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Government & Public Sector: CISA’s Edge-Device Deadline Establishes a Federal Network Hardware Retirement Schedule — U.S. Outlook

CISA’s Binding Operational Directive 26-02 requires federal civilian agencies to retire unsupported network edge devices by deadlines in 2027. The directive covers routers, firewalls, switches and other network equipment, creating potential opportunities for secure decommissioning services. Actual ITAD and recycling volumes will depend on agency inventories, federal property disposal rules and authorized equipment releases. Continue reading below.
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The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has established mandatory deadlines for federal civilian agencies to remove unsupported network edge devices from their operating environments. Binding Operational Directive 26-02, issued February 5, 2026, requires agencies to identify affected equipment and decommission devices that can no longer receive appropriate vendor security support. The first major removal deadline arrives in February 2027, followed by a broader decommissioning requirement in August 2027.

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Author: David Daoud | Principal Analyst

David Daoud has researched the mainstream IT hardware market since 1996 and expanded into hardware disposition research in 2003. He has spearheaded the creation of IDC’s GRADE certification. Since then, David has been providing consulting and expert advice to companies looking to establish best practice in their IT equipment decommissioning and helped leading ITAD service providers assess demand, understand competition, and forecast what’s to come. David is currently the Principal Analyst at Compliance Standards, which focuses entirely on the end-of-life of IT equipment. He can be reached at 754-229-0095 or at ddaoud@compliance-standards.com
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