Now, I know that I have told you that you do not need to upgrade your IT hardware as often as your Cisco Rep tells you. However, it has come to my attention that I have not mentioned anything about when you should think about upgrading and how to decide if your company has outgrown your networking equipment.
While most IT equipment is relevant for 5 – 7 years, it is important to note that this is not an absolute fact. Every company has different needs that evolve differently over time. That being said, it is important for every Network Administrator to know not only the company’s current infrastructure needs, but also how those needs will evolve over time. Knowing where your networking needs are going, is just part of determining if/when you can justify spending the majority of your IT Budget on new network Hardware.
Here are some other things to think about when determining if your IT Hardware is ready to be Upgraded.
Age of your Hardware: Due to the fact that Technology is evolving at an astonishing rate, it is safe to say that once your equipment hits a certain age, it will no longer be able to meet all of your company’s needs. If your equipment is more than 7 years old, you should evaluate if it is really functioning the way you need it to. If it isn’t, it is time to upgrade.
Decreased Performance: Networking Equipment is just like any other electronic hardware. As it ages, its performance becomes less and less reliable. When you are running a business, you need your network to be working at 100% efficiency. If you notice a decrease in your networks performance, it is time to upgrade your IT Hardware.
Availability of replacement units: As time goes on, you will notice that finding replacement units becomes more and more of a challenge. When tracking down; replacement units changes from making a phone call or two to exhausting all of your resources to find a replacement switch, it is time to upgrade!
Hardware Maintenance Cost: As equipment ages, maintenance costs rise. When hardware maintenance costs and repair costs start to outweigh the costs of upgrading, you need to look into starting the complete upgrade process.
Compatibility: With all of the new technologies and upgrades, that are being developed incompatibility is inevitable. If you have already upgraded one part of your network, chances are the older equipment is no longer compatible with this new generation.
If one or more of these is true for you, chances are your Network Equipment is no longer relevant for your company. However, just because your Hardware has become obsolete for your company, that doesn’t mean that it is now garbage! Actually, your used networking equipment has more value than you think! If you want to offset some of your upgrade costs, selling your de-installed IT hardware to a reseller like Data Networks International, is the way to go. When selling your used equipment, DNI will help you to recoup some of your initial hardware investment. Not only that, DNI can offer you a 50% to 90% discount on New and Used Network Hardware.
Want to find out what your “obsolete” IT hardware is worth?
Request a Free Fair Market Valuation Consultation Today!
