around those constraints. We work from your asset inventory, coordinate with your facilities and network teams, and sequence de-installation so production systems are only touched once they are confirmed out of service.
Server rack and storage array removal
Our technicians de-rack servers, blade chassis, storage arrays, SAN and NAS shelves, switches, firewalls and power distribution units. Cabling is removed and segregated for recycling. Where racks themselves are being retired, they are dismantled and removed as well. Every asset is tagged and recorded against its serial number, so the inventory you started with reconciles with the report you finish with.
- Rack-by-rack de-installation planned around your cut-over schedule
- Asset tagging and serial number capture before anything leaves the floor
- Secure, documented transport with a continuous chain of custody
- Removal of cabling, PDUs and empty racks to leave the space ready for handback
NIST 800-88 media sanitization
NIST Special Publication 800-88, Guidelines for Media Sanitization, is the framework most Canadian enterprises and government bodies rely on for data removal. It defines three outcomes: Clear, Purge and Destroy. The right method depends on the media type and whether the hardware will be reused. Self-encrypting drives, enterprise SSDs and spinning disks each require a different approach.
For drives that will be remarketed, Alta E-Solutions applies verified sanitization and records the result per serial number. For drives that cannot be reused or that your policy requires to be destroyed, we shred them under our i-SIGMA NAID AAA certified process, on site if you require witnessed destruction. Either way, you receive a per-device record of the method used.
EcoVadis Platinum ESG and Scope 3 reporting
Decommissioned infrastructure is a significant part of an organization’s end-of-life footprint, and sustainability teams increasingly need evidence of what happened to it. Alta E-Solutions holds an EcoVadis Platinum rating, placing us in the top 1% of companies assessed worldwide for environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.
At project close we provide reporting on how your equipment was handled, including what was reused through remarketing and what was recycled through R2v3 certified channels. That documentation gives your ESG and procurement teams auditable input for Scope 3 and sustainability disclosures, rather than a generic statement that equipment was recycled.
Recovering value from retired infrastructure
Not every decommissioned server is scrap. Current-generation servers, storage and networking equipment often carry resale value. Alta E-Solutions assesses eligible hardware for remarketing after sanitization, and recovered value can offset the cost of the decommissioning project. For Ontario public sector institutions, our OECM Approved Supplier status simplifies procurement of the entire engagement.
Our Process, Step by Step
- Site assessment and inventory: We review your asset list, floor plan, access requirements and deadlines, then confirm scope, sequencing and documentation needs in writing.
- Project planning: De-installation is sequenced around your cut-over plan, with clear handoffs to your network and facilities teams so nothing in production is touched early.
- De-installation and tagging: Servers, storage arrays, network gear, cabling and PDUs are de-racked, tagged and recorded by serial number before leaving the floor.
- Secure transport: Equipment moves under a documented chain of custody from your site to our R2v3 certified facility.
- NIST 800-88 sanitization or destruction: Each drive is sanitized or shredded according to NIST 800-88 and your policy, with the result recorded per serial number.
- Remarketing, recycling and reporting: Eligible hardware is remarketed, the remainder is recycled through R2v3 channels, and you receive certificates plus ESG reporting for your records.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a data center decommissioning project include?
A full project covers inventory reconciliation, de-installation of servers, storage arrays and network equipment, removal of cabling and PDUs, secure transport, NIST 800-88 data sanitization or shredding, remarketing of eligible hardware, R2v3 recycling, and certificates plus reporting at close.
Which data sanitization standard do you follow?
Alta E-Solutions sanitizes media in line with NIST SP 800-88, selecting Clear, Purge or Destroy based on the media type and whether the device will be reused. Physical destruction is performed under our i-SIGMA NAID AAA certified process.
Can you provide reporting for our ESG and Scope 3 disclosures?
Yes. At project close we report how your equipment was handled, including reuse through remarketing and recycling through R2v3 certified channels. Alta E-Solutions holds an EcoVadis Platinum rating, top 1% of companies assessed.
Can decommissioned equipment offset the cost of the project?
Often, yes. After sanitization, eligible servers, storage and networking equipment are assessed for remarketing, and recovered value can be applied against project costs. The amount depends on equipment age, configuration, condition and market demand.