With firms across the London and Kent areas of England, as in other parts of the country and the wider world, so often struggling to contain costs, it's understandable that many would look to reduce them by spending less on some of their largest areas of expenditure. Certainly, as vital as a medium to large firm's IT networking equipment is to its smooth and productive operations, there can be a definite temptation to look to the market for Cisco grey equipment.
Cisco is one of the international leaders in networking equipment, encompassing routers, switches, modules and firewalls, so any opportunity to save money on such vital products may seem like too great a chance to miss for so many increasingly cash-strapped firms.
All too often, however, such companies serve both themselves and the wider IT industry ill, by investing in Cisco grey equipment that does not deliver the quality and performance that they require and that may even significantly threaten their network and wider business operations. Now, Data Centre Shop - a trading name of Proxar IT Consulting - has been established, showing that firms really do have a cost-effective and reputable alternative to the often shady and unpredictable market for Cisco grey equipment.
Cisco grey equipment - posing a legal as well as a financial risk
It's understandable that many organisations with seemingly little other option for slashing their spending might regard Cisco grey equipment as, if not an entirely ideal choice, at least a risk worth taking. Alas, whatever the stated reasons for buying Cisco grey equipment, there have been all too many instances of such firms being stung by such a decision - in terms of finance, legality and even productivity.
Firstly, as much as 15 per cent of Cisco equipment from the secondary market, or from "unauthorised channels" to use Cisco's own preferred term, is actually stolen or counterfeit, which raises the possibility of the purchasing company receiving a conviction for the handling of stolen or counterfeit goods.
This is not the only legal risk of resorting to Cisco grey equipment, with the inability to interchange the software license (IOS) also being an issue. So much such equipment turns out to be second hand equipment, after all, and the Cisco product needs to be accompanied by an IOS authorised for the use of the new buyer. It means that the company in question could be prosecuted by Cisco - not necessarily an event that will come to pass, but nonetheless an additional and unnecessary risk for the firm's compliance team to fret about.
Many other issues can arise with Cisco grey equipment
Counterfeit Cisco grey equipment can give the purchasing company headaches in various other ways, given that the quality of that product can be by no means guaranteed. It means that the buyer could be investing in inferior components that need to be replaced much more often, or illegal software that may even contain an immensely damaging virus.
Even if the Cisco grey equipment that is purchased is an authentic Cisco product and comes accompanied by a legal IOS for the new owner's use, there can be associated Cisco support issues, with the manufacturer not necessarily being willing to provide the usual service and warranty support.
Not only is it generally not possible to place Cisco grey equipment under an official Cisco Support contract, but such products can imperil that firm's wider relationship with Cisco, which may choose to withhold consulting, finance, discounts or another service as a result.
Choose the alternative - choose Data Centre Shop
The many problems that can arise from buying Cisco grey equipment, from the need for constant hardware replacement to the associated Cisco support issues, are all the more of a shame, given that there truly is a viable alternative for financially strained businesses - in the form of the Cisco Certified reseller and partner, Data Centre Shop.
Not only does Data Centre Shop (http://www.datacentreshop.co.uk/) offer a truly extensive range of Cisco products - from ASA firewalls, modules and accessories to the complete assortment of Catalyst and Nexus switches, to name just a fraction of what is on offer - but it can also give its customers the benefit of the many support and consulting services of its partner company, Proxar IT Consulting.
Whether the buyer simply requests a second opinion on its purchase of certain Cisco equipment, or perhaps entrusts Proxar IT Consulting with its more in-depth support requirements relating to installation, management and maintenance, Data Centre Shop can offer these services to the very highest of standards.
Such expertise helps to reassure customers who might have otherwise seriously considered Cisco grey equipment, in addition to making so many common Cisco support issues a thing of the past for the firms that can least afford them.
