A great deal of pirated software has found its way into enterprises through previously trustworthy channels, and now counterfeit hardware permeates enterprise networks to a greater degree than most are prepared to admit. Enterprises are spending billions of dollars on pirated equipment, and billions more in lost productivity as the inferior equipment fails. Network managers must be diligent to ensure that network hardware components are genuine.
A Growing Problem
Imagine upgrading 50 Cisco WAN Interface Cards (WICs), and watching in terror as network connections to branches drop like flies. The Network World article, "Fake network gear," details the horrifying experience of one network manager who faced just such a scenario. What makes this case even more frightening is that the equipment was purchased from a registered Cisco reseller.