Did you know that 65% of medium and large domestic enterprises are still scrapping their top-of-the-line servers because the vendor is artificially withdrawing support?
*According to Gartner’s analysis, supported by the experience of ITRIS Ltd., a significant proportion of companies’ hardware fleets (often 50-70%) are replaced not because of physical wear and tear, but because of software support or the expiry of OEM warranty (EOSL).
Every day, our customers experience the freedom of not having the hardware vendor dictate the development cycle, but deciding how long a reliable repository will remain in service. For us, warranty extension is a strategic tool to take back control of your IT budget.
We agree that dramatically rising OEM support fees and cumbersome bug fixing processes are a drag on efficiency. We’ll help to keep your headache away! This guide will show you how to achieve operational savings of up to 50-70% while keeping the security and availability of your systems intact. We’ll show you how to build a customized SLA structure that will guarantee business continuity and maximum utilization of your infrastructure well into 2026.
Key Facts to know
- Find out how to avoid premature hardware replacements forced by manufacturers and keep your existing equipment up and running safely and cost-effectively.
- Imagine not having to worry about costs during a critical outage, because we’ll help you choose the SLA level that optimises both your risks and your costs.
- We compare OEM and TPM solutions to see why a TPM-based warranty extension means significant savings without sacrificing service quality.
- We reveal the hidden traps behind manufacturers’ strategies, so you don’t have to worry about drastic support fees after 3-5 years or forced upgrades.
- You’ll learn about ITRIS’ domestic service network, based on Swiss precision, which is a strategic partner to guarantee the business continuity of your IT infrastructure.
What does the corporate guarantee extension really mean?
In the corporate sector, the extension of the guarantee is an essential guarantee of smooth business operations. At ITRIS Ltd., we have seen for over 30 years that hardware failure is not a question of “if”, but “when”. This service is a contractual framework that ensures that you don’t have to improvise in the event of a failure of your critical infrastructure. It’s much more than a simple promise to repair, because it’s a pre-defined lifeline for your systems.
Let’s take a real-life example: at 22:15 on a Friday night, your central database server, which serves the entire logistics chain, unexpectedly goes down. The basic guarantee is that the earliest you could report the failure would be Monday morning, and you might not get the parts you need until Tuesday or Wednesday. A professional warranty extension, on the other hand, means that within 4 hours a technician will be on the spot with a replacement part. This means your Saturday morning shift can start without a hitch and your company avoids millions of dollars in lost revenue.
In most cases, the Base Warranty is insufficient for professional IT operations. Base packages provided by manufacturers typically only cover manufacturing defects and do not include a guaranteed repair time. Statistics show that 15% of enterprise servers fail in the first three years, rising to 32% by the fifth year. If you don’t have extended protection, every outage is a game of Russian roulette with your business stability.
The guarantee extension is the cornerstone of modern risk management and cost planning. In exchange for a fixed annual fee, you’ll be free from unexpected parts and labour costs of up to £500,000. So your IT budget can remain predictable. The global Right to Repair movement is also making it clear that extending the life of your hardware with expert support is not only economical but also sustainable. We can help you keep your equipment running reliably even after the manufacturer has sold the latest model.
Main types of guarantee extension
Protection levels are always tailored to your business needs. Term-based renewals allow you to buy 1, 3 or even 5 years of extra security for your existing assets. With Service Level Agreement (SLA) based extensions, you determine the response time: 4 hours on-site is expected for critical systems, while next business day (NBD) repairs may be sufficient for less critical assets. And the choice between parts replacement and on-site repair depends on whether you have your own team of experts for the installation or require full engineering support from us.
When is the moment to consider an extension?
In our experience, you should start planning at least 180 days before the expiry of the factory subsidy to avoid periods without cover. It’s important to clarify the terms EOL (End of Life) and EOSL (End of Service Life): the former refers to the end of the product’s commercialisation, the latter to the complete end of manufacturer service support. The purpose of extended warranties is to ensure business continuity in the event of unexpected hardware failures. If you act in time, your systems will be safe long after the manufacturer has let go.
Why are manufacturers forcing you to change hardware and how can you avoid it?
What happens when the servers and storage humming away in your data centre are doing their job perfectly, with low error rates and performance that’s plenty for your business needs. Yet at the end of the third or fifth year, you get an offer from the vendor to renew support that makes you raise an eyebrow. Premiums increase dramatically, often by 100-150% overnight. This strategy is not accidental: manufacturers aim to force you to buy new hardware by artificially raising maintenance costs, even if it is not justified over the lifetime of your existing infrastructure.
The “forced refresh” trap is a well-constructed business model. Manufacturers try to make your devices obsolete by imposing software restrictions or making it difficult to replace parts when they are still working perfectly. An official FTC report on repair restrictions also details how dominant tech companies abuse the power of limiting access to repairs. At ITRIS, we approach the problem with engineering rigor and maximum consideration for the operator’s perspective. That means we don’t look at factory catalogues, but at the real state and business value of your assets. If the iron holds, why throw it away?
By consciously extending the lifecycle of your hardware fleet, you can keep significant sums of money in your company. In our experience, implementing warranty extensions in a TPM (Third Party Maintenance) model can result in savings of up to 60% compared to manufacturer prices. And this freed-up budget can be directly spent on innovation or software development.
The secret to a sustainable IT infrastructure
Sustainability is not an empty marketing slogan, but a hard economic reality. There are economic arguments for not scrapping a HUF 15,000,000 storage unit just because its factory support has expired. Environmental considerations are also becoming increasingly important: reducing e-waste is a shared responsibility. Qualified, tested refurbished parts play a key role in maintaining the warranty, allowing us to replace even the rarest modules that are no longer in production. This turns warranty extension from a simple administrative item into a real IT cost reduction tool.
- Lower capital expenditure (CAPEX) due to deferred purchases.
- More predictable operating costs (OPEX).
- A smaller ecological footprint through a longer lifespan.
Limitations on producer support
Manufacturers’ unilateral contracts, which do not allow for bargaining, are rarely adapted to the realities of the Hungarian market or to specific operational requirements. When a critical asset breaks down, you need an immediate solution, not an explanation. Our vendor-independent service puts freedom in your hands: discover the benefits of vendor-independent IT support!
Let’s take a concrete example from the recent past. One of our customers was running a 7-year-old, high-capacity storage system for which the manufacturer was no longer willing to provide support. The estimated cost of a complete replacement was 100.000.000 Ft. We took over the maintenance of the device, provided on-site parts stock and a 4-hour fault repair guarantee. The device has been operating without fault since then and the client used the savings to upgrade their backup system. To avoid stressing your staff with unexpected downtime, it’s a good idea to start planning six months before the factory warranty expires. Ask us for a quick audit and let’s see together where we can cut costs!
OEM vs TPM: Which warranty extension is best for you?
Let’s take the example of a situation where one of your company’s critical storage units unexpectedly breaks down on a Friday afternoon. Administrators are stressed, business is grinding to a halt, and every minute of downtime costs you serious dollars. This is when it really comes down to whether you’ve chosen the right type of support. The choice between OEM (vendor-owned) and TPM (independent service partner) solutions is also a strategy for risk management and resilience. At Itris, we believe that the formula of minimum downtime = maximum business efficiency only works if the warranty extension is tailored exactly to your needs.
Cost efficiency is one of the strongest arguments in favour of TPM. Our experience and market data show that a third-party maintenance contract can mean 40-60% less expenditure, while the SLA (service level) is equal to or even exceeds that of the manufacturer. A Gartner analysis of third-party maintenance also confirms that companies are increasingly choosing this route because of the more flexible terms. While manufacturers often work with rigid, global processes, our expertise is direct and personal. Our engineers’ decades of experience are not limited to a single brand, so they understand the interdependencies of systems, which dramatically increases the speed of troubleshooting.
You don’t have to worry about the security of your parts supply. Our global warehousing and precise logistics ensure that the modules you need are delivered from close by, not from a distant country. That’s why we can provide on-site solutions to critical failures within 2 or 4 hours. We also take on the logistical and technical burden!
When to choose the OEM warranty?
When introducing new technologies, OEM support is almost inevitable in the first 1-3 years of the device lifecycle. During this period, manufacturers often make access to software updates and firmware patches a condition of warranty extension. If the operation of your system is closely dependent on the latest microcode releases, it makes sense to stay with the manufacturer. Statistics from the last 24 months show that 85% of newly purchased high-end storage systems require this type of direct vendor software support at the outset. As experts, we advise you not to switch too early if losing software entitlements is a business risk.
When is TPM (Third Party Maintenance) a winner?
After 36 months, in the post-warranty period, TPM is clearly the best choice. The vendor-independent approach allows for a unified management of mixed environments, which is a huge administrative relief. If you have specific needs, for example, you expect a 2-hour on-site visit to a rural site, TPM’s flexibility is unbeatable. Find more details here: List of supported brands and products.
- Cost optimisation: savings of up to 60% compared to ex-factory prices.
- Personalised SLA: No “one size fits all”, just what you really need.
- Vendor independence: one contract for the whole data centre.
- Increase lifespan: your devices will continue to work reliably after 5-7 years, so you won’t have to replace them prematurely.
Contact ITRIS Ltd if you want to know how we can make your infrastructure more secure and cheaper!
How to choose the right SLA level?
At first sight, an SLA (Service Level Agreement) sounds like a dry legal document or a table of technical parameters. But in fact, the SLA is the real guarantee of uptime. When you opt for a warranty extension, you are actually buying peace of mind and predictability for your systems. But how do you measure this peace of mind in practice? You have to rely on three critical pillars: response time, resolution time and availability. It’s not the same whether our engineer knocks on your door with a replacement part in hand within 4 hours, or starts processing a fault ticket the next day in a remote customer service centre.
Before making your choice, you should do a quick risk assessment. Calculate exactly how much 1 hour of complete downtime will cost your company. For an average medium-sized domestic company, this can easily run into hundreds of thousands of euros when you factor in lost wages, lost sales and loss of prestige with partners. That’s where the “So you don’t get a headache!” factor comes in. 24/7/365 availability is a basic principle for us, as hardware failures don’t recognise working hours or national holidays. While remote assistance solves many software problems, for critical infrastructure, on-site engineering support is the only real guarantee of a quick recovery.
SLA levels in practice
The NBD (Next Business Day) level is the perfect choice for devices whose failure does not immediately paralyse daily operations. Examples include office printers or servers in test environments. However, for production management systems or central data repositories, the Mission Critical level is the mandatory minimum. Here we guarantee a 4-hour on-site presence, wherever you are located in Hungary. And if you’re obsessed with security, we can also install a dedicated set of parts (e.g. power supplies, disks, controllers) directly in your server room based on your specific needs. This way, repairs can start within minutes of failure detection, not hours.
Pitfalls of a guarantee extension contract
It is often the small print that hides the biggest dangers for operations. Look out for hidden costs, such as delivery charges or exclusions that take certain components, such as batteries or power supplies, out of the cover. But the most important factor is the stability of the underlying logistics network. It is useless to promise a 4-hour repair if your stock is short. With our logistics and spare parts supply, we have more than 10,000 immediately available units on standby to ensure that we can actually meet the timeframes we have committed to.
Judge the performance of your service partner not only on the basis of promises and measurable KPI indicators. We transparently manage the First Time Fix Rate indicator, which we have a very high. This means that in the vast majority of cases, our technicians will fix the problem permanently on the first visit. No unnecessary waiting, no days of correspondence with the manufacturer, just a quick and professional solution. And our flexibility means you don’t get a template solution, but a safety net tailored to your business processes.
Want to see exactly which SLA level would protect your business most effectively?
ITRIS: Your strategic partner in guarantee extension
ITRIS is not one of many outsourced service providers. We have more than 30 years of international experience in supporting critical IT infrastructure, which means we have been refining our processes to meet the highest market requirements since the 1980s. Swiss precision is the cornerstone of our daily operations. We combine this methodology with our extensive on-site service network in Hungary, ensuring that geographical distance is never a barrier to rapid intervention.
We put technological empathy into practice. This means that we treat your problem as our own. We don’t just close tickets, we protect your business continuity. With us, a warranty extension is a living promise of security.
Our philosophy is simple: minimise downtime so you can maximise business efficiency. An unexpected downtime can cause serious losses to your business. We respond to challenges with immediate, on-the-spot solutions, often eliminating the problem before it causes a major disruption to your day-to-day operations. Our expertise and dedicated parts base means you don’t have to wait weeks for factory logistics.
Why do our customers speed-dial us?
Our flexibility is our greatest weapon. While OEM vendors often work within a rigid framework, we tailor our support to the specific needs of each project. Thanks to our vendor-independent expertise, you can get premium support for your Dell, HPE, IBM, NetApp or Cisco devices under a single contract. No need to deal with five different contacts; we have all the technology in one place. If you want to see who’s behind the professional background, meet the ITRIS team!
Let's start working together!
We want you to see exactly what state your current park is in. That’s why we offer a free infrastructure audit and warranty condition survey, where we’ll identify any weaknesses in your systems. We won’t delay: within 24 hours of the survey, we’ll provide a personalised, transparent quote, often 40-60% cheaper than factory prices. Contact us with confidence, so you can stop worrying about technical details and start focusing on business development. Trust us with the security of your hardware!
Take control of your IT budget
In 2026, you will no longer be able to afford the unnecessary costs of forced asset replacements. By strategically applying the right warranty extension, you can save up to 50-70% of maintenance costs while keeping the stability of your systems intact. At Itris, we have 30+ years of professional experience and a solid Swiss background to support you in ensuring that every element of your infrastructure reliably serves your business processes.
With our guaranteed SLA levels and 24/7 expert support, unexpected downtime will no longer get in the way of your day-to-day work. Don’t wait until the next critical failure or an expired product support date! Optimise your resources consciously. We help you make technology no longer a burden, but a real, measurable competitive advantage for your business. Contact us with confidence and let’s design a maintenance plan that will finally give you peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you take out a warranty extension?
It is advisable to start the process at least 3 months before the expiry of the factory warranty to avoid service gaps and risky periods without coverage. Extending your warranty becomes especially critical when the lifespan of your equipment reaches 3-5 years, when statistics show that failure rates can jump by up to 22%.
How much cheaper is a manufacturer-independent (TPM) guarantee than a manufacturer's?
TPM-based services typically save between 40 and 60 percent compared to factory prices. While an OEM contract can cost upwards of HUF 6,00,000 per year for a mid-range storage, we can provide the same level of security for around HUF 3,000,000. This significant cost optimization allows you to spend the freed up resources on innovation or software development instead, while keeping your operations running smoothly.
What type of hardware is covered by the extended warranty?
You can request support for almost all enterprise-level infrastructure elements, including servers, storage units and network devices. Whether it’s a 6-year old HPE ProLiant server or a complex Cisco switch park, ITRIS now has an active warranty on over 5,000 devices in Hungary alone. Internationally, 350,000 devices of different models are actively supported in the domestic market. Heterogeneous environments are no obstacle for us either, our portfolio covers almost all enterprise-class devices from the top 15 global brands, ensuring complete protection for your system.
Will I retain software support if I go to a TPM partner?
Your operating system-level support will remain intact, and our engineers’ decades of experience will help you troubleshoot hardware-related software bugs. While access to vendor firmware updates is subject to OEM regulation, critical security patches and configuration optimization are a core part of our service. Our statistics show that 92 percent of downtime is caused by a physical hardware failure, which we remediate immediately, ensuring the stability of your software environment.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
What is included in a typical 24/7 service contract?
Our 24/7 contract provides you with continuous on-call availability 365 days a year and guaranteed on-site troubleshooting within up to 4 hours. It also includes replacement of faulty parts, qualified engineer’s fees and delivery costs, so you won’t have unexpected expenses at the end of the month. Even if your central database goes down on a Saturday night, we’ll be on the job immediately to keep downtime to a minimum, because we know that every minute of downtime means serious dollars for your business.
What happens if a part is no longer available from the manufacturer?
From our own spare parts base of more than 10,000 parts, we can also arrange replacements even if the manufacturer has already phased out the product and given it End of Life status. You don’t have to buy new hardware just because a specific controller no longer rolls off the assembly line at the factory. We can source rare components from anywhere in the world within 48 hours through our global sourcing network, so you can safely extend the life of your device for up to 10 years.
How does ITRIS guarantee a fast on-site presence?
Our strategically located local warehouse and dedicated engineering team allows us to be at your site in Budapest in as little as 2 hours and in rural locations in as little as 4 hours. We don’t work with outsourced subcontractors, but with our own team of experienced professionals who know the ins and outs of your system. This direct management ensures that we meet our SLA levels with 99.8 percent accuracy, so your critical infrastructure is always safe.
Can a single guarantee contract be concluded for a mixed manufacturing environment?
Yes, you can get full support for your Dell servers, NetApp storage and Cisco devices all in one contract. This eliminates the administrative nightmare and the hassle of switching between vendors, with a single phone number to call in the event of a problem. Extending your warranty with us also means security and simplicity: a single point of contact, a single account and complete visibility of your entire IT infrastructure. Feel free to contact us and we’ll help you get your assets sorted and up and running!