Turning EOSL Risk into Partner Opportunity

‍Why EOSL Can’t Be Ignored

For most organizations, End-of-Support-Life (EOSL) hardware is a quiet risk hiding in plain sight. Once a manufacturer ends support, hardware doesn’t just become harder to maintain, it introduces real business risks:

·    Security vulnerabilities with no more OEM patches

·    Compliance gaps that put audits at risk

·    Operational disruptions when failures occur without support options

As a VAR or GSI, your clients are relying on you to help them see these risks before they turn into costly problems. And that’s where EOSL assessments with Balata come in.

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The Missed Opportunity for Partners

Too often, EOSL conversations stop at “replace or renew.” But that approach leaves value on the table.

Smart partners are using structured EOSL hardware assessments to elevate the conversation, moving beyond transactional sales and into strategic consulting.

By guiding clients through a systematic assessment, you not only protect their infrastructure but also position yourself as a trusted advisor.

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The Hidden Cost Calculator

Unsupported hardware comes with hidden costs most clients never quantify: downtime, emergency replacement, compliance penalties, and even reputational damage.

Balata’s Hidden Cost Calculator framework helps partners:

·    Inventory Discovery – Catalog assets and EOSL timelines

·    Criticality Mapping – Identify which systems carry the mostbusiness impact

·    Cost Impact Analysis – Translate technical risk into financial exposure

·    Solution Comparison – Evaluate replacement, OEM renewal, or third-party maintenance

This process uncovers risks that clients didn’t know they had — and provides a clear financial case for next steps.

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The Value Proposition for VARs and GSIs

Delivering EOSL assessments does more than mitigate risk. It:

1. Opens strategic conversations during budgeting and planning cycles

2. Differentiates your practice in a competitive marketplace

3. Builds stickier client relationships through consultative value

4. Creates opportunities to position third-party maintenance (TPM) and other Balata-backed solutions

5. In short: it transforms you from vendor → strategic advisor.

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Why Now Matters

As Q4 approaches, clients are finalizing budgets and making decisions that will define their IT strategy for the year ahead. EOSL assessments are a powerful way to insert yourself into those planning conversations.

By helping clients surface hidden risks now, you not only protect them, but you create opportunities for 2026 and beyond.

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How Balata Helps Partners Win

At Balata, we’ve developed repeatable EOSL assessment frameworks designed for partners. We make it easy for VARs and GSIs to:

·    Scale assessments across multiple client environments

·    Deliver consistent, data-driven reports that resonate withexecutives

·    Strengthen their role as trusted consultants

·    Position TPM as a smart, cost-effective alternative where appropriate

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Ready to Differentiate Your Practice?

EOSL hardware doesn’t have to be a liability — for you oryour clients. With the right framework, it becomes a catalyst for strongerpartnerships and new revenue streams.

👉 Connect with Balatatoday to learn how we can help you build and scale an EOSL assessment offeringthat sets you apart.