The risks of storing old IT equipment

Are old laptops a security risk?

We talk a lot about technical debt in IT: outdated software, legacy systems, slow servers. But there’s another type of risk most organisations overlook entirely: unused hardware sitting in cupboards, stores, and spare offices.

Old laptops, desktops, phones and hard drives typically sit untouched for 6–18 months before anyone decides what to do with them. It feels harmless. Out of sight, out of mind.

In reality, every one of those devices is a growing liability.

What risk is associated with storing unattended IT equipment?

How does the lack of security leave user devices and data vulnerable?

Just because a device isn’t in use doesn’t mean it stops being a risk.

Data doesn’t disappear.

• Studies consistently show that around 40% of discarded devices still contain readable data, even after basic wiping or resets. Cached credentials, documents, and emails, all of which can linger on dormant devices indefinitely.

Storage isn't secure

• Most IT cupboards aren’t locked down like live server rooms. Cleaners, contractors, temporary staff: access is often far wider than people realise. If a device goes missing from a discard pile, it may not be noticed for months.

There's a physical risk, too

• Lithium-ion batteries don’t like being left unused. Over time, they can swell, leak, or fail (turning forgotten tech into a genuine fire risk).

Compliance doesn't wait

• Under GDPR, “we forgot about it” isn’t a defence. If a stored device containing personal data is lost or compromised, the organisation is still fully liable, with potential fines of up to £17.5 million (not to mention reputational damage).

Unattended devices are a financial drain, too.

Security aside, delaying disposal is rarely a smart commercial decision; there are other risks to storing your IT equipment.

• Hardware loses value every month. On average, IT equipment depreciates by around 2% per month. Leave it sitting for a year, and you’ve wiped out roughly a quarter of its recoverable value.

  
  

• Storage isn’t free. Office space is expensive. Using valuable square footage to store redundant tech is effectively paying rent for equipment that delivers zero return.

  
  

The longer devices sit, the more they cost you and the less value you'll regain.

Recovering value from retired devices. Protecting your organisation from data breaches.

At Terraguard, we don’t see IT disposal as an afterthought. It’s a defined stage of the asset lifecycle (and timing matters).

Our approach is simple: once a device is decommissioned, it should be securely processed within 30 days.

Acting early delivers three clear wins:

• Risk removed: Certified data erasure or destruction, with full audit trails.

• Value recovered: Devices are sold or reused while they still have meaningful market value.

• Environmental impact reduced: Hardware is reused before it becomes low-value e-waste, supporting a circular approach to technology.

What should you do with your unused devices?

Unused IT equipment doesn’t stay neutral for long. Left unmanaged, it quickly shifts from asset to liability for your data, your finances, and your reputation.

If you’ve got drawers, cupboards, or storerooms full of old tech, the risk isn’t hypothetical. It’s already there.

Deal with it early, deal with it properly, and turn a quiet problem into a controlled, secure outcome.

Collect my devices