# Data Center Decommissioning Checklist

> A practical checklist for the physical side of data center decommissioning — separate from data destruction and ITAD compliance.

Published 2026-09-18. Category: Guides.

Decommissioning a rack, row, or facility involves two distinct kinds of work: the physical labor of disconnecting, removing, and staging equipment, and the compliance-heavy work of data destruction and certified recycling. Conflating the two is a common source of delay — the physical work can usually start well before every compliance detail is finalized.

## Before removal

- Confirm which assets are in scope, cross-checked against current inventory records
- Confirm power-down sequence and any dependencies on equipment staying live
- Confirm your ITAD/data-destruction vendor's intake requirements (labeling, staging location, documentation format)

## During removal

- Photograph each asset before disconnection
- Log serial numbers against the pre-decommission inventory as each unit is removed
- Tag and stage equipment according to your ITAD partner's requirements
- Remove abandoned cabling and rail hardware, not just the equipment itself

## After removal

- Deliver a written removal log — what left, when, and by whom — tied to your asset records
- Confirm hand-off to your ITAD/data-destruction partner with a signed or logged transfer
- Update facility documentation to reflect the newly cleared space

## Contact

- Request service: https://fieldbenchtech.com/request-service/
- Email: drew@fieldbenchtech.com
- Phone: (734) 489-1592
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI