How To Handle Legacy IT Hardware

The useful life of IT hardware seems to be getting less and less as time goes on. Manufacturers are always keen to push new and shiny equipment – that’s the way they make their money! Sometimes, of course, new equipment offers increased functionality and there may be security concerns concerning some older hardware, but often that is not the case. It’s very nice to open all those new boxes of hardware, but you need to be sure that it’s the best business decision before investing in new hardware for your whole enterprise. Consider these factors before you buy….

1. After a certain number of years manufacturers will stop supporting their hardware. That’s them telling you that they’re fed up of repairing your equipment and you should definitely buy some new stuff from them! For most all types of hardware there are alternative support and repair sources for legacy equipment and you can look for a reliable third party maintenance company. Typically third party sources are much cheaper than manufacturers and offer a better warranty.

2. Unless there is some overriding reason to buy new hardware you can often save money by buying refurbished hardware, especially with higher end equipment. Again, third party suppliers can help supply refurbished hardware with a comprehensive warranty. Look for an established supplier with experience in your type of hardware.

3. The cost savings from extending the working life of your existing hardware can be huge, especially when computed company wide. Along with savings on capital expenditures of new equipment there are also potential savings on employee training, integration costs and you can avoid the potential bugs and “teething problems” often associated with new hardware.

So, when it comes to considering buying new IT hardware or continuing with your legacy equipment it’s often “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t!”