Data Center Decommissioning
R2v3 and RIOS-certified data center decommissioning for Minnesota organizations. Secure de-racking, NIST 800-88 data destruction, asset recovery, and a complete audit-ready close-out report.
What's Included
Minnesota Computers manages your entire data center decommissioning project under one documented chain of custody. From pre-project asset inventories to de-racking, secure data destruction, equipment removal, and value recovery, every step is tracked and tied to your final close-out report.
Equipment that is still supporting active workloads or license-dependent systems is identified before removal to prevent unnecessary downtime or business disruption.
De-Racking & Removal
Planned equipment removal that minimizes downtime and protects live production environments.
NIST 800-88 Data Destruction
Certified onsite or offsite data sanitization and destruction based on media type and security requirements.
Asset Recovery
Recover value from eligible servers, storage, networking equipment, and enterprise hardware through secure remarketing.
Close-Out Reporting
Receive serialized inventory records, chain-of-custody documentation, and certificates of data destruction in one audit-ready report.
Who This Is For
Minnesota Computers works with organizations that are closing, consolidating, relocating, or upgrading data center facilities. Whether you're facing a lease expiration, cloud migration, infrastructure refresh, or facility shutdown, our team manages the entire decommissioning process from planning to final reporting.
From a single equipment rack to a multi-site data center closure, every project is completed with documented chain-of-custody and comprehensive compliance records.
Colocation Facilities
Coordinated facility exits that meet lease-end deadlines while ensuring secure asset removal and documentation.
Cloud Migration Teams
Retire physical servers, storage, and networking infrastructure after successful cloud migration projects.
IT & Facilities Departments
Manage owned, leased, and surplus equipment with organized inventories, secure removal, and complete reporting.
Multi-Site Enterprises
Standardized decommissioning across multiple locations with centralized project management and consolidated documentation.
The Process
Four Steps. One Accountable Chain.
Built to produce the documentation an audit demands, without adding extra steps to your calendar.
1Site Assessment & Project Planning
We review your facility, inventory, project timeline, and any lease-end or operational requirements, then build a removal plan tailored to your environment.
2Schedule & Secure Equipment Removal
Once the project is approved, we coordinate de-racking, removal logistics, and pickup with your IT and facilities teams. Every asset is logged and tracked as it comes offline under a documented chain of custody.
3Data Destruction & Asset Processing
Data-bearing drives are sanitized or destroyed in accordance with NIST SP 800-88 guidance. Functional equipment is evaluated for resale and value recovery, while non-recoverable assets are routed to certified recycling.
4Audit-Ready Reporting
After processing, you receive inventory reconciliation, chain-of-custody documentation, serialized Certificates of Destruction where applicable, and a complete project close-out report for your records.
Certified. Verifiable. Accountable.
R2v3 + RIOS Certified — Minnesota Computers, LLC, 1200 Trapp Road, Eagan, MN 55121. Certificate #C2024-02432-R2. Scope: Downstream Vendor Management, Logical Data Sanitization, Testing, and Materials Recovery of Used Electronic Devices.
Case Studies
Real Engagements, Real Recovery
A snapshot of recent programs. Full case studies available on request under NDA.
National Insurance Carrier: 3-Site DC Decommission
Coordinated retirement of three regional data centers across seven weeks. Serialized destruction on 4,200+ drives with a consolidated audit packet.
Read More
Regional Health System: HIPAA-Compliant Device Retirement
1,800 clinician laptops retired with NIST 800-88 sanitization and HIPAA-aligned chain of custody. Delivered before compliance deadline.
Read More
School District Refresh: 2,400 Apple Devices Recovered
Summer refresh program with pickup coordinated across 14 school sites. Recovery routed back to the district’s technology fund.
Read MoreFAQ’s
Get Answers to Some Common Questions Before You Choose Us
It depends on rack count and facility complexity; a single rack can close in days, and a full facility closure often runs several weeks once MEP coordination is involved.
Yes, with a planned removal sequence that isolates active equipment until the migration or cutover is confirmed complete.
Leased equipment is identified during inventory and handled separately from owned assets, since it typically returns to the lessor rather than entering recovery or destruction.
Yes, for full facility closures we coordinate removal sequencing with your internal facilities or MEP contacts.
No. A drive can be visibly damaged and still contain forensically recoverable data if it isn't sanitized to NIST SP 800-88 standards.
Yes, multi-site programs are coordinated with centralized reporting so every location rolls into one final record.
Your Lease-End Date Isn't Moving. Your Vendor Should.
Get a data center decommissioning plan built around your timeline, with one experienced team managing every step from de-racking to final reporting.
