TCO® Manager for Data Network

TCO Manager for Data Network v.2 is a software modeling tool that provides decision support for measuring, analyzing and improving the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for your wide area data network.

GartnerGroup predicts that communications bandwidth requirements will triple by the year 2003 which, in turn, will double costs for the typical organization. This dramatic growth in demand and cost, combined with increasing levels of complexity and technological sophistication, translates directly to an ever-increasing need for management to have a clear and communicable understanding of TCO as it pertains to the data network arena.

What elements of wide area data networks can and should be measured, compared and monitored? How do your data network expenditures, staffing levels and service levels compare to other similar organizations?

How TCO Manager Can Help You
TCO Manager helps you understand three basic scenarios concerning the total cost of ownership for your data network environment: Where am I? How do I compare? Where can I go? This software modeling tool allows you to input actual cost, personnel, workload and service-level data for your data network operation(s). The Tool can then be used to compare your actual data to GartnerGroup database averages and to create and explore "what if" scenarios. GartnerGroup's industry-standard TCO "Chart of Accounts" is embedded in the Tool and provides the framework for these kinds of comparative analyses.

TCO Manager Features
This powerful and flexible software modeling tool provides the following features:

  • Calculations of your actual data network TCO and comparisons to GartnerGroup database peer averages that can be segmented by: industry, size, geography and performance criteria.
  • Analysis of personnel, workload and service level information.
  • Audits of results to highlight strengths and weaknesses in your TCO.
  • Ability to create and compare multiple TCO scenarios by changing input data.
  • Report Builder Tool to generate professional, easy-to-understand management reports.

How Does TCO Manager Work?
A GartnerGroup TCO Chart of Accounts is used to collect wide area data network cost information in four primary categories: hardware, software, personnel and transmission. This cost information is combined with workload and service-level data to generate TCO calculations, comparisons and reports. TCO Manager for Data Network v.2 enables you to drive continuous cost reductions and improvements in the value derived from IT investments.

TCO Manager Benefits
TCO Manager for Data Network will help you to:

  • Better understand and control the factors that can drive up your wide area data network costs.
  • Facilitate data network budgeting and planning.
  • Assess and track TCO over time.
  • Identify TCO performance trends.