Ensuring the security and integrity of IT assets during transit is critical. Over the past two decades, Apto Solutions has worked with clients to develop best practices for mitigating risk for in-transit assets. Here are five measures you should consider to ensure your assets are tracked and protected.
1. Scan Assets at Your Site
Strong chain-of-custody measures start with scanning assets at your location. Since assets could have multiple unique identifiers, it is important to be consistent in which label is scanned. Also important is to make sure no assets are removed or added without adjusting the scan list. An easy way to control this issue is to shrink wrap pallets when scanning is complete.
2. Remote Management While in Transit
Mobile Device Management (MDM) products are essential for providing endpoint tracking and security. Many companies decide to unenroll prior to shipment to a disposition partner. A better way is to leave enrolled in transit and require wipe reports prior to being unenrolled.
3. Verification of Logistics Partner
With the rise in organized crime targeting logistics, verifying every detail is crucial. Make sure to confirm the BOL is from a verified source. The BOL should contain the driver name and truck identifier and be confirmed prior to loading. If this is not possible, require a code from a verified dispatcher that must be provided by the driver prior to loading.
4. Protective Packaging and Shipping Measures
Protecting the physical integrity of your IT assets is as vital as data protection. We use opaque black shrink wrap to conceal contents, limit information on BOLs to generic descriptions, and incorporate GPS trackers in shipments for real-time location tracking. Additionally, full truck loads are secured with tamper-evident seals to prevent unauthorized access.
5. Reconcile at Disposal Partner
After assets are input by your disposal partner, compare their receipt report to the scan list from your location. Halt processing until a full reconciliation has been completed. This ensures the integrity of your asset tracking is maintained as well as accuracy in systems such as Service Now.