IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) is the Slow Motion Data Breach Nobody notices

This article warns that IT asset disposition (ITAD) practices present a systemic security gap: discarded hardware processed by vendors—including subsidiaries of foreign firms—can expose sensitive corporate and government data to adversarial nations. It cites examples of Chinese-owned recycling and distribution companies handling retired IT assets, notes limited oversight and past improper resale incidents, links the issue to broader concerns about nation-state data collection, and recommends stricter vendor vetting (NAID AAA certification) and secure data destruction practices.