In a down economy, it can be tempting for manufacturers to opt for cheaper networking components. However, before you pull the trigger on the cheapest price you can find, be sure to calculate what a network outage would cost you first. Here’s why.

In a previous life, I was responsible for a System Integrator (SI) Program for my employer. During that time, I had numerous conversations with SIs, and one shared a story that still sticks with me today. He did a job for a Fortune 500 food and beverage company. The installation and start-up went fine, but a few months later he got a call from the customer complaining that the system had been experiencing several annoying shut downs. Read more »