Saving on network maintenance contracts

In order to obtain security patches, most vendors require a software support contract to be in place. It is really difficult to maintain a reliable inventory of equipment so that any support agreement is right-sized (ie that you are not paying too much)….

“Systems at unsupported servicing levels or releases will not receive security updates for new vulnerabilities which leaves them subject to exploitation”

Outdated hardware, unpatched software, and general network inefficiencies can easily cause security gaps. In some cases, regulatory responsibilities compel organisations to keep firmware updated at all times for security, a service that often gets outsourced to an MSP or TPM.

Why Many Organisations Struggle to Control IT Maintenance Costs

Most organisations over a certain size will need to outsource IT maintenance to some degree. However, when management is deliberating which hardware to cover and which levels of support are needed, it’s common for them to overestimate their needs – just to be certain that they’re covered. Service contracts and renewals are often drawn upon guesswork about infrastructure rather than solid data about connected network devices.

This can result in companies paying exorbitant fees compared to the level of support they actually receive. Some organisations might expect the worst and pay a premium for top-level, urgent response cover, only to hardly use it.

Other companies may have the complete opposite problem – thinking they have more support than they actually have, only to be caught out when they find out that their support agreement doesn’t cover the issue at hand. They may have accidentally omitted core network hardware when appraising their maintenance requirements, or incorrectly assessed the criticality of certain devices.

There is a simple cure to both of these scenarios.

When you have a constant, real-time picture of all devices and systems that make up your network, as well as accurate information about traffic routing and throughput, you can precisely appraise your maintenance needs at any time. Which devices would need immediate attention in the event of a fault – and which ones are less critical? Are there any places where traffic can be rerouted more efficiently? By optimising your network, would you be left with any hardware that’s surplus to requirements? Does your network use any less-stable EoL (end-of-life) hardware that needs replacing? Asking yourself questions like these can help
you gauge the level of cover needed from an MSP or TPM.

How Rebasoft can help

Our software can therefore help you identify inefficient or underused routing hardware, obsolete or vulnerable systems, traffic bottlenecks, and even data “black holes”. It can also bring forgotten devices or shadow IT to light in real-time. This data can understandably help you make your whole network infrastructure more straightforward, efficient, and secure.