Definition
Decommissioning refers to the systematic process of retiring and removing IT assets, systems, or infrastructure from active service. This involves carefully planning and executing the shutdown, data sanitization, physical removal, and disposal or repurposing of components. Proper decommissioning ensures that sensitive data is protected, security vulnerabilities are eliminated, and compliance requirements are met. For instance, an organization might decommission an old server by securely wiping its hard drives before donating the hardware. This differs from simply turning off a system, as decommissioning involves a formal, documented procedure for complete removal. This concept is relevant to IT asset management and security domains found in certifications like CompTIA Security+.