Red teams, penetration tests (pen tests), and ethical hacking are three methods to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities. This video explains the differences. Of the three methods, red teaming provides the most comprehensive evaluation of an organization’s security.

Red team testers are increasingly concerned about the risks posed by end-of-life (EOL) tech equipment, especially as organizations often overlook these assets in their security strategies. This is a quiet but potent threat vector that red teams often exploit during engagements. Here’s what they’re saying and seeing.

Why EOL Tech Is a Red Team Favorite

• Legacy vulnerabilities: EOL devices often run outdated firmware or unsupported operating systems, making them ripe for exploitation. Red teams frequently find unpatched systems that are no longer monitored.
• Forgotten endpoints: Old printers, routers, and IoT devices are often left connected to networks. These “ghost assets” can serve as entry points for lateral movement.
• Poor decommissioning practices: Red teams have reported finding sensitive data on discarded or resold hardware—hard drives, USBs, even old laptops—because proper data sanitization wasn’t performed.

What Red Teamers Recommend

• Asset lifecycle tracking: Maintain a clear inventory of all tech assets, including EOL timelines and decommissioning plans.
• Secure disposal protocols: Use certified data destruction methods and vendors. Red teams often test whether discarded equipment could be recovered and exploited.
• Threat modeling updates: Include EOL assets in red team scenarios and tabletop exercises to simulate real-world exploitation. Ima​gine the right laptop in the wrong hands—no firewall can protect you from putting data bearing devices in malicious actors’ hands.

Real-World Red Team Insights

In recent red team reports, testers have flagged EOL tech as a recurring weak link. It’s laptops left unattended in a supply closet, desktops waiting on the loading dock for pickup, retired printers, copiers or scanners unplugged but not fully decommissioned, forgotten work-from-home equipment. The risks are seemingly endless. One 2024 penetration testing summary noted that “some items are only surprising because of their longevity in continuing to plague organizations,” highlighting how outdated systems still present exploitable vulnerabilities.

If you’re building a threat model or planning a security audit, EOL tech shouldn’t be an afterthought—it should be a priority checkpoint. IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) is a secure way to deal with your outdated systems. Certified ITAD partners stay up-to-date on laws and regulations regarding data privacy and environmental responsibility and adhere to industry best practices in compliance, remarketing, recycling, and reporting.

Want help drafting a checklist or policy for handling EOL assets securely? Maxxum is ready help today. We’re your trusted risk management partner for securely sanitizing data and recycling or destroying old devices. Contact us today to get started.