As with auto, household and facility maintenance, sometimes your network requires a little extra assistance to avoid problems. While there are some preventative maintenance tasks you can perform on your own to minimize network downtime, you may find that you need to pair your efforts with those of the experts to keep your operations running smoothly on a daily basis.

Well-maintained networks encounter fewer problems and are much easier to troubleshoot than those left without consistent upkeep. To ensure that you don’t find yourself running with faulty settings, risking damage to both software and hardware over time, you will need to clean up your network regularly. That is where network maintenance comes in, and it is often most effective through a comprehensive third-party platform, like our network maintenance plan. Worldwide Services is a third-party maintenance provider that offers a range of services including server maintenance, and IT storage maintenance.

What Is Network Maintenance?

At its core, network maintenance constitutes all the tasks and systems in place to monitor, update and run your organization’s computer network before problems strike.

That “network” itself involves your entire portfolio of physical IT assets, like the hardware and servers, and non-physical IT assets, like the software and cloud access — also known as your IT ecosystem.

Similar to other business functions, a healthy IT ecosystem relies on proactive, daily activities and strategic foresight rather than reactive adjustments or ad-hoc, spur-of-the-moment patches. The basic tenets of maintaining your network — and the basis of a successful regular network maintenance plan — typically include the following:

• Network cybersecurity: Implementing robust and up-to-date network defense layers, such as traffic-managing firewalls, virtual private networks, user access controls, double authentication measures, log inspections for usage documentation, real-time breach notifications and auto-generated security reports.
• Network performance: Analyzing top network performance concerns influencing the speed and reliability of your devices, including bandwidth usage, traffic patterns, bottlenecks, frequently down or crashed servers, connection lags, delays and more.
• Network scalability: Ensuring proper software and hardware systems fitting your current operations, number of network users, endpoint locations and businesses functions.
• Regular hardware and software updates: Scheduling updates prorated across network components and interfaces, which in turn bolsters both a network’s overall performance and security defenses.
• IT infrastructure compliance: Maintaining internal compliance with company practices as well as external government regulations and industry policies.

Preemptive network repairs: Using auto-generated reports and analytics to spot and patch usage problems across the IT ecosystem — or at the very least troubleshooting them — before they turn existential.

Who Conducts Network Maintenance?

Today, there are three primary approaches to overseeing network maintenance:

1. Internal IT staff: In-house IT employees manage top-down network devices, security defenses, traffic monitoring, data storage and retrieval, hardware health, user controls, compliance, scalability and more on-site within your business’ premise, with peripheral assistance from original equipment manufacturers.
2. Original equipment manufacturers (OEM): Pieces of software, as well as your network’s wider operating system, will often come with a maintenance contract delivered by the OEM. OEMs are in a prime position to deliver maintenance tenets, such as system updates, performance audits and smooth installation and integration, though they may not offer the most robust or cost-effective total preventative care. Examples of some of today’s top OEMs for software and hardware include IBM, Cisco, Dell, Arista, Juniper, Nokia, HPE and more global industry players.  
3. Third-party maintenance (TPM): Third-party maintenance plans provide an outsourced alternative to shouldering end-to-end IT systems and equipment, alleviating several concerns around managing your entire IT infrastructure on your own while juggling industry changes or disruptions. They also tend to provide more detailed, personalized maintenance packages compared to an OEM’s.

There are innate benefits to both internally managed and outsourced IT maintenance. The scale of your organization, the capabilities of your IT staff and your budget will be major variables in determining if a traditionally in-house, outsourced or hybrid approach works best for the health of your IT infrastructure.

What Is a Network Maintenance Plan?

Your typical network maintenance plan is the detailed package of services you can expect to receive to keep your systems running. This plan should cover the range of services your business will need to operate, including running necessary updates, ensuring proper installations and performing audits to detect potential errors. Often, your original equipment manufacturer (OEM) will offer management service plans to try and minimize complications with their products. But there are several reasons why relying on your OEM alone may not be the best course of action for your business.

One of these reasons is that you will want your network maintenance plan to be efficient, cost-effective and strategically flexible, which the expensive, rigid OEM contract doesn’t always guarantee. Neither can you be sure that your OEM will complete every task that is necessary for all of your network needs. What a third-party maintenance (TPM) provider can do is oversee your entire system, even if you use a variety of manufacturers, and do so at a much friendlier cost.

Additionally, a TPM can create a maintenance plan that’s entirely customized to your needs and usage habits, making sure not to overdo it on non-essential services, while also covering all of your network bases. It can be helpful to become more acquainted with examples of what these typical tasks are so that you can be more aware of potential needs within your system infrastructure.

What Are Examples of Network Maintenance Tasks?

Many business operators have a basic understanding of what network preventative maintenance is all about, but there may be some confusion surrounding the specific measures you can expect your service provider to perform. Here are six of the most common tasks involved with keeping your servers and devices up to speed.

1. Troubleshooting Network Issues

If warning signs or small troubles go ignored for too long, you may run into problems that are disruptive and potentially expensive to repair. What you network maintenance provider can do is use their experience and knowledge to troubleshoot any issues your network is experiencing, and they’ll be able to recognize if there is a simple fix. If there isn’t, you can be sure to receive several suggestions on the most viable and cost-effective solutions.

2. Installing and Configuring Products

Whenever you get new equipment or have software to update, it is very likely that there will be some form of installation and configuration needed. Similarly, when inevitable shifts occur in the office or a new user is added, your network settings may need to be reconfigured to accommodate those changes. If done incorrectly, the growth of your company could be hindered and valuable time may be taken away from your employees as they try to navigate improper settings.

For these reasons and more, getting started on the right foot is crucial. Your network maintenance provider can help with that.

3. Monitoring and Improving Network Performance

Network performance can be a quiet killer of your company’s potential. If the performance of your network is not up to par with other companies, then your company will have a much harder time keeping up with your competitors in other ways.

Network performance can be difficult to judge if you have nothing to compare it to. But by bringing someone in to troubleshoot and monitor your network, you’ll be able to see the truth about how it is operating and what can be done to make your system function more efficiently.

4. Planning for Growth

As a business, you are always looking forward. If you are not maintaining your network diligently, it may not be able to handle the weight of expansion as your organization grows. It’s essential that you have a server that is capable of adding more workstations if you plan on increasing the numbers in your workforce. You’ll need to be able to add these new users without any difficulty as they enter your network.

Additionally, by creating network documentation and keeping it up to date, the growth of your business will be obtainable without the risk of slowing down due to a lagging network. Making sure scalability is structured correctly in your system will optimize performance and reduce growing pains down the line.

5. Ensuring Compliance

An essential part of maintaining your network is making sure that all of your tools are compliant with your company’s policies and legal regulations. Compliance should always be a top priority. Not only do you want to avoid putting yourself and your business at risk, but it’s also critical to protect your customers. This responsibility may seem daunting, but with the right network maintenance plan, you won’t have to worry about regulatory upkeep constantly.

6. Establishing Reliable Network Security

Unfortunately, anyone can be susceptible to network breaches, especially without the right precautions in place. Considering the vast amount of data on your server, you don’t want to leave it unguarded. Fortunately, your network maintenance service can help secure necessary firewalls, VPNs and intrusion prevention tactics, while also setting up user validation systems that use a dependable authorization, authentication and accounting (AAA) method.

The security of your network is one of the most important elements to maintain, and consistent upkeep will help your company remain safe against potential threats. If a breach still occurs, a properly maintained network will have procedures in place for logging the event and automated responses to streamline the process of moving forward.

Bonus: Creating a Plan That Works for You

These are six common responsibilities, but there are many other tasks that a network maintenance plan can entail. Depending on your company’s needs, you may find advantages in other services, such as having your accounts managed, backups scheduled or faulty equipment replaced. Talking with your provider about your options will help you create the custom plan to keep your network and all of your devices functioning on their best behavior.

Which Hardware Devices Are Serviced Most Often Through Network Maintenance?

It’s good to be familiar with typical network maintenance tasks, but it may also be beneficial to understand the variety of firmware involved in helping your network run smoothly. Aside from regular workstations, your network is powered by an arsenal of other devices, including a cable modem termination system, servers, switches and routers. Here is a closer look at each of these and how maintenance keeps them at their best.

1. CMTS

A cable modem termination system, or CMTS, is a device that allows for the exchange of digital signals. It takes incoming traffic on a single channel and routes them to an ISP. A CMTS can serve different cable modem population sizes, and the cable modems associated with it do not change in quality dependent on distance.

Network security is helped with a CMTS, as they are capable of some basic filtering for protecting against attacks and unauthorized users. It is one of the reasons that it’s essential to perform updates and maintenance on devices like your CMTS, which prevent the decay of the systems that keep bugs and security threats at bay.

2. Servers

Having a reliable and working server is an integral part of having a secure, robust and profitable business. It allows you to manage network resources and stay consistent as a company. Technically, any capable computer, device or program can be a server, as long as it is a dedicated central repository that helps provide resources, such as the access to hardware, disc space or other necessary files and information, to any other computer on that network.

While any computer could work as your server, the functions that the server performs are going to differ from those of other workstations within the system. Most dedicated servers have unique features and configurations to boost their performance. A server might also be connected to separate power supplies, networks and even other servers. Because of any added high-performance RAM, faster processor, several high-capacity hard drives and the critical tasks the server performs, server maintenance on these computers tends to be much more intensive than that of your average workstation.

3. Switches

A switch receives incoming data and redirects it to the destination on the local area network. Essentially, a switch creates an electronic tunnel between a source and its destination where no other traffic can enter. Because of this, there can be communication with no collisions. However, if something goes wrong with the switches, your communication will likely be disrupted. Your network needs to be able to share information, and the proper maintenance can help you ensure that such connections remain strong.

4. Routers

While a switch creates a tunnel, a router connects networks. Routers are similar to switches, but they can also forward packets of information between different networks and are not limited to node-to-node communication on the same network as a switch is.

With routers, as with any of these devices, the software they run and the firmware itself are both susceptible to damages without the right regular upkeep. As part of your network maintenance plan, there should be a component to check over hardware for warning signs, like clogged fans or overheating. And just as with other computers in your network, making sure they have the latest updates to their code can help you avoid unwanted situations.

What Are the Different Approaches for Maintaining a Network?

There are two main philosophies behind maintaining your organization’s network — with only one fitting a true preventative-plan definition:

1. Interrupt-driven: In an interruption-driven model, network testing and troubleshooting occur after a problem is detected. This method calls for reduced daily IT oversight, yet courts higher risks of system downtimes, errors and costly fixes as well as an “all-hands-on-deck” mentality to fix whatever errors strike that may put other business functions on the back burner.
2. Structured: In a structured network-maintenance environment, system updates and activities are done consistently, on a day-by-day basis. A structured network philosophy aims to minimize service disruptions by spotting potential issues or anomalies before they spread across system environments.

What Is a Network Maintenance Schedule?

A network maintenance plan institutionalizes a structured approach to managing your organization’s entire IT ecosystem. It promotes coordination and proactively oversees your servers, storage, software and hardware devices and programs, especially those from different OEMs or working across multiple interfaces.

When successfully implemented, a routine network maintenance plan keeps all major components of your network running in its safest, most updated conditions while simultaneously identifying errors or potential problems before they grow into business disruptions.

What’s Involved in Regular Preventative Maintenance for Your Network?

While there are many activities fitting the umbrella definition of network maintenance planning, overseeing the health and safety of your servers, routers, devices and software involves a few key domains.

Consider these preventative maintenance tenets below. Which does your organization currently spearhead directly, and which do you leave to your OEMs or a TPM?

24/7 Network Monitoring and Defense

Organizations today manage an increasingly complex array of devices, platforms and endpoints. With the exponential rise of mobile, cloud and related virtual environments as well as proliferating work from home or BYOD (bring your own device) policies, both traditional and wireless infrastructure must be helmed under a synthesized system able to register and control user access around the clock, then alert you when it detects strange activity.

Such robust network monitoring also includes defenses such as:

• Advanced breach and threat detection
• Recorded activity data logs
• Antivirus protections
• Robust security software
• Overall “packet” capture tools to track out-of-the-ordinary network or server behaviors
• Comprehensive and calendar-set data back-ups

Device Maintenance

To properly maintain your physical devices, organizations must first have an accurate gauge of what and where those devices are, then track their health and activities.

Preventative maintenance plans create the most comprehensive overview of current devices. They also account for the traffic on those devices, plus offer packet delivery oversight to identify how data is being requested, transferred and stored across network devices.

Other device maintenance activities in a regular maintenance plan include:

• A thorough network map, including a complete picture of routers, switchers, servers and other physical devices.
• Interface monitoring and alerts.
• Baseline network device threshold calculations.
• Scheduled device updates, or configurations, plus a notification procedure ensuring users are aware of upcoming device updates as well as an approval system for the contents of those updates. 

Storage Maintenance

Properly maintaining your servers and storage files is one of the most overlooked aspects of IT ecosystem management. Practitioners struggle to make post-warranty or similar legacy equipment work for current storage needs, all while managing the pressure to purchase the latest glistening storage technology on the market at prices that may or may not be prudent.

As a core tenet in a revamped maintenance plan, storage systems can be reviewed for functionality, scale and feasibility, including strategizing:

• Appropriate OEM hardware renewals.
• Up-to-date, accurate storage data and information.
• Next-generation on and off-premise file and server storage ideas.
• Cost analysis of worthy investments in storage systems and total infrastructure.

Performance Management

Network performance management best practices include deploying systems to track the connections, speeds and usage habits of devices within your network, then mapping better interfaces and usage policies to bolster overall performance improvements.

Using performance data across server speeds, data latency, device performance and more, organizations can also wield its preventative maintenance plan for quality of service (QoS) updates to reconfigure interfaces for maximum productivity. The results are longer lifespans for your equipment, plus speedier pieces of software and bolstered internet connections for best-possible employee outputs. 

Why Do I Need Network Maintenance?

Network maintenance plans transform the bulk of IT domains into measured, methodical activities. It creates a scheduled template of daily undertakings that holistically improve the way your organization uses and manages core technology — technology that, when disrupted, has the potential to grind operations to a halt.

Risk-mitigation aside, implementing internal and outsourced network maintenance is essential when your enterprise finds itself experiencing any of the following situations:

1. You Have a Burgeoning Computer Infrastructure

There are many reasons organizations seek to expand its portfolios of software applications and physical IT hardware, including:

• You’re experiencing an increased need for data, from storing customer information after sales transactions to tracking market analytics insights.
• You’re migrating to the cloud or merging with another type of cloud-based enterprise system.
• You’re launching a new mobile platform or mobile app.
• You’re expanding or modernizing your servers and storage equipment to increase network performance.
• You’re configuring disparate OEM applications under one umbrella management system.

Network maintenance plans simplify the installation and configurations by harmonizing any new pieces of equipment or software with legacy IT, as well as synchronizing multiple OEM platforms under managed contracts. 

2. You Lack a Robust Data Recovery or Retrieval Plan

According to one study, only 36 percent of companies have a formal cybersecurity policy. The average data-loss incident costs businesses over $5,000 per breach, yet only a third run annual cybersecurity audits and assessments.

From malware and ransomware attacks to accidental data deletion by a well-meaning employee, these incidents are costly, cumbersome to fix and potentially paralyzing to your business. Maintenance plans provide a detailed schedule of data back-ups and storage solutions. Plus, third-party consultants and maintenance partners provide expertise regarding how often to back-up enterprise data, which data is critical and which can be archived, plus the best on-premise and remote back-up locations.

3. You Want to Better Understand Your Network Usage and Performance

True visibility across your network’s actual performance can court significant cost-savings for your enterprise. A maintenance plan with performance reports displays traffic patterns and internet usage, as well as how much of your bandwidth you’re siphoning.

With this objective data in tow, you can tailor your IT ecosystem accordingly, setting up smarter usage and access controls, picking better-fitting bandwidth contracts and setting yourself for uninhabited scalability when the time comes without impeding operations in a saturated network.  

4. You Need More Robust Cybersecurity Practices

Data backups and retrievals are only one variable in the cybersecurity equation. As more and more devices enter the typical workplace, organizations have an increased number of targets for hacks, malware, ransomware, social engineering schemes, AI manipulations, OS security holes, out-of-date software and more modern workplace cybersecurity threats.

New workplace norms add additional security complexity to the fold. For example, the growing prevalence of telecommuting presses organizations to set up safe network entry portals and connections for remote employees. Those same employees need off-premise access to the same data files, applications and software they use in the office, at the same speeds and functionality, without threatening the safety of the whole.

Benefits of Network Maintenance Plans

Compared to those that are interrupt-driven, organizations with a network maintenance plan leverage distinct advantages, including:

1. Reduced System Downtimes

Fully implemented maintenance plans ensure go-to protocols when unanticipated incidents strike across your devices or software. With an action plan in your back pocket, you can react quickly and acutely, identifying the source of the issue and providing precise, informed remedies.

Network downtimes are therefore minimized, as are the costs associated with escalated issues that went undetected until reaching an expensive breaking point. From employees to clients, everyone will appreciate the faster approach to solving network errors or glitches, as well as the reduced headaches during patching.

2. Increased Data Retrieval, Usage and Connectivity

Network maintenance plans with dedicated performance and data storage activities improve the speeds and safety of how your devices exchange data. This is pivotal in an age when enterprise data has never been more vital to operations — or more expensive to reinstate when lost or stolen.

Maintenance plans accomplish this by mapping and overseeing current network logs, files and folder permissions. They also review hardware space for performance lags or backlogs, improving the speeds at which data may be retrieved and updated. The result is an optimized network with more secure data access portals that don’t leave employees or customers waiting after requesting, inputting or sharing sensitive information.

3. Greater IT Infrastructure Visibility and Communication

Yet another advantage of implementing a network maintenance plan is the greater visibility and understanding of your complete network layout.

These layouts, or network topologies, are extensive. Topologies encompass the top-down anatomy of your network’s hardware and software devices, plus the connection types keeping them in sync. There are multiple layers to network topologies, each of which is objectively defined, mapped and improved via a TPM maintenance plan, namely:

• Network inventory: The complete diagram of devices maintained by your organization able to connect to the interfaces of each other, as well as your software products and versions, software vendors, OEMs, licensing information and individualized tag assess numbers.
• Physical topology layer: All the ways your hardware and devices are physically connected with one another.
• Wireless topology layer: All the ways your hardware and devices wirelessly connect and sync with one another.
• IP addresses: The complete list of IP addresses used on your network, as well as typical access and traffic amounts, plus which interface they are configured on.
• Configuration history: Documenting the installation and update schedules of your software, hardware, operating systems and interfaces as well as archiving previous working versions.

4. More Digital Productivity

The methodical, scheduled philosophy behind network maintenance plans ensures employee applications don’t suddenly go dark during a reconfiguration. Teams are better kept in-the-loop on scheduled updates, understand the rationale behind those updates and experience shorter system downtimes and delays hindering their work.

Plus, since network plans fix performance bugs and streamline data access and storage systems, those same employees can perform digital tasks and activities quicker and easier. Their outputs increase, allowing them to work smarter without working harder.

5. Bolstered Security

Strongly maintained networks regularly examine their security features, make frequent updates to workplace software and applications, patch security holes and reconfigure antivirus software to remain in peak condition. You have peace of mind that, across all devices, programs and protocols, your data is safe and network fortified. When incidents do occur, safeguards are already in place to minimize damage and keep essential files and systems from being compromised.

Work With an Expert Maintenance Provider

Worldwide Services maintains top certifications in third-party managed network maintenance, including the advanced ISO 9001:2008 and TL 9000 certificates — a title fewer than 500 companies globally can claim.

Your network’s security and performance rests in the right hands with our leading maintenance plans and packages. Request a quote today to stop questioning if your network operates at its true potential. 

One of the brutal realities of IT is the fact that hardware is phased out relatively quickly within the industry. No matter how much time and effort you put into the selection or how well the product works for you, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may choose to discontinue production and sale of that hardware within three to five years of release. This discontinuation date is called End of Life or EoL. While this short lifespan is typical to the OEM, it often doesn’t meet the needs or desires of businesses using the hardware — many companies will choose to continue using their hardware after the manufacturer has ceased production.

However, the next step of the hardware lifecycle is End of Service Life, or EoSL, a much more final cessation of service from the OEM. Understanding what EoSL is and how to prepare for it will help your business better understand the equipment lifecycle and make more informed decisions regarding your IT hardware.

What Is EoSL?

End of Service Life is the final phase of a product’s lifecycle that usually comes six to 12 years after the product is released. At this point, the manufacturer no longer produces or sells the hardware, and it is ceasing any maintenance and support services, including firmware updates. If the provider offers any continued support for the hardware, it likely comes at a significantly increased cost and will probably be temporary.

So why does the manufacturer declare an EoSL date? Mostly, the reason is to push progress. EoSL dates come after a piece of hardware has been out for a long time, and the manufacturer has new technologies and product lines to sell. Setting an EoSL date creates a cutoff of service that pushes customers to purchase new products and decreases the number of hardware products OEM support staff need to be able to service regularly. While these practices are frustrating for users, they’re what OEMs need to do to remain profitable.

Some issues that arise when a product reaches EoSL include the following:

• Decreased hardware performance
• Software compatibility issues
• Security weaknesses, though patches may still come through or be available from other sources
• Lower operating efficiency

Because of these issues, it’s important to know what the EoSL date is for your hardware and where your equipment is in the IT life cycle. While your business can use End of Service Life hardware best practices to extend the use of your hardware, you should start looking and budgeting for new products once your hardware hits its EoSL date. Technology advances quickly, and using outdated hardware leaves your business open to vulnerabilities and prevents you from taking advantage of the latest IT capabilities.

EoSL vs. EoL

One of the common questions that comes up when discussing product lifecycles is how EoL differs from EoSL. Essentially, the primary difference is in service offerings. They are defined in more detail below:

• EoL: End of Life indicates that the manufacturer has declared the end of production for that hardware. After the EoL date, the OEM stops producing, marketing, selling and refurbishing that product. However, the OEM will continue providing maintenance services for existing equipment. The EoL for hardware generally comes three to six years after product release.
• EoSL: End of Service Life is when the manufacturer will cease support altogether for a product line. As of the EoSL date, the OEM will not offer any more maintenance or support. In rare cases, minimal support will continue at a significantly increased price. The EoSL usually comes six to 12 years after product release.

Besides the service aspect, EoL and EoSL are relatively close in meaning. The difference in date, however, varies, often based on the popularity of the product and the availability of replacement parts. Sometimes EoSL follows EoL very closely, especially for less popular products or hardware with more limited releases and fewer replacement parts. However, the difference in EoSL may be longer if the product was especially popular or more widely produced, as replacement parts will be more abundant for these product lines. Generally speaking, however, EoSL will follow EoL by one to six years.

What Happens When Hardware Reaches EoSL?

While companies can still operate relatively the same after their hardware has reached EoL, many things change after the EoSL date. The manufacturer will no longer support the product, which means the following for your company:

• Exorbitant support rates: OEMs will often increase their support rates after they’ve announced EoL on a product line, but they’ll certainly increase their rates once a product reaches the EoSL date — often, they’ll end service entirely. OEMs don’t make money on maintenance — they make money on product sales — so it is more profitable for them to charge exorbitant prices for service on old products and encourage users to upgrade. If the OEM ceases service entirely, customers using the product will have to turn to expensive repair services.
• Diminished part supplies: New part supplies tend to diminish after production stops. During the two or three years your product is under warranty, the OEM as plenty of access to new parts and components. However, after production stops, OEMs do not have access to certified quality parts. While more refurbished parts tend to hit the secondhand market after a product reaches EoL and companies start to upgrade, it’s not profitable for OEMs to search for and certify these parts.
• Outdated firmware: After EoL, the OEM typically stops updating the firmware for that product. In the rare event that the OEM continues updating the firmware, they will certainly stop after the EoSL date. This means that users will have to install security patches themselves instead of relying on the OEM.

After the EoSL date, OEMs effectively limit the options for companies still using the product. The choice to upgrade is simple for those prepared to make the switch, but many companies aren’t fully ready for EoSL.  Maybe their hardware is working perfectly well for them at the moment, or they haven’t had enough time to find and test a new product that meets all their needs. Those customers who aren’t ready to upgrade often feel backed into a corner — either they need to upgrade before they need or want to or pay high fees for OEM services or internally-facilitated repairs. However, your company has options if you prepare for EoSL properly.

How to Prepare for EoSL

When your OEM announces what the EoSL date is for your hardware, start preparations immediately. Below are some most basic steps and tips for End of Service Life preparation:

• Get the details: Read the EoSL announcement thoroughly and collect any essential details such as what the EoSL date is and if any services will be available after that date. Also, be sure to check if any related products are nearing their EoL or EoSL that may also be in your IT equipment.
• Learn the equipment: Learn more about the equipment that is reaching EoSL. What maintenance issues has your company encountered with it in the past? What are the common repair needs for this piece of equipment? How expensive are those repairs?
• Look for maintenance options: If you choose to keep your equipment past the EoSL date, you need to handle maintenance. You can handle maintenance internally with one or more trained specialists in your IT department, or you can hire a third party. Third-party maintenance (TPM) can be an affordable solution to this problem, offering comprehensive maintenance at a lower cost than an internal specialist or OEM.

These steps can help extend the life of your hardware long past the EoSL date. However, keep in mind that you will eventually need to upgrade. Hardware doesn’t last forever, and refusing to upgrade means you may not be taking advantage of the most recent advancements in IT capabilities. Be sure to weigh the cost and benefit of upgrading versus sticking with your old hardware regularly, and start doing research and testing for upgrades as soon as your company is ready.

Work With a Third-Party Maintenance Provider

If your company isn’t ready to upgrade and wants to extend the life of your EoSL hardware, TPM providers offer a cost-effective solution. TPM services provide support, expert advice and repair services to help maintain your equipment long after the OEM stops offering support. They can even replace parts using trusted secondhand channels, so you can keep your equipment for as long as you need it. By working with a TPM, your company gains the flexibility it needs to make upgrades on your schedule, not when your OEM thinks you should.

Some of the specific benefits of working with a TPM provider include the following:

• Extended hardware lifespan: Even though the manufacturer has declared a product’s EoSL, that doesn’t make the equipment useless. If your hardware is well-maintained, your company can keep using it for as long as you need it. TPM services can help with maintenance and repair to extend your hardware’s lifespan to meet your needs.
• Timeline flexibility: Manufacturer EoSL dates don’t always come at a convenient time. Maybe the EoSL date happens when your company doesn’t have the extra capital to invest in upgrades or during a busy season when an upgrade would disrupt your operations. Perhaps your company has narrowed down your upgrade options but won’t have completed testing by the EoSL date. No matter what is going on with your company, your schedule shouldn’t be dictated by the manufacturer. Working with a TPM ensures that your equipment is maintained past the EoSL date and until your company is fully ready for an upgrade.
• High-quality parts: If your company is doing repairs internally, you may not have access to high-quality replacement parts. TPM services work with OEMs and trusted manufacturers and refurbishment specialists to get the parts you need for a quality repair.
• Experienced repair specialists: TPM specialists are experts in their field with extensive experience with a range of products. They have the resources and equipment to get the repair done, as well as the knowledge to do it right.
• Customer-specific attention: OEMs specialize in equipment, but TPMS specialize in service. TPM specialists focus on providing comprehensive and quick repair services for their clients, minimizing downtime while servicing a wider range of products. Many TPM programs even allow you to customize your service model so you only pay for what you need.
• Reduced costs: TPM companies are significantly less expensive to work with than a post-EoL OEM service team. With specialized skills and faster turnarounds, TPM companies can provide cost-effective results while helping you save money on equipment.

These benefits are attractive to any company facing an EoL or EoSL date, but be sure to work with the right TPM provider. There are two types of TPMs — traditional TPM and secondary hardware suppliers. Traditional TPM companies are independent support contractors that specialize in maintenance. Secondary hardware suppliers, on the other hand, offer support as well as hardware resales. Be sure to look into a TPM’s focus and ensure that it aligns with your goals before working with them.

Partner With Worldwide Services

When it comes to EoSL management, you need a TPM company you can trust. Whether you’re looking for online technical support or a comprehensive maintenance solution, Worldwide Services can help.

Worldwide Services provides comprehensive TPM support with the NetGuard program. NetGuard offers support for over 200 current and legacy lines of OEM products from a range of brands from large to small. With our services, you retain full control over your equipment and data while our experts provide 24/7 support access. Best of all, with NetGuard, you an save up to 50-80% on maintenance costs. With our established presence in the industry and a proven track record, you can rely on NetGuard to meet all your needs for third-party management.

Protect your hardware investment and save money with NetGuard’s comprehensive TPM solution. For more information on NetGuard and how Worldwide Services can benefit your company, contact us today.

With the ever-changing digital landscape, IT maintenance is a major challenge for many businesses. The most common issues that can affect the performance of your business IT operations include hardware, software, and data issues. These problems can have a significant negative impact on your business if they are not handled promptly. What are the Top 5 IT maintenance problems facing businesses today? In this article, we’ll look at what they are and what you can do about them.

1). Forced Obsolescence & Unnecessary Upgrades: The Problem of Why.

OEMs are in the business of selling new hardware. When they EOL/EOS a product they try to force your hand into purchasing new hardware. There is no reason for you to take a perfectly functioning piece of hardware out of your network just because the OEM will no longer support it. We have 30+ years of failure rate data that provides insights into how long a specific piece of equipment should last. One truth is recurring, it is going to last longer than the OEM wants you to believe.

2). Increased Costs: The Problem of How Much.

According to IT analysts, 80% of total IT costs occur after the initial purchase. This is mainly due to high maintenance costs foisted on businesses by the OEMs. It is not uncommon for the OEMs to increase annual hardware maintenance costs by 15% per year for the first five years of purchase.  After those 5 years the percentage can be whatever they see fit – even up to a 100% increase for products that have become end-of-life. WWS delivers 50-80% savings over OEM support, increases operational efficiencies and simplifies your maintenance program.

3). Uptime/All the Time: The Problem of Now.

Downtime from network or server issues can have huge negative impacts on a company’s bottom line and reputation. Maintaining service availability percentages with 99.99% availability can be achieved following critical steps. Purchasing equipment that is the easiest to repair and replace is a key step, coupled with load balancing, failover and redundancy. WWS has a truly global approach to Managed IT Services. Our expertise in logistics and strategic stocking depots will ensure your business maintains its operational functionality around the globe.

4). Complexity to Manage: The Problem of More.

Keeping track of multiple service contracts across a multitude of vendors is not easy. When a problem or support issue is identified, there can be extreme confusion working through multiple vendors and equipment suppliers to fix the problem. Conflicting Service Level Agreements (SLAs) slow down fixes and ultimately the end users pay the price.

5). Geographically Complexity: The Problem of Where.

Our global reach extends to 100 countries around the world. We have built a comprehensive understanding of global supply chain management to include complex logistical support, transportation visibility and disaster planning. Our agile services team has the flexibility to help you rapidly scale globally.

How Much Does Third-Party Maintenance Cost?

Today, around 64% of businesses use third-party managed services for at least 1 IT function. While many organizations realize the importance and benefits of third-party maintenance, some are reluctant to jump on the bandwagon.

Perhaps you are in the latter group but are open to using these services if the price is right.

What are the advantages of third-party maintenance, and how much does it cost? Read on to find out so budgeting for third-party maintenance services is easier and see a real-world pricing example to illustrate just how much you can save.

Advantages of Choosing Third-Party Maintenance Over OEMs

OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) usually offer maintenance services with their hardware, but you need to keep in mind that they are in the business of selling hardware.

This perverse incentive means their ultimate goal is to get you to buy more products, not to get the most out of the equipment you have already purchased.

It is also a widespread practice to charge more for maintenance on older equipment to further promote this agenda. Third-party maintenance (TPM) companies offer you a much more cost-effective solution. TPM providers focus on helping you get the most out of your existing technology and not forcing you into unnecessary equipment upgrades.

In addition, you have much more freedom over your IT infrastructure. Contracts are flexible, and you can even get maintenance coverage for equipment that OEMs no longer even support. As a result, you will enjoy significant cost savings.

Other benefits include:

• Personalized and prompt support solutions.
• Customized sparing programs.
• Ability to leverage third-party maintenance with OEM coverage for a hybrid solution.

How Much Does 3rd-Party Maintenance Cost?

We will start by answering this central question that is on your mind. However, as you might have already guessed, there is no single answer, as many variables can affect your costs.

Below, we will explore what some of these factors could be and how they would impact what you pay for managed IT services.

Level of Service

What is great about third-party maintenance is that companies can offer an array of service options. They range from phone and online technical support to operating system support, remote monitoring, onsite field services/engineering assistance, cost-management strategies, and multiple service level options from which to choose.

Essentially, you can pick on an a la carte basis.

Of course, many third-party maintenance companies offer bundles to help you save on costs. Make sure you take full advantage of these.

Length of Contract

Every organization will have its own needs for third-party maintenance. While one might need it for one year, others might only want to have a more extended contract over a few years.

However, as we have stated above, regardless of contract length, the cost will still be significantly lower than comparable OEM services.

So How Much Does Third-Party Maintenance Really Cost?

Knowing the factors that affect third-party maintenance costs is undoubtedly helpful, but it still does not give a ballpark figure of how much your organization will have to pay.

We understand the frustration, as many other managed IT service companies tend to shy away from showing their prices online, but we at Worldwide Services are here to help you in any way we can, which is why we are transparent with pricing.

Below, you will find a scenario where we compare our pricing with an OEM’s pricing. Not only will this allow you to get an estimate of how much third-party maintenance will cost, but it will also demonstrate the cost-effective value of our company.

Worldwide Services NetGuard vs. Cisco SmartNet Maintenance comparison:

Pricing Example Based on Cisco WS-C3850 Maintenance Support

• Cisco: SMARTnet 8x5xNBD: CON-SNT-WSC388PE = $1,392
• WWS: NetGuard Maintenance 8x5xNBD: NG-WS-C3850-48P-E = $525

WWS Solution = 62% savings

As you can see, Worldwide Services can save you significant money through their NetGuard maintenance solution.

Get Help with Affordable Third-Party Maintenance Today

Hopefully, you now understand the factors affecting what you pay for third-party maintenance. More importantly, we hope that it has also been helpful with our real-world pricing scenario.

Worldwide Services offers lower cost and better value than with an OEM–especially on items that are EOL/EOS. So, please take full advantage of this fact and get the managed IT services you need for your server, storage, or networking products.

Would you like to reap the benefits of first-class managed IT services without paying OEM rates? Then schedule a 15-minute call with one of our IT Solutions Experts for a free quote and evaluation.

In any business, time is money. This is especially true on the IT side of a company. Network failures and outages, called network downtime, can cost companies thousands of dollars in lost revenue, lost productivity and recovery costs. On top of these costs, downtime can be frustrating for your business and its employees, particularly for the IT department.

So what exactly is network downtime and how can it be fixed? In this article, we’ll explain what network downtime is, why it happens and how to prevent network downtime in your business.

What Is Network Downtime?

Downtime refers to periods when a system cannot complete its primary function. Depending on the situation, this system may be temporarily unavailable, offline or completely unable to operate. Downtime may apply to a single application, computer, server or entire network. If a critical component of the network goes down, this can result in network downtime.

Depending on the nature of a company, network downtime can look very different. Network downtime within a retail business may result in point-of-sale (POS) terminals not working or phones going down, leaving the business unable to make sales. For a service provider, this may look like an inoperable portal, cutting off service to its customers. Regardless of what it looks like, network downtime is a massive loss of service that impacts the company’s network and functionality.

What Is Unplanned and Planned Downtime?

Not all downtime is the same. Downtime for a network is split into two types — planned and unplanned downtime. So what is planned downtime versus unplanned downtime?

Planned downtime is a period where the IT department intentionally takes down the network to complete scheduled maintenance and upgrades. While the network is not useable at this time, planned downtime is essential to ensure that the network functions optimally in the long term.

Unplanned downtime is another story. This is an unexpected network outage that can occur at any time due to unforeseen system failures. Unplanned downtime can occur as a result of many different failures, including hardware and software malfunctions, operator mistakes or even cyberattacks. This is the most costly type of downtime, as it can occur during business hours.

Reasons for Planned Downtime

System owners and IT staff set up a planned outage ahead of time. These are typically scheduled during off-hours to minimize service interruptions and sale losses. Planned downtime can facilitate many IT maintenance tasks, including the following:

• System diagnostics: IT staff can run diagnostic tests during this time to identify and isolate potential problems.
• Hardware replacements: IT can take down applicable systems during network downtime to replace outdated or malfunctioning hardware.
• Network repairs: Staff may use a planned network downtime to repair hardware, restart certain systems or perform software patches and maintenance.
• Configuration updates: Planned downtime may be used to change the network configuration to make updates or fix errors and omissions.
• Application updates: Especially in the case of essential applications, network downtime can be used to switch out, update or reconfigure network applications.
• Expected natural events: In some cases, a network may be taken down in anticipation of a natural event, such as an oncoming storm or power outage.

Planned downtime can sometimes be avoided or mitigated by implementing a rolling upgrade schedule, where the IT team takes down portions of the system for upgrades and maintenance without shutting down the entire network. When planned downtime is absolutely necessary, however, it is essential to communicate the downtime and schedule it carefully to avoid busy periods.

Reasons for Unplanned Downtime

Out of the two types of downtime, unplanned downtime is the most harmful to a business. So what is unplanned downtime? Essentially, this is any network downtime that is not expected. As for what causes network downtime, there are many reasons why a network may fail unexpectedly. Some of these causes of network downtime are explained in detail below:

• Human error: Computers don’t make mistakes, but when humans are involved, errors can happen. The more humans involved in the system, the more likely human error can occur. These mistakes can be as simple as accidentally unplugging essential hardware, following outdated procedures or taking an ill-advised technical shortcut. Regardless, human error is the most common cause of unplanned network downtime. In one survey, 97% of IT personnel stated that human error is the cause or a contributing factor in at least some network outages.
• Understaffed IT departments: A well-staffed IT department is essential for keeping networks, servers and hardware running smoothly. Unfortunately, not all companies allocate sufficient funds and personnel to ensure that their IT departments are adequately staffed. Short-staffed IT departments mean that staff is spread thin trying to maintain and support daily operations. For this reason, they may not have the time and resources to monitor the network or perform sufficient maintenance. As a result, the network is at an increased risk of unplanned downtime.
• Outdated equipment and software: The older the components of a network are, the more likely they can fail and trigger a system outage. With continuous updates and technological advancements, hardware and software systems become outdated within the span of a few years, resulting in reduced performance and system crashes. Because of this threat to network functionality, it is essential to take regular inventory of IT components and proactively plan necessary upgrades.
• Hardware failures: Engineering has allowed hardware to have significantly increased functional lives, but network devices will break down eventually. Outdated hardware, as previously noted, is especially vulnerable to failure, but hardware problems can occur even in newer equipment. While built-in redundancies can help mitigate the effects of hardware failure, this isn’t always possible to achieve for smaller businesses, resulting in network downtime due to a single point of failure.
• Server bugs: Server bugs and vulnerabilities also pose a significant threat to performance. Any IT professional knows that keeping server operating systems up to date is necessary, but these need to be done right. If a patch isn’t applied quickly, it can lead to the system being vulnerable to bugs and holes the patch was designed to fix. On the other hand, if a patch is applied without being tested, it can result in applications being corrupted to the point of failure. The best solution is to test patches immediately and thoroughly when they come available and apply them as soon as tests are complete.
• Incorrect configurations: incorrect device configurations are another significant cause of network downtime. Configuration changes can create outages if done incorrectly. A study conducted at the University of Michigan found that 36% of router problems resulting in downtime were a direct result of configuration errors.
• Incompatible changes: Unlike configuration errors, incompatible changes occur when an intended change does not work with the systems and equipment already in place. One survey found that 44% of IT professionals agreed that incompatible network changes resulted in downtime or performance problems several times a year.
• Power outages: Power failures happen unexpectedly and affect every system within a network. These unexpected outages can be mitigated by uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and generator systems, but it is essential to test these power backup systems regularly and maintain them to ensure functionality.
• Natural disasters: Natural disasters represent a small portion of network downtime causes, but they can be devastating for business networks affected. Unexpected natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, and tornadoes can take down power services and communications and even destroy hardware.

While some causes of network downtime cannot be avoided, many of them can be minimized with a fully staffed IT department, regular maintenance protocols and the use of network monitoring software to catch problems before they take down the network.

The Cost of Network Downtime

When systems go down, it can represent massive losses — according to Gartner, companies lose an average of $5,600 per minute of network downtime or over $300,00 per hour. While companies can schedule planned network downtime to minimize these costs, unplanned downtime can result in significant unexpected costs, which can be especially painful for smaller businesses. But where do these costs come from?

The costs of downtime come from four primary sources, explained in detail below:

• Lost revenue: The primary cost of network downtime is the loss of revenue due to being unable to provide critical services to customers. For example, if your customer service team cannot access an essential system, such as a POS terminal, you may lose current or potential customers and their sales.
• Lost productivity: Outages of essential work systems may result in employees being unable to work entirely. As a result, employees are being paid for the time they’re not working, while the IT team may be working overtime to perform maintenance or fix the source of the downtime.
• Recovery costs: There are several IT costs incurred while fixing the source of the downtime. These include the overtime, repair and replacement costs needed to remedy the issue. Also, network failures can result in a breach of a service level agreement (SLA), which may result in the company losing certification or incurring penalty fees. On top of this, data losses and damage to customers can result in legal costs.
• Intangible costs: Finally, multiple costs are unquantifiable but contribute to the total losses incurred by network downtime. These include increased inefficiencies, losses in customer and employee confidence and even reduced business competitiveness.

Most companies quantify downtime by calculating productivity and revenue losses, but recovery and intangible costs are important to consider as well, as they can result in increased long-term costs following a period of downtime.

How to Communicate Network Downtime

Regardless of why downtime occurs, when it happens, it’s essential to communicate with all affected staff. The Joint Commission International, which directs compliance for hospitals, recommends that clear, timely and accurate communication of downtime progress is best in any downtime situation, planned or unplanned. This is good advice for any industry. Quick communication reduces staff stress and minimizes the distractions for the IT department by reducing inquiries about the downtime event.

In a planned downtime event, early communication to all affected employees will help them prepare appropriately. In these communications, including the following information:

• All systems and applications expected to be down
• Which departments and service areas will be affected
• The start time and expected duration of the downtime
• The reason for the downtime
• Any changes expected after the downtime is complete, such as system enhancements

In an unplanned downtime event, communicate immediately following the discovery of the event. Using whatever communication channels are available, convey the following information to all affected staff members:

• All systems and applications affected by the downtime
• IT’s awareness of and work toward resolving the downtime
• Any expected effects on external customers
• The reason for the downtime, if known
• The expected duration of the downtime

In addition to the initial communication, it may also be wise to communicate when the downtime event is over. Whether a planned or unplanned downtime event, communicate the resolution immediately to all affected parties and direct them to contact the IT team if they are still encountering issues.

How to Calculate Network Downtime

The ideal situation for any business is that their network would never go down. However, downtime, whether planned or unplanned, is inevitable. Because of this, it’s important to know how network downtime is calculated and how to interpret these calculations when provided by your service providers. It’s also important to know what uptime and availability mean within the context of network downtime.

First, let’s define uptime versus availability. These terms are often used synonymously, but mean slightly different things and are expressed in differing units:

• Uptime: This term is used to refer to the amount of time that a network or system is working properly. It is expressed in units of time, such as years, months, days, minutes and seconds. In other words, it is the time when you are not experiencing network downtime.
• Availability: Availability is the percentage of time within a time interval in which a network or system is working properly. For example, if the network is down for a full day within a calendar month, that means that the system was up for 29 out of 30 days, resulting in an average availability of 96.666% for that month.

Companies often boast their uptime using terms of availability. For example, a cloud service provider can advertise a guaranteed availability of 99% within a calendar year for one of their servers. This means that you could expect up to 3.65 days of downtime within a year or 7.2 hours of downtime within a month.

When talking about availability, you may hear the term “five nines.” This is a highly desired availability of 99.999%, which translates to about 5 minutes of downtime a year. Practically speaking, this is as close to 100% availability as a company can expect. While desirable, this level of availability is also costly, as it requires significant redundancies to maintain. This is usually only found among large service providers because of the costs needed to maintain this level of availability. Keep in mind that service level providers boasting five nines will also tend to be more expensive to work with because of the costs involved in maintaining their high level of availability.

This brings us to how to measure downtime and availability in your own company. The formula is very simple — availability = uptime/total time. Below is a step-by-step instruction for how to calculate this and what each term means.

• Start by calculating how much network downtime your company experienced within a given period. For example, you can look at the last month of network functionality and find that your network was down for a total of 5 hours and 6 minutes, which converts to 306 minutes.
• Next, take the period for which you are calculating downtime and convert that to the same unit of measurement. In our example, we are calculating for a 30-day month, which converts to 43,200 minutes.
• Subtract the downtime from the total time within the period to find the total uptime. In our example, 43,200 minus 306 equals 42,894, so the company experienced 42,894 minutes of uptime within the month.
• Finally, divide the uptime by the total time. In our example, this would mean you divide 42,894 by 43,200, which gives you 0.99291. Multiply this by 100 to get your percentage availability, which in this case would be 99.291% availability.

It’s important to know how this calculation works, but also note that network monitoring software will often calculate uptime and availability automatically.

How to Prevent Network Downtime

So how do you fix your network downtime to maximize uptime and availability? The key is to minimize risk, focus on maintenance and implement redundancies. By setting up IT systems to prepare for the worst, your company can minimize downtime, enabling you to focus on day-to-day operations. Below are just a few steps any company can take to avoid network downtime:

• Schedule updates and maintenance regularly: First, it is essential to schedule regular maintenance with your IT team. Plan ahead for periods where the team will come in during off-hours to check the stability and security of hardware, software and general systems. If the maintenance requires planned downtime, be particularly careful to communicate to all affected parties and plan ahead to maximize efficiency and productivity during the downtime period.
• Conduct regular server tests: Schedule server tests alongside general IT maintenance to make sure your servers work properly. These tests should also include checking all backup servers, both physical and virtual, as these backups are your company’s lifeline in the event of a server failure.
• Perform facility tests: On top of testing your hardware and software on a regular basis, be sure to also check your facilities. Human error, animal activity, fire hazards and water damage can all pose a threat to the safety of your network hardware. Be sure to perform regular facility checks in addition to IT maintenance, looking specifically for hazards like faulty wires, airflow blockages, tripping hazards and temperature issues.
• Implement network monitoring: Finally, implement systems that can empower your IT team to get a better view of your network. Network monitoring systems continuously check the health of all components within a network and alert your IT team of any problems so they can act immediately.

By implementing these steps, your company can effectively reduce your chances of experiencing catastrophic network downtime. This is especially true if you choose to use high-quality network monitoring software backed by a third-party maintenance provider to augment your IT team’s effectiveness.

Work With a Network Expert

If your company is looking for a third-party maintenance provider to help you avoid network downtime, Worldwide Services can help. Our around-the-clock network operations center services supplement your existing IT team, managing performance and quickly resolving any infrastructure failures. Our services include high-quality network monitoring and infrastructure management, network security and lifecycle management, asset recovery and maintenance programs topped with 24×7 technical support and field services.

But why choose third-party network monitoring? When you work with Worldwide Service’s 24×7 network operations center monitoring and reporting solutions, you can experience the following benefits:

• Increased uptime: Network downtime is costly, but Worldwide Services can help prevent it. With lightning-quick response rates, our services detect, record and resolve issues before they affect your business. This means your company can enjoy maximum uptime so you can focus on your business and its customers.
• Improved visibility: Worldwide Services allows your company to benefit from third-party maintenance while still maintaining full visibility of your network at all times. Our web-based portal allows you to see what we see, including key metrics, active tickets, alarms and trends, so you can watch your infrastructure performance right alongside us.
• Expert advice: On top of our cutting-edge technology and sophisticated software, our staff consists of experts in the industry with decades of experience under their belts. With our deep knowledge of the industry, we can be your go-to resource for solutions.
• Cost savings: Custom solutions from Worldwide Services enhance your network while helping lower your costs. By maximizing uptime and reducing the workload for your IT department, we can help free your teams to focus on day-to-day operations and business objectives.

Contact Worldwide Services today to learn more about our network monitoring services and how we can help you prevent network downtime.