I just had a frustrating experience with Zones support where I felt I knew more than the person on the other end. We switched to Zones about a year ago, hoping for better support compared to our last CSP, but I'm starting to wonder if there's really any benefit to paying for Microsoft products. Are we expecting too much from these services, and what options do we have if we're not large enough for an Enterprise Agreement?
4 Answers
Honestly, it seems like most VARs just add unnecessary costs and push software licenses without much help. It’s pretty frustrating! But, I guess it can depend on the VAR. Some might actually fight for better deals or improved support for you, which could make them worth it.
Totally agree! If your VAR is complicating things, then it’s time to find a better one. A good VAR should help lower your costs, not raise them.
At risk of sounding negative, I’ve found that VARs often slow things down rather than help. It’s like they create more barriers than solutions when you really need something done quickly.
I feel the same way. It's hard to know if they really bring value in crunch time!
Some VARs can actually provide useful tools, like FinOps for Azure. It really depends on who you choose. If they provide services that streamline your processes and save you money in the long run, they could definitely be worth it.
I have a good experience with companies like Zix and OpenText. They’ve been helpful most of the time. While they don't always help with policy setting, they can assist you with figuring things out when you're stuck. They’ve also been key when I needed to escalate issues directly to Microsoft, even if it takes some navigating through their process.
I totally get that! Sometimes you really have to teach your VAR about the licenses they've sold, which feels backwards. They should know this stuff already!