Is your Cisco last day of support coming up? Here’s how to prepare early

What does last day of support (LDOS) mean for your Cisco products, and how does that date compare to the end of sale (EOS) date? Understanding Cisco’s milestones starts with the end of life (EOL) process. EOL “consists of a series of technical and business milestones and activities that, once completed, make a product obsolete,” per Cisco’s EOL policy. “Once obsolete, the product is not sold, improved, maintained, or supported.”

End of sale

The EOS date indicates the last day you can purchase a specific product. Though Cisco may stop selling the product, they will typically continue support for four or five years after the EOS date. But there will be looming milestones to be aware of, such as reaching a point when software features are no longer added and then another date when Cisco stops implementing vulnerability fixes.

Last day of support

When a product reaches its LDOS date, Cisco no longer offers any software updates, support, or security patches for that specific model. This could expose your network to vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, and potential disruptions to your business operations. Therefore, staying informed and preparing for these EOL milestones is critical. Keep time on your side by planning your Cisco upgrades, renewals, and purchases well in advance.

You may be wondering: With varying support dates and milestones for different products across your vast network, how can you maintain visibility and manage everything with time to spare?

Leverage SHI’s experts to make it easy

There’s no need to oversee your portfolio on your own. We make the process simple and stress-free, so you’re well-prepared and fully operational at all times.

As a trusted Cisco partner, SHI doesn’t just alert you about upcoming LDOS dates; we offer a holistic approach to managing them. It starts with Cisco’s Letter of Authorization (LOA). With a signed LOA, our team of experts can review your Cisco install base and validate the data with your organization for accuracy. After your inventory is confirmed, our experts delve into your data, analyze it all, and prepare a custom presentation for further in-depth conversations.

We dive into each and every architecture with our install base analysis (IBA), from networking and data center to your collaboration and security environments as they pertain to Cisco. Our detailed deliverable provides full visibility into your Cisco install base, including your Smart Net coverage, subscriptions, and Enterprise Agreements. This also includes a detailed analysis of all your hardware assets and when they are approaching the next EOL milestone. You will have a clear understanding of upcoming renewals, what’s going last day of support, when to expect end-of-security vulnerability updates, and how to solve what’s next.

Here’s how SHI supports and simplifies your Cisco product journey:

1. Proactive planning: We help you stay ahead of the curve by providing timely notifications and detailed analyses of your Cisco products’ lifecycle. And with SHI One, you’re never caught off guard; you can leverage our unified platform to view, manage, and optimize your IT assets, cloud environments, and managed services. Get instant visibility into your hardware and software inventory, 24/7 support requests, multi-cloud reporting and usage, order and shipment status, on-demand labs, and more.

2. Customized solutions: Recognizing that every organization has unique needs, our Cisco specialists work to understand your business goals and your specific Cisco environment and challenges. Our comprehensive hardware analysis includes hardware lifecycle planning, road mapping, and education sessions. A review of your Smart Net coverage identifies ways to rightsize and optimize your portfolio. Examining your software and subscriptions to minimize contract sprawl, our team evaluates the best buying models and programs for your organization.

3. Seamless transition: Upgrading or replacing critical network infrastructure can be daunting and even detrimental without proper planning. SHI’s expertise in Cisco products ensures a smooth transition, minimizing downtime and maintaining business continuity. Whether it’s upgrading to the latest Cisco technology or finding compatible alternatives for sunsetted products, our team works closely with you to identify the best path forward.

4. Maximizing investments: Beyond addressing LDOS challenges, SHI helps you get the most out of your technology spend. Through optimizing your current Cisco infrastructure and advising on future-proof solutions, we help you design, plan, and budget for cost-effective infrastructure modernization.

5. Ongoing support: We stand by your side well beyond the transition phase. With continuous support and training opportunities on the latest technologies, we ensure your team can leverage new and current solutions to their full potential.

This is only the beginning

Facing the end of support can feel like a fork in the road. With more choices than ever before, from faster switches to management tools to licensing, the landscape has likely changed since you purchased your EOL device.

Luckily, with the right visibility, guidance, and preparation, managing LDOS dates effectively and easily is possible. With Cisco’s cutting-edge solutions and SHI’s steady support and expertise, your organization can approach these decisions with confidence.

Connect with our Cisco experts to navigate the road ahead and get helpful insights on impending last day of support dates – and what to do next. What might seem like an end is only the beginning of a more secure, efficient future for your network infrastructure.

Brandon Levengood is the manager of Cisco infrastructure solutions, working closely with customers of all sizes and across a wide range of industries. Brandon not only enjoys educating customers about product features and updates but also ensuring customers are maximizing their Cisco investments.

Dan Vargas is a Sr. Solutions Architect for the Cisco practice at SHI. Dan has a passion for technology and helping others experience and understand it. Over the past several decades, Dan has taught many Cisco classes and has spent time mentoring teammates while designing and deploying networking solutions for both small and very large clients. He also regularly presents at Cisco Live.

He has over 20 years of experience in Cisco Technologies and holds a Quin CCIE (Cisco System Internetworking Expert) in Routing/Switching, Security, Collaboration, Data Center and Wireless. He is one of less than 75 worldwide to hold five active CCIE certifications (5x CCIE #11317). Dan was chosen as one of 25 CCIEs worldwide to be a founding member of the CCIE Advisory Council where he contributed to upcoming certifications. He has also written test questions for Cisco’s CCNP-DC and IOT Manufacturing Specialization exam.