Surprising Truth About Network Hardware Failures - CXtec

When it comes to building your network, you don't want to take any chances. Network hardware failures mean lots of lost money and major stress and are the last thing anyone wants! Therefore nothing but the most reliable network hardware will suffice.

When it comes to building your network, you don't want to take any chances. Network hardware failures mean lots of lost money and major stress and are the last thing anyone wants! Therefore nothing but the most reliable network hardware will suffice.

“The biggest culprit of SMB downtime is actually due to hardware failure, which accounts for some 55 percent of all downtime events in SMBs,”   explains  Paul Mah of SMB Tech.

So, how do you avoid network hardware failures and maintain high levels of reliability?
A good way to avoid network hardware failures is to understand where and when they take place.

This understanding of how network hardware failures happen will arm you with information that can help your organization be more efficient and profitable. Plus, it makes your life easier and less stressful.

Where and When Do Network Hardware Failures Happen?

(Hint: It's not what you think!)

This may come as a surprise to most. The vast majority of network hardware failures take place within the first 30 days of installing brand new, out-of-the-box  network hardware.

That's worth repeating. Most network hardware failures occur within the first 30 days of buying and implementing brand new hardware.

Oddly enough, once the network hardware is "burned in," it tends to run smoothly and efficiently for years and years. This means that you could be running  a higher risk of encountering network hardware failure when you purchase new network hardware.

For many IT professionals, the top reason they pay more money to buy new network hardware is for perceived reasons of reliability. The reality may be 180 degrees opposite of their perception.

What Could Be Causing Network Hardware Failures?

One of the chief reasons network hardware failures occur in the first 30 days might have to do with testing of the product. Did you know that not every piece of new network equipment is thoroughly inspected for quality purposes? In fact, testing of new hardware looks like this:
Only about one out of every X devices is spot-checked.

That could mean 1 out of every 100 devices is checked. Maybe it's 1 out of 1,000. Whether it is 1 out of 100 or 1 out of 1,000 isn't the most important point.

Shouldn't every unit  of network hardware be tested?

Shouldn't that number be a 1 to 1 ratio?

Network hardware failure is a big problem for companies, and the lack of inspection may be causing major issues for customers who are spending extra budget money thinking they're purchasing a superior, more reliable, top-of-the-line product.

But the simple fact is that an untested product could crash at any time—there is no telling when something could go wrong.

A Counterintuitive Solution to Protect Against Network Hardware Failure That Will Save Your Organization Tons of Money

What you are about to hear may take you by surprise. You may have some kind of initial allergic reaction. It's no surprise; you are conditioned to react that way. But if you take a moment to think about it for yourself, you will see that it makes sense. Ready?
Buy pre-owned network hardware.
But wait...not just any pre-owned network hardware.
This is important.
Buy top quality pre-owned network hardware, preferably from an established industry authority who puts the highest value on product testing and certification.
Here's a quick list of some of the things you want to look for to identify a top quality network hardware provider:

• High reliability rating 

• A company who will guarantee network hardware performance with a strong warranty (some even have a lifetime warranty as a standard business practice)

• Testing of every unit

• Established industry track record

• Support for both newer and legacy hardware

• Raving fan customers

Some companies will even have NBD hardware replacement services available that will cost you as little as 50% of what you'd pay for the manufacturer alternative. Plus it allows you to extend the life cycle of your hardware because they can support end-of-life/end-of-service product lines.

This precisely describes our practices and our philosophy. We live it every single day. That's how we know it works, and we will proudly and passionately advocate for this approach. It has ensured high performance and reliability, minimized downtime,  and saved people huge amounts of money for a long time.

Just to show you that this isn't a bunch of hot air, the reliability rating for our very own pre-owned network hardware is over 99.5%. That means a less than 0.05% failure rate. Some original hardware manufacturers have failure rates in the 3 to 4% range. That means buying quality pre-owned hardware provides higher performance and reliability than new network hardware, but at a fraction of the cost.

Less stress. Less risk. Big savings. 

When you make the wise decision to purchase top quality pre-owned network hardware in this manner, you erase the doubt and stress from your mind and you get to save as much as 50 to 90% off list prices. So you get the bonus of having extra money available for other priorities for your IT team and your organization. Talk about making your life a little easier.

It's no risk and all reward.

Think about it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. All it takes is a small shift in philosophy, attitude, and approach to network hardware. What are you waiting for?

If you'd like to learn more about how you can ensure the high performance and reliability of your network hardware while saving lots of money, or if you have a question about your unique situation/problem, we're happy to talk to you. Just click here or give us a ring.