16.10 Conclusion

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For many organizations, basic survival hinges on the proper functioning of communication systems and networks, more so as the organization seeks to enlarge market share by expanding into new product areas or establishing a presence in new locations. At the least, a problem-free environment ensures full return on investment for all technology acquisitions. While many organizations have in-house staff to perform ongoing maintenance and support, others prefer to outsource these functions.

Many traditional maintenance firms have long recognized this trend and have expanded their services from simple repair-and-return operations to on-site maintenance in multi-vendor network and data center environments, even offering plans that encompass systems that are out of warranty. This type of outsourcing arrangement allows their business clients to focus on their core strengths, instead of getting bogged down in the details of maintaining systems and networks.

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