Third Party Maintenance & Network Maintenance: Elements of Hybrid Hardware Support

Hybrid Hardware Maintenance
with Independent Support

What do these terms mean and what is the intrinsic value?

Independent, Third Party Maintenance:

This term is in direct reference to the independent hardware support providers for networking hardware, post-warranty servers and storage hardware. Independence from the OEM creates natural cost-savings, flexibility and often better service for the clients of these providers. Third Party Maintenance has been a popular IT cost containment strategy since the early 1980s.

Hybrid IT Hardware Maintenance:

This term refers to when in-warranty data center hardware are maintained by the OEM, during the warranty period. But, all or a portion of your post-warranty hardware assets are maintained by an independent hardware support provider (also known as Third Party Maintenance). Quite often, for networking hardware, warranty status does not limit the hardware owner from choosing a Third Party Maintenance provider for network maintenance. But the maintenance provider must help the hardware owner balance significant cost savings with risk mitigation – not as overwhelming a task as it may first sound. XSi provides a comprehensive and informative assessment that’s quite easy to deploy.

Why XSi

Third Party Maintenance for Networking Maintenance

Hybrid Support for Networking Maintenance

  • No-cost (first-step) networking assessment helps group assets by multiple categories so eligible assets can be triaged from assets that should remain under OEM support. The assessment drives and builds the logic for hybrid support so it can be easily seen and quantified by your management.
  • Because SMARTnet pricing doesn’t account for asset densities (by location), the assessment reveals how/where OpEx savings often reach 70-80%.
  • XSi provides: 24/7/365 TAC, OEM-certified technicians, 8-minute average response time (for Priority 1), spares and logistics with 600+ forward stocking locations, CMDB for proactive asset management, ongoing and client-focused consultation, the IT security wisdom that stems from working directly with several federal government entities.
  • Assets which must be supported by the OEM are supported through the proper channel; however, assets that are past OS updates (or permanently entitled to updates) may be entirely supported by XSi.
  • Clients may have a direct relationship with XSi or have their VAR contract XSi to simplify management and billing.
  • If you’d like to ensure 100% entitlement compliance and maximize savings through a self-sparing model, check out XSi Cisco Lifecycle & Asset Assurance service. This unique service is not provided by any other Third Party Maintenance company.
Third Party Maintenance for Networking Maintenance
Third Party Maintenance providers for server, storage and networking

Hybrid Support for Server Maintenance

  • Direct support as needed throughout the assessment of eligible server assets (post-warranty, EoL or EoS) from assets which must stay under OEM support. Upon your request and any need for per asset configuration data (which impacts fair pricing), XSi can provide a comprehensive on-site audit.
  • Once accurate config details can be shared, the assessment reveals how/where OpEx savings often reach 50-75%.
  • XSi provides: Various SLA model options with selection consultation, certified on-site field engineers, Level 3/4 backline support, spares and logistics with 600+ forward stocking locations, CMDB for incident details and proactive asset management, ongoing and client-focused consultation, the IT security wisdom that stems from working directly with several federal government entities.
  • Assets which must be supported by the OEM are supported through the proper channel; however, assets that are post-warranty or EoS or EOL are supported by XSi. Note: There are “project-oriented” instances when XSi may be able to help reduce costs for in-warranty servers.
  • Clients may have a direct relationship with XSi or have their VAR contract XSi to simplify management and billing.
  • XSi welcomes inquiries about SmartHands, IMAC projects or unusual scenarios that may require a custom-built solution.
Third Party Maintenance for Storage Maintenance

Hybrid Support for Storage Maintenance

  • Support throughout the assessment of eligible storage assets (post-warranty, EoL or EoS) from assets which must stay under OEM support. Upon your request and any need for per asset configuration data (which impacts fair pricing), XSi can provide a comprehensive on-site audit.
  • Once accurate config details can be shared, the assessment reveals how/where OpEx savings often reach 50-75%.
  • XSi provides: Various SLA model options with selection consultation, certified on-site field engineers, Level 3/4 backline support, spares and logistics with 600+ forward stocking locations, CMDB for incident details and proactive asset management, ongoing and client-focused consultation, the IT security wisdom that stems from working directly with several federal government entities.
  • Assets which must be supported by the OEM are supported through the proper channel; however, assets that are post-warranty or EoS or EOL are supported by XSi. Note: There are “project-oriented” instances when XSi may be able to help reduce costs for in-warranty data storage.
  • Clients may have a direct relationship with XSi or have their VAR contract XSi to simplify management and billing.
  • XSi welcomes inquiries about SmartHands, IMAC projects or unusual scenarios that may require a custom-built solution.
Third Party Maintenance for Storage Maintenance

Gartner’s Perspective on
Hybrid IT Maintenance

Over the last ten years, unbiased IT industry analysts such as Gartner and IDC have said much about Hybrid IT Support and Hardware Lifecycle Management. They’re explaining how a rapidly growing percentage of their subscriber clients are using independent hardware support (Third Party Maintenance) providers to reduce IT costs, extend the life of useful assets and discover the benefits of remarkable service flexibility.

We’ve list several of the most informative Third Party Maintenance articles of the last five years and displayed them below, which are linked to article summaries. To read the full article, you will need to become a Gartner or IDC client. This list is ordered newest to oldest for your convenience.

Click on each icon below to read more.