IT managers often face difficulties when an end-of-service-life (EOSL) announcement is made by the OEM. This announcement leaves IT teams in a rush to find solutions that won’t exceed their budget. While there are three main options available to IT managers in handling an EOSL announcement, each option presents its own set of challenges.
Upgrade the hardware components
IT managers often opt for OEM support due to lack of alternatives, but sticking to traditional patterns can lead to unnecessary hardware refreshes when faced with EOSL announcements. Replacing perfectly functional hardware just because it has reached its EOSL date can be a wasteful use of IT resources, especially if the new solution doesn’t offer the same capabilities needed for specific databases.
Self-sufficient
- Organizations typically resort to self-maintaining hardware only in dire situations with no other alternatives available.
- Self-maintenance can create dependency on a few skilled workers, leading to potential issues if they are unavailable during a critical situation.
- Maintenance plans from vendors offer quicker repairs due to access to a wide range of parts, reducing downtime compared to self-maintenance.
External support for hardware maintenance needs
- Third-party hardware maintenance sector is growing and maturing, providing IT managers with viable support options beyond EOSL date
- Third-party providers offer various forms of OEM support without the same limitations as the OEM
- Dedicated maintenance vendors focus on process excellence in various types of support, offering high-quality maintenance and customer support at a lower cost than the OEM
Until recently, IT managers had limited choices when confronted with an EOSL announcement – either upgrade or handle maintenance themselves. However, the emergence of third-party maintenance providers now allows organizations to prolong support cycles and optimize the worth of their hardware.
