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 tool will help enterprises assess if the LAN will need to be replaced in the next year due to:
- Age and lack of support.
- The addition of services and applications.
- Significant changes to the network architecture.
Knowing the right time to pursue a LAN refresh will result in the appropriate trade-off between network performance and cost.