As new features, functionality, and performance characteristics become available from LAN products, enterprises must evaluate when it makes sense to refresh or significantly upgrade the existing LAN infrastructure. Making the decision to execute a LAN refresh too early costs the company money because the infrastructure is retired before it has been fully utilized, while waiting too long can result in additional costs related to maintenance and downtime. Finding the sweet spot where full value has been garnered from the existing infrastructure before it begins failing is a delicate balance, and will not be the same for every enterprise.
This research note examines the following key drivers of a LAN refresh:
- Age and reliability of the infrastructure.
- New applications and services, such as IP Telephony.
- Requirement for more capacity or new features.
- Company growth, merger/acquisition, or mandate from head office.
Knowing the right time to pursue a LAN refresh will result in the appropriate trade-off between network performance and cost.
