Coreitech provides server decommissioning for UK businesses — drive-level data destruction for all servers, RAID arrays, and SANs. Chain-of-custody documentation, on-site available. Call 0203 834 9728.
SERVER
DECOMMISSIONING
UNITED KINGDOM
Specialist end-of-life server decommissioning — individual drive extraction, NIST-standard data destruction, full chain-of-custody documentation, and WEEE-compliant recycling. On-site or at our facility.
Indicative values. Actual based on spec, condition & market.
Server decommissioning
services
Server Asset Logging
Barcode scan and photography of every server — chassis, serial number, drive bay count, and installed drives. Full intake manifest signed on collection.
Drive-Level Data Destruction
Every drive extracted and individually processed — NIST 800-88 software erasure or physical shredding. Certificate per drive or per server unit, your choice.
RAID & Storage Array Disposal
Full RAID arrays, SAN/NAS units, and tape libraries decommissioned and securely processed. Each logical unit and physical drive individually accounted for.
Virtualisation Evidence Erasure
VMware, Hyper-V, and other hypervisor environments need special handling — we destroy virtualisation evidence including VM disk files and snapshots.
Chain-of-Custody Documentation
Full chain-of-custody from your server room to final disposal — every stage logged, time-stamped, and signed. Suitable for regulated industry audits.
Data Centre Decommissioning
End-to-end data centre decommission projects — asset audit, structured cabling removal, rack decommission, and complete GDPR-compliant disposal.
Supported hardware
Server decommissioning
questions answered
Q.What is server decommissioning?
Server decommissioning is the structured process of taking end-of-life or surplus servers and associated storage infrastructure out of service. It involves a formal power-down and asset logging, removal of all data through certified means (erasure or physical destruction), and responsible recycling or resale of the hardware. Proper decommissioning prevents data breaches and ensures compliance with UK GDPR, providing auditable evidence that no data survived the decommission.
Q.How do you destroy data from RAID arrays and SANs?
RAID arrays, SAN, and NAS units are disassembled to the individual drive level. Each physical drive is extracted, catalogued by serial number, and processed individually — either via NIST 800-88 software erasure or physical shredding. The logical RAID configuration is irrelevant to the data destruction method; what matters is that every physical drive is accounted for and destroyed. Coreitech provides a destruction certificate at both drive level and unit level.
Q.Can you decommission servers at our data centre or server room?
Yes. Coreitech provides on-site server decommissioning at your server room or data centre. This is often the preferred approach for large volumes, high-security environments, or where data centre operators require assets to be destroyed before removal from the secure environment. We bring mobile shredding capability and specialist teams for structured decommission projects.
Q.Do you provide data centre decommissioning services?
Yes. Coreitech offers complete data centre decommissioning — from initial asset audit and project planning, through powered-down asset logging, cabling removal, rack decommission and removal, through to certified GDPR-compliant disposal and documentation. We work to client-defined timescales and produce a comprehensive final decommission report suitable for regulatory audit.
Q.How long does server decommissioning take?
A single server rack (typically 20–40U of equipment) can be decommissioned in 1–2 days on-site. A mid-size data centre (50–200 racks) typically requires 1–4 weeks depending on asset density and client access requirements. Coreitech provides detailed project plans with milestones for larger decommission projects, ensuring business continuity is not impacted.
Q.What residual value can we expect from decommissioned servers?
Server residual values depend heavily on age and spec. Modern Dell PowerEdge and HPE ProLiant servers (3–5 years old) can return £200–£2,000+ per unit. Storage arrays retain value well — a 5-year-old NetApp or EMC unit may return £1,000–£20,000+ depending on spec. Older equipment (7+ years) typically has scrap metal value only. Coreitech provides asset valuations before collection so you can make informed decisions.
Q.What to do with old IT equipment when moving office?
When moving office, old IT equipment must be handled through certified IT Asset Disposal (ITAD) — not general waste or standard removals. Equipment containing company data (servers, hard drives, laptops, phones, USBs) must have data destroyed to NCSC/NIST 800-88 standards with chain-of-custody documentation for GDPR compliance. Coreitech collects all redundant equipment from your old premises, performs certified data destruction, and provides full documentation. Nothing is left behind — eliminating GDPR liability.
Q.Do I need to decommission servers before moving office?
Yes. Servers should be properly decommissioned before any office move — performing a full backup with verified test restores, shutting down in the correct dependency sequence, and using specialist anti-static packaging and climate-controlled transport. Simply unplugging servers and loading them into a removal van risks permanent hardware damage, data corruption, and voided warranties. Coreitech handles decommissioning, transport, and reinstallation as a complete service.
Decommission your servers securely
On-site or at our facility. Individual drive certificates, full chain-of-custody, GDPR compliant.