Criteria for Selecting the Right WAN Provider
Criteria for Selecting a CSP (Communication Service Provider)
The complexity of managing multiple platforms and mission critical applications highlights the need to work with a CSP that has expertise and global presence and can provide cost effective, future proof solutions for enterprises. The CSP should be a partner that that can offer solutions to the key critical issues mentioned below. The successful CSP should have a global presence in major metro markets, with NNIs and relations with CSPs to enable quality end-to-end provisioning and global SIP management. Enterprises should also partner with CSPs that have a diverse portfolio of cloud and VPN services. Another factor in selecting a CSP is its expertise and partnership with leading infrastructure and software vendors, which will facilitate timely support.
The chart below (Figure 11) shows enterprise requirements for selecting a CSP depend on a range of issues, the primary requirement being the provision of robust secure Internet access.
Related to this is the provision of secure access to corporate applications for roaming employees, telecommuters, and third party partners and suppliers via a corporate VPN.
Another important issue for enterprises is the ability of the CSP partner to provide global support and cost effective solutions for hardware maintenance.
The chart below (Figure 11) shows the top five technical requirements for multinational corporations in selecting a CSP:
The survey data below (Figure 12) shows how enterprises base their purchasing criteria in selecting a CSP. QoS (Quality of Service) and the ability of CSPs to provide IT services in addition to network services are most important. Enterprises are also looking for both the ability to innovate as well the provision of meaningful and measurable service level agreements.
