Your business’s choice of partners, in any field, can have a huge impact on its success or failure, productivity or inefficiency, and general culture and satisfaction.

Many businesses are now realizing the value of outsourcing a broader approach to network operations, with remote technology now able to identify and proactively work to solve network problems with relatively little downtime.

However, what most businesses do not know is which provider of network performance analysis services, network performance management services, and even related IT consulting services is best for their particular needs and style. This is what the magic quadrant aims to help explain.

The Magic Quadrant looks at managed and professional network service providers, shortened to MPNS’s. To be included, the companies must provide services that fall under network performance management, network maintenance, network performance analysis, network development, or network consulting categories.

The vendors that are included in the magic quadrant don’t necessarily provide information technology infrastructure, but do provide services for managing it.

Gartner, the study administrator, is an analytic service that provides advice and insight to assist in IT consultant and manager decision making with regard to purchased services or products.

You can see that companies examined in the study - Dimension Data, Orange Business Services, Verizon Business, AT&T, BT Global Services, CSC, EDS, IBM Global technology Services, T Systems, HP, Getronics, Unisys, Nortel and Avaya have been ranked according to four characteristics.

That is, the extent to which they are leaders, challengers, niche players, or visionaries in the field of managed professional network service providers.

Leaders in this network performance management and other service quadrant are defined as those companies that “affect competitors by enabling technology and IT service offerings; their focus on the enterprise and targeted industry segments and their capability to differentitate on price, value and service levels to be the first to market with relevant products”.

We believe that if your business wants stability in its network performance analysis and management, wants one of the most competitive prices and some of the best service levels, a leader is best for you.

They are quick followers, but may not be as innovative as the leaders in the field. Challengers do have a base of satisfied network performance management and outsourcing clients. However, they may not have the capability, or the professionalism in delivery, to fully satisfy their clients.

If you want the best planning and quickest recognition of technological opportunities, go for a visionary company. They are seen as having a clear idea of market direction and future requirements, however service delivery and execution may be lacking somewhat.

Information technology consultants see these companies as ones which will invest heavily in information technology infrastructure to offer better network performance management for their clients.
Niche players in the quadrant focus on a particular segment of the market, and could be an excellent choice for your business - if you choose the right player.

They offer service tailored to specific characteristics, like size, industry focus or selective network technology.