EMC Reaching EOSL in 2020

The OEM supply chain is significantly backed up, with some companies unable to provide dates for shipments. But that doesn’t mean the OEMs are pushing back their end-of-support-life (EOSL) deadlines. For those companies with EMC reaching EOSL in 2020, options are more limited than before.

As it is, the OEM forced refresh cycle has companies looking for channel alternatives to prevent having to reinvest in new hardware when their current data centers are operating at full capacity with critical workloads. But with EMC unable to deliver new hardware when companies need it to prevent paying high support costs on sunset equipment and companies feeling the pinch of the current recession, reinvesting isn’t an option for many.

EMC EOSL Upcoming Deadlines

Channel Alternatives for EMC Reaching EOSL

Companies are turning to third-party maintenance (TPM) to support their EMC going EOSL in the coming months−and not just because so many have seen cost savings of 40-70% over the OEMs. While the OEM supply line has dried up, the secondary market is thriving. This means that companies can find the hardware they need (both new and used) without having to wait for the OEMs lead times to improve as the manufacturing industry recovers from the global shutdowns.

For your EMC reaching EOSL, third-party maintenance offers an abundance of EMC support expertise and parts to keep your hardware supported well past the EOL and EOSL dates.

But third-party maintenance companies aren’t just limited to EOL and EOSL equipment. The secondary market also enables third-party maintenance companies to provide channel alternative support for new hardware on the market−and, unlike the OEMs, they can give you lead times on when to expect your new equipment that won’t slow down your business.

Debunking the Myths Around Third-Party Maintenance

There exists a lot of misinformation about third-party maintenance. The OEMs will tell you that channel alternatives can’t deliver the same level of expertise−but that simply isn’t true.

Myth #1: Third-Party Maintenance Delivers Lower Quality Service

While this certainly depends on the third-party maintenance provider you select, most companies have experienced the same−if not better−level of service as when they were supported by the OEM. And what the OEMs don’t want you to know is that they sometimes use the same engineers as third-party maintenance providers to deliver support at a higher markup.

Additionally, the longer your hardware has been on the market, the more highly skilled expertise dedicated to supporting that hardware exists. The right third-party maintenance provider can have an experienced engineer with parts-in-hand at a better SLA than the OEM, anytime, anywhere.

Myth #2: The Quality of Hardware Sparing Goes Down

Again, you’ll want to find a third-party maintenance partner you can trust. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. The same goes for any industry. At CentricsIT, we keep high-quality, tested spares at secure stocking locations (SSLs) all around the globe to ensure we provide the best quality to our clients as possible. Not only do we test for functionality, we also test for authenticity. Look for a partner that has demonstrated a commitment to excellence through certifications such as ISO 14001:2015, R2 Rev. 7/2013, ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 9001:2015 and is willing (and eager) to be transparent about their processes.

Myth #3: Companies on the Secondary Market Have a Smaller Footprint

For multinational companies, finding a third-party maintenance provider that can deliver globally is crucial. Since a large global third-party maintenance company Arrow left the market, finding that provider with the global footprint can seem more daunting to companies who have had poor experiences with third-party maintenance in the past that claimed to be global−but couldn’t live up to their promises.

Ask your third-party maintenance options about their locations, spread, and delivery. A transparent provider should supply you with a list or map of their SSLs and the countries they currently support. Thanks to our global network, CentricsIT has a pulse on the secondary markets at all time−and the reach to deliver.

Myth #4: Third-Party Maintained Equipment is Vulnerable without Patching

Firmware over three years old rarely has updates or patches available from the OEM. For those major vulnerabilities, many of these fixes are publicly available, so your third-party maintenance engineers should still be able to run crucial patches from some brands.

CentricsIT Third-Party Maintenance for EMC Going EOSL

CentricsIT Third-Party Maintenance keeps you ahead of the EMC EOSL deadlines and helps you break free from the forced upgrade cycle. With a global network of skilled engineers and over a decade of expertise in the secondary market, CentricsIT helps companies all over the world maintain their hardware—at a fraction of the price of the OEMs−and with the track record to prove it.

We remain transparent in our processes, reach, and expertise. CentricsIT is also dedicated to maintaining a commitment to excellence and quality by retaining top industry quality certifications.

The CentricsIT facility located at 3140 Northwoods Parkway, Suite 500, Norcross, GA has been independently audited and confirmed as being in conformity with ISO 14001:2015, Responsible Recycling© (R2) Rev. 7/2013 and ISO 45001:2018, in respect to the scope of data destruction, audit resale and recycle. Additionally, the CentricsIT office located in Suite 700 of the same address is ISO 9001:2015 certified, in respect to IT hardware reselling services, hardware rentals and services that include hardware maintenance, hardware installations and data center moves.

Don’t let the OEMs dictate what goes on in your data centers. Contact a CentricsIT representative today for a quote to support your EMC going EOSL.