Cisco Partner Support vs. Smart Net

Networks are the lifelines of businesses, enabling communication, data sharing, and operations. They’re often the unseen heroes of your company, as the uninterrupted functioning of your network is paramount for staying competitive, ensuring productivity, and safeguarding sensitive data.

However, networks are complex and can encounter issues, which, if left unaddressed, can disrupt operations and result in financial losses, making network maintenance and support integral.

Cisco, a global leader in networking technology, offers two primary options for network maintenance: Cisco Partner Support and Cisco Smart Net. Both of these services offer valuable assistance in managing and supporting your network infrastructure. Cisco Partner Support relies on certified partners who collaborate with you to maximise your Cisco investments, while Cisco Smart Net, provided directly by Cisco, focuses on technical support and hardware warranty coverage with various service level options.

In this article, we will delve into the specifics of Cisco Partner Support and Cisco Smart Net, highlighting their unique features and advantages so that when you’re finished reading, you will have the insights needed to determine which service aligns best with your organisation’s network maintenance requirements, budget, and operational preferences.

Let’s jump in!

Understanding Cisco Partner Support

What is Cisco Partner Support?

Cisco Partner Support is a comprehensive network maintenance and support service offered by Cisco through its network of certified partners. It’s a collaborative approach to maintaining and supporting your network infrastructure, leveraging the expertise and resources of Cisco’s certified partners.

Benefits of Cisco Partner Support

Cisco Partner Support offers several notable advantages:

Access to Cisco’s Expertise: By working with Cisco’s certified partners, you gain access to Cisco’s extensive knowledge and resources. This access ensures that you’re equipped with the best solutions and expertise for your network needs.
Proactive Support and Issue Prevention: One of the key benefits of Partner Support is proactive monitoring and issue prevention. This means that potential network issues are addressed before they can disrupt your operations, reducing downtime and potential disruptions.
Enhanced Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Partner Support often includes premium service level agreements (SLAs). These SLAs guarantee a rapid response to your network issues, providing a higher level of service compared to standard support offerings.

Limitations of Cisco Partner Support

While Cisco Partner Support offers significant benefits, it’s important to be aware of where it may potentially limit your business. Depending on your situation, this could include:

Pricing Considerations: The premium services of Cisco Partner Support, access to Cisco’s expertise, and proactive support come at a cost that is often more expensive than other network maintenance options. This can present budget challenges for some organisations, particularly smaller businesses or startups with limited resources. In some cases, a more cost-effective support option might be a better fit.
Coverage Limitations: The effectiveness of Cisco Partner Support can depend significantly on the specific certified partner you choose. While Cisco maintains high standards for its certified partners, there can be variations in the level of service and expertise they provide. Not all partners may offer the same comprehensive support, and the quality of service may differ from one partner to another. This means that selecting a reputable and reliable partner like Proxar is crucial to ensure that you receive consistent and high-quality network maintenance.
Complexity and Learning Curve: The intricacies of Cisco Partner Support, along with the advanced features and tools it provides, can sometimes introduce a level of complexity for IT teams. This complexity might require IT professionals to undergo specific training or certification to maximise the benefits of Partner Support fully. Smaller organisations with limited IT resources may find it challenging to manage the intricacies effectively, potentially resulting in underutilization of the support service. If this applies to your in-house teams, outsourced IT may be a good solution.

Exploring Smart Net

Having explored what Cisco Partner Support can look like, it’s time to turn our attention to Smart Net, an alternative network maintenance service provided directly by Cisco. It is designed to ensure the reliability and stability of your network infrastructure through a range of support and coverage options.

What are the benefits of Smart Net?

Cisco SmartNet offers several key advantages:

Technical Support and Issue Resolution: Smart Net provides access to Cisco’s technical support professionals. This means that whenever network issues arise, you have direct access to experts who can help diagnose and resolve these problems efficiently.
Hardware Replacement and Warranty Coverage: Smart Net includes hardware warranty coverage, ensuring that if any Cisco hardware components fail, Cisco will replace them at no additional cost. This can be particularly beneficial in reducing potential costs related to hardware replacement.
Flexibility in Service Levels: Smart Net offers various service levels, allowing you to choose the level of support that aligns with your organisation’s specific needs and budget. This flexibility enables you to customise the service to best suit your requirements.

Limitations of Smart Net

Of course, while Cisco SmartNet offers robust support, it’s not without its limitations. These include:

Lack of Proactive Support: Unlike Cisco Partner Support, Smart Net primarily provides reactive support, focusing on resolving issues as they occur.
Network Disruption: Because Smart Net does not include proactive monitoring and issue prevention, there is a higher likelihood of network disruptions without advanced warnings.
Potential Costs of Hardware Replacement: While Smart Net covers the costs of hardware replacement, organisations should consider the potential expenses associated with frequent hardware failures. Depending on the scale of the network and the frequency of hardware issues, these costs could add up, potentially impacting the total cost of ownership.

Comparing Cisco Partner Support and Smart Net

Now that we understand the pros and cons of both Cisco Partner Support and Smart Net, how can you make the best choice for your business?

When it comes to choosing your network maintenance service, it’s important to carefully evaluate several key factors at each stage to make the right choice for their network maintenance.

Cost Considerations

Cost is a significant determinant in choosing between Cisco Partner Support and Smart Net. Before choosing your network maintenance solution, it’s important to double check your budget and financial capabilities to ensure your decision is cost-effective.

Cisco Partner Support is often more expensive, but it offers advanced services and expertise. For organisations with larger budgets and a strong reliance on their network’s performance, this investment may be justified. On the other hand, Smart Net offers more flexibility in terms of service levels, allowing organisations to choose a support package that aligns with their budget. Smaller businesses with tighter financial constraints might find Smart Net to be a more affordable choice.

Service Coverage and Response Times

The level of service coverage and response times are crucial factors to consider. Cisco Partner Support often provides faster response times, proactive monitoring, and enhanced service level agreements (SLAs). This can be essential for organisations with mission-critical operations and stringent uptime requirements.

Smart Net, while offering efficient technical support, is primarily reactive. If price is your overwhelming decision point, the less rapid issue resolution may be a worthwhile sacrifice to fit your budget. However, if immediate issue resolution is a top priority, it’s likely that Cisco Partner Support may be the preferred choice.

Proactive vs. Reactive Support

The choice between proactive and reactive support is significant. Cisco Partner Support excels in proactive support and issue prevention, providing an extra layer of security by identifying and mitigating potential issues before they disrupt operations. This can be invaluable for organisations that need to maintain high levels of network reliability and minimise downtime.

In contrast, Smart Net primarily focuses on issue resolution as problems arise. If your organisation has the capability to manage issues reactively and prioritises cost-effectiveness, you might find Smart Net to be the more suitable option.

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of network maintenance and support, the decision between Cisco Partner Support and Smart Net hinges on your organisation’s unique network goals, budget, and operational priorities.

Both services offer distinct strengths and limitations, requiring a well-informed choice that resonates with your specific requirements. Cisco Partner Support offers comprehensive solutions with access to Cisco’s expertise, proactive issue prevention, and enhanced SLAs, but it comes at a premium, necessitating careful budget considerations. In contrast, Cisco Smart Net provides flexibility, cost-effective service levels, and efficient technical support, albeit with a more reactive approach. It’s a viable choice for budget-conscious organisations with the capacity to manage issues reactively.

If you’re struggling to make a choice for your business, our network experts are available to guide you, analyse your network environment, and help you select the maintenance and support solution that aligns seamlessly with your organisation’s unique goals.
For tailored assistance and expert guidance in this significant choice, get in contact today, or click here to learn more about our Cisco Network Consulting in London.

Cisco Partner Support vs. Smart Net: Making Informed Network Maintenance Choices

DELIVERING IT SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS IN LONDON AND THE UK, TAILORED TO YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS