Endpoint Management: End-of-life Guidelines for USNH Owned Devices

Summary

The purpose of this article is to provide guidelines from Enterprise Technology & Services for determining when a USNH owned device is at the end of its life.

 

Content

Background

In the past, institutions have used age as the determining factor for when to retire computing devices from use. 

Improved longevity for endpoints, as well as current budget restrictions, have led ET&S to revisit this policy and make new recommendations regarding end of life for USNH owned computing devices. Current ET&S guidelines for determining when a device is considered High Risk are below.

 

Current Guidelines for USNH High Risk Devices

If a device meets *any* of the following criteria, it is considered High Risk by ET&S and should be recommended for replacement:

  • Device cannot run a current operating system:
    • Windows 11 for Windows devices (effective October 1, 2025)
    • MacOS 14 Sonoma for Apple devices (effective October 1, 2025)
  • Device does not have sufficient RAM (memory) or storage for its current use
    • This criteria requires technician evaluation. Often, the device can be re-imaged and used for another purpose, or the RAM or SSD can be replaced to increase memory or storage capacity and allow the device to remain in service, providing it meets other criteria for use.
  • Device does not meet security requirements (cannot be encrypted / Secure Boot cannot be enabled)
  • Frequent hardware problems / support requests
    • If a device has been experiencing hardware issues and has several support requests without a resolution, replacement may be the best option.
    • If hardware issues are related to an easily-swappable battery or RAM, repair may be the best / most economical option. Repairs must be completed using OEM parts; no third party parts may be used for USNH owned device repairs.
  • Physical or accidental damage not covered by warranty
    • Devices need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether repair is the best option, or if replacement makes more sense given age and repair costs.


Further Readings

ET&S Endpoint Management Policy  

SEED Request Form

 

Need additional help?

If you need additional assistance with determining end of life for a USNH owned computing device, please put in a Desktop Support Request. 

 

ET&S Technicians, please consult with your team lead or a member of the ET&S Asset Management Team for further guidance.

Internal Articles for ET&S Technicians:

Client Services: Hardware Repair Process for USNH Owned Devices (ETS Internal)

Updating and Exporting a Departmental Inventory Report from Hardware Asset (ETS Internal)

Print Article