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5. Vendor Support and Expertise

The most important features to look for in a proxy device is the vendor who stands behind the product. When you're evaluating vendors, be sure to look for two essential commitments.

Full Support for the Lifetime of the Unit: Monitoring equipment stays in the field a long time-an average of 7-8 years, or even longer in some industries. You want to make sure you have continued support during that time.

In the last decade, many monitoring equipment vendors, including some big companies and well-respected names, have dropped support for their older equipment-or in some cases gone out of business entirely.

When choosing your proxy agent, make sure the vendor is committed to you for the long haul.

Expert Consultation: Monitoring is a complex business. Network managers burdened with responsibilities can't make telemetry their full-time job.

As with any complex technology, you need to know telemetry thoroughly to design an optimal system-one that meets your network's needs, won't become obsolete tomorrow, and doesn't break your budget with unnecessary expense.

Select a vendor with a proven track record of expertise and client support, who is willing to take the time to listen to your needs, learn about your network-and give you free advice that's in your best interest.

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