When hardware refresh isn’t an option: How to keep infrastructure running

The global RAM shortage is developing rapidly as demand continues to outpace supply, and it is beginning to have real impact on organisations ability to procure the infrastructure they need. Prices are expected to rise significantly as availability tightens, which means many businesses may find planned hardware refresh cycles becoming more expensive than anticipated.

For IT teams already managing budget pressure, this presents a challenge: how do you maintain performance, security and reliability without committing to a full hardware refresh right now?

The good news is there are several practical options available.

Act Early on Hardware Refresh Planning

If your organisation is expecting to refresh infrastructure within the next 12–36 months, now is the time to begin those conversations.

Starting early allows organisations to:

• Lock in supply before prices escalate further
• Review alternative configurations or vendors
• Build refresh timelines that align with budget cycles

Even if procurement won’t happen immediately, early planning ensures you aren’t forced into urgent purchases later when hardware availability becomes even tighter.

Extending the Life of Existing Infrastructure

For many organisations, a full refresh simply isn’t feasible in the short term. In these cases, extending the life of existing infrastructure can be a highly effective strategy.

Through a combination of vendor support and third-party maintenance services, infrastructure can safely remain operational beyond traditional refresh cycles.

Support options can cover:

• End-user devices
• Datacentre infrastructure
• Storage platforms
• Network equipment

These services help maintain stability, security and compliance, allowing organisations to defer refresh investments until market conditions improve.

Flexible Maintenance Options

One of the biggest challenges with delayed refresh cycles is maintaining support coverage for ageing hardware.

Flexible support contracts can help bridge this gap, with options available for short-term coverage such as 1, 3 or 6 months. This ensures equipment remains supported while organisations evaluate long-term infrastructure plans.

These contracts can provide:

• Hardware maintenance coverage
• Firmware entitlement guidance
• Lifecycle and end-of-life planning
• Rapid replacement support where required

Finding Cost-Effective Alternatives

Rising hardware costs are prompting many organisations to explore alternative support strategies.

By reviewing the current estate and understanding future goals, organisations can often reduce operational costs while maintaining infrastructure reliability.

This might include:

• Optimising support contracts
• Identifying devices suitable for extended lifecycle
• Planning staged refresh programmes
• Evaluating third-party maintenance options

The result is a more controlled approach to infrastructure investment, rather than reacting to market volatility.

Key Questions to Consider

If the RAM shortage could impact your organisation, it may be worth asking:

• Do we have any datacentre or network refresh plans in the next three years?
• Could our infrastructure be affected by component shortages?
• Are we currently operating under budget constraints that may delay refresh cycles?

Understanding these factors early can help avoid unexpected cost increases or operational risks later.

Planning Ahead

At Softcat, we’re helping customers rethink procurement strategies and optimise infrastructure without leaving their estates vulnerable. If you’d like to explore how we can support your organisation, get in touch directly with your Account Manager, or Sales@softcat.com.