When it comes to IT hardware maintenance, many companies use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance services, based on end-of-service-life (EOSL) dates. A lifecycle approach to data centre equipment maintenance that tailors hardware maintenance decisions to the actual condition of your equipment can increase your return on investment (ROI) by helping you extend the useful life of your IT equipment. This white paper describes how using a lifecycle approach to data center equipment maintenance and consolidating support vendors can help to reduce cost, lower capital expenditures, and optimise IT availability.