endoflifeprocedures
End-of-life procedures (EOL procedures) describe a structured set of activities used to manage the retirement of a product, service, or system that has reached the end of its lifecycle. The goal is to minimize risk, protect data, meet regulatory requirements, and enable a smooth transition to replacement solutions.
EOL procedures apply to software, hardware, services, and business processes. They encompass governance, planning, execution, and
- Policy and governance: defined ownership, approvals, and documentation.
- Asset inventory and contract management: up-to-date records of assets, licenses, and obligations.
- Risk assessment and compliance: identify operational, security, and regulatory risks.
- Data handling and migration: data retention, archiving, destruction, and transfer to replacements.
- Decommissioning and disposal: secure removal, refurbishment, recycling, or resale.
- Communication and transition planning: stakeholder notification, timelines, and support.
Key phases include initiation and planning, asset identification, risk assessment, decommissioning and data handling, migration to
Data privacy, licensing, and environmental regulations should be addressed throughout, with documented records and audit trails.
Note: In healthcare, end-of-life has a distinct meaning related to patient care; this article focuses on
Related topics include decommissioning, asset disposition, and lifecycle management.