Third-party Maintenance Services & Hardware Support

Advantages of Third-Party Hardware Maintenance

The advantages of third-party maintenance include scalability, improved performance, and flexibility.

Let's take a look at TPM's benefits in more detail:

• Cost Savings

  TPM generates significant cost savings compared to maintaining hardware with the OEM. In many cases, TPM contracts are 50% to 70% less expensive than the cost of OEM maintenance.

• Flexible SLAs and Certified Engineers

  TPM providers often have a global network of certified engineers who can provide same-day or next-business-day (NBD) onsite support. TPM providers also offer a diverse set of Support Level Agreements (SLAs) that can be customized to meet your organization's specific needs.

• Longer Hardware Life Expectancy

  TPM allows for longer hardware life expectancy because TPM providers often have access to replacement parts that the OEM no longer manufactures.

  Coverage Flexibility

  TPM also provides more flexibility when it comes to coverage. For example, you may only need coverage for certain parts of your system or for certain hours of the day. With TPM, you have the flexibility to choose the coverage that makes the most sense for your organization.

• Multi-Vendor Coverage

  As TPM becomes more mainstream, vendors are beginning to offer similar services for multi-vendor environments. This can be a big benefit for organizations that maintain a mix of hardware from different manufacturers.

Understanding When to Use TPM

When should your organization turn to third party hardware support? Here are some examples of when switching to TPM may be a good idea for you and your business:

The OEM Raised the Cost of Your Maintenance

You receive notice that your equipment is coming up on end of life (EOL) and now you are faced with either choosing for your hardware to go unsupported or paying the OEM more to cover your EOL assets.

You might consider running your equipment without support because your current IT team has the knowledge to keep it up and running. However, this can put you in a tight spot if your team is unavailable for whatever reason. Whether that be a reduction in workforce, vacation, or sick leave, you always want redundancy of skill to handle these situations. That's when TPM is the better option.

When it comes to maintaining your mission-critical infrastructure, there's simply no substitute for dedicated support from a reliable third-party provider. Without this level of protection, your team may not be able to acquire replacement components or install and configure them properly, putting your entire operation at risk.

A quality third-party maintenance provider will not only keep your systems up and running, but also save you a significant amount of money in the process. If you're looking for peace of mind and cost savings, we recommend partnering with a reputable third-party maintenance provider.

Your Assets Are Almost End of Service Life

If you have not purchased an extended warranty for your assets and they're approaching End of Service Life or even End of Life, the OEMs will not provide service for your hardware. If the OEM does provide service, it likely will not be a long-term solution and ultimately they will try to upgrade you to new hardware unless you run your environment without coverage.

If you are working within a tight budget and there is no reason to decommission your current hardware, using TPM maintenance providers will help you maintain your current hardware while saving your budget.

You Are Not Looking to Hire Specialized Talent Just to Manage Aging Hardware

TPM providers often have a global network of certified engineers who can provide same-day or next-business-day (NBD) onsite support. TPM providers also offer a diverse set of Support Level Agreements (SLAs) that can be customized to meet your organization's specific needs.

Your Current It Team Is Stretched Thin

If you're experiencing bandwidth issues with your IT team, you might need to consider outsourcing maintenance to a third-party provider. This can be especially helpful if you have a smaller IT team or if your regular staff isn't equipped to handle the demand.

Third-party maintenance providers can offer you the necessary help at a fraction of the cost of hiring new staff or expanding your department. Plus, you won't have to worry about issues escalating quickly and overwhelming your team.

You Are Looking to Migrate to the Cloud

When moving to the cloud, most companies are surprised to find out they need short-term coverage to bridge the gap between on-premise and cloud solutions. Costs increase while you're moving to the cloud because you are essentially running two environments at once. This inflated cost is often referred to as the "double bubble".

OEMs lack the flexibility to deal with the unforeseeable time scales and the decommissioning of assets at different times. Even if you only need a couple of months of protection, an OEM might get you to buy a full year of coverage.

Therefore, third-party maintenance providers are indispensable during a cloud migration. Some providers even offer short-term solutions, ranging from one month and upwards. This way, you won't drain your budget on assets you ultimately do not need. Look into providers that can offer you capital upfront and then lease back the assets you need and decommission them within your time frame.