What Happens After Remote Employees Leave?
Why unreturned laptops might be costing your company more than you think.
Let’s be real. When everyone shifted to remote work, asset tracking was not exactly top of mind.
The goal was speed. Get laptops, monitors, and gear out the door so people could stay productive.
It worked for a while.
But now, as team members resign or transition, that same equipment is still out there. It is tucked away in a closet, stashed in a backpack, or collecting dust in someone’s spare room.
Nobody is keeping track.
This is the new IT blind spot
Remote and hybrid work have completely changed how businesses manage technology. With that shift came a quiet but growing problem: what happens to the tech when someone leaves?
If you don’t have a clear plan, here’s what you risk:
1. Data still on the device
Even if access is revoked, the device may still hold sensitive information—financials, customer data, internal emails. If it’s not wiped properly, it’s a security risk.
2. Wasted money
That unreturned laptop could have been resold, repurposed, or recycled for value. Instead, it’s just out there.
3. Compliance gray zones
For industries with data regulations, improper asset disposal could lead to serious problems—fines, audits, or damage to your brand reputation.
Why a basic checklist won’t cut it
For most companies, offboarding starts and ends in HR. Disable accounts. Send the exit survey. Move on.
Remote teams changed the game. IT now needs a seat at the table because managing offboarding hardware is just as important as revoking access.
You need to know:
• What gear each employee has
• Where it is
• How to get it back
• How to ensure it’s wiped, tracked, and either reused or properly recycled
How Cobra Tech Solutions helps
We make the process easy. At Cobra Tech Solutions, we help businesses recover, wipe, and dispose of tech from remote teams—without chasing people down or losing track of devices.
Simple. Secure. No stress.
Unreturned tech is more than an inconvenience. It’s money, risk, and opportunity walking out the door.
If you're ready to close the loop on your remote tech, let’s talk.
We’ll help you build a plan that works now and scales with you later.
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