Cisco & Meraki specialists. Across the UK.
+44 203 196 6566 · option 1sales@proxar.co.uk

Connect. Secure. Manage.

Network Lifecycle Management

Manage Cisco and Meraki network lifecycles through software planning, entitlement checks, replacement decisions and secure equipment retirement.

Cisco Partner since 2009 Projects & ongoing support

Illustrative Cisco and Meraki fibre network rack with structured cabling
Look beyond the alarm.Evidence first. Controlled next steps.
1,000+

Devices supported
across the UK

20+

Client locations
supported

Nearly 8 Tbps

Traffic handled
at peak time

3 min

Average
response time

Average response is not a resolution time or a contractual guarantee. Support scope and response commitments are agreed for each engagement.

Network lifecycle management plans how hardware, software and licences will keep supporting the service you need. Age is only one factor. We assess Cisco and Meraki support status, security exposure, capacity and the effort of a move. The result helps you put changes in order and keep useful records as the network develops.

01

Useful visibility

Monitor service-relevant conditions rather than collecting alerts without ownership.

02

Controlled change

Keep maintenance, automation and configuration work reviewable and recoverable.

03

Clear escalation

Connect incidents to the right engineering, provider and business contacts.

Build an inventory that supports decisions

We record platforms, software, licences, support arrangements and the services dependent on each component. The inventory distinguishes equipment ownership from management responsibility and identifies where information is incomplete. A model number without its software, role or support context is a weak basis for deciding what must change. Inventory changes should trigger a review of the associated lifecycle record.

The record is reconciled with the live estate and procurement information where available. Unused equipment, spare devices and recovery systems are included according to their operational purpose. This prevents an apparently low-priority asset from being overlooked when it is the only available replacement for a critical failure.

Illustrative Cisco and Meraki network operations centre with monitoring displays
01Visibility, monitoring and operational control.
Cisco PartnerCisco Partner
Cisco MerakiCisco Meraki
ISO 9001Quality management
ISO 27001Information security
Cyber EssentialsCyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials PlusCyber Essentials Plus

MCI Network Services is operated by Proxar Ltd. Certifications apply to the certified legal entity and the scope of its certificates. View accreditation information

Interpret lifecycle milestones correctly

End of sale, software maintenance and final support dates describe different stages. We check the relevant vendor notice for the exact product or release rather than treating every lifecycle announcement as an immediate instruction to remove the equipment. Support and entitlement conditions are checked against the customer’s actual contracts.

The assessment explains what each milestone means for the service. A device may continue forwarding after support ends. But that does not remove the risks associated with repairs, security updates or replacement availability. The customer receives a practical decision record rather than a binary claim that old equipment is either harmless or unusable.

Illustrative Cisco and Meraki equipment in a modern data-centre aisle
02Resilient infrastructure from rack to service path.

A useful starting point

Tell us what is happening.

A short description of the problem is enough for an initial discussion.

Talk to a specialist

Plan software maintenance deliberately

Software choices are reviewed against required features, compatibility, known issues and relevant security information. We avoid both extremes: updating every device to the newest release without assessment, or retaining an old version indefinitely because it has not yet produced a visible outage.

The maintenance plan includes supported upgrade paths, controller dependencies, pilot groups and post-change checks. Expected interruption and rollback limitations are stated. High-availability features can reduce some risks. But they do not justify a blanket promise of non-disruptive upgrades across every Cisco or Meraki platform.

Illustrative Cisco and Meraki data-centre network infrastructure
03Network infrastructure designed around the workloads it carries.

Track licences and support ownership

Entitlements should match the features and operating model actually used. We identify renewal dates, account ownership and dependencies on vendor or partner processes. Different Cisco and Meraki licensing arrangements can have different consequences, so expiry and transfer assumptions are checked rather than copied from another product.

Technical advice is separated from procurement fulfilment. The lifecycle plan can specify what capability or support is needed without presenting this services website as a product catalogue. Commercial quotes, contract terms and licence app are agreed through the appropriate purchasing and approval process.

Illustrative Cisco and Meraki equipment in organised data-centre racks
04Data-centre connectivity with clear physical and logical boundaries.

Prioritise replacement by service risk

Replacement decisions consider criticality, exposure, capacity, resilience and the difficulty of migration. A supported device may still require change because it cannot meet the service need, while an older low-risk component may be handled through a controlled later phase. The reasoning is documented so the business can make an informed investment decision.

Dependencies shape the programme. New switches may require cabling, power, optics, licences or changes to connected systems. We include those needs and avoid producing a refresh list that appears affordable only because essential migration and acceptance work has been omitted.

Illustrative Cisco and Meraki network rack in a modern office
05The office network: switching, uplinks and structured cabling.

Include retirement and recovery records

Decommissioning covers removal from service, setup and credential handling, account release and inventory updates. The method is chosen for the actual platform and intended disposal or reuse. A generic reset is not assumed to remove every relevant data item or admin association.

Recovery documentation is maintained alongside the lifecycle plan. Software images, supported replacement options and records of the settings should remain usable when a component fails. The plan sets out gaps that could prevent restoration, rather than treating a spare chassis or backup file as a complete recovery capability.

Illustrative Cisco and Meraki fibre network rack with structured cabling
06Fibre, switching and the physical path behind the service.

Keep the plan current and actionable

Periodic reviews connect vendor changes and business plans to a prioritised action register. Each action has an owner, dependency and decision point. Deferred work remains visible with its accepted risk, avoiding a report that is repeatedly produced but never influences maintenance or purchasing.

MCI can provide lifecycle planning as a focused assessment or within managed networks. We support Cisco and Meraki estates throughout the UK, with the work scoped around your actual platforms and service needs. The outcome is a maintained decision process, not an automatic sales-driven replacement cycle.

Illustrative Cisco and Meraki network operations centre with monitoring displays
07Visibility, monitoring and operational control.

Talk to a specialist

Need a specialist view?

Tell us what is affected, what changed and what your team has already checked. A short outline is enough to start.

+44 203 196 6566

Choose option 1

sales@proxar.co.uk

UK-wide service.
Most of our engineers are based in Kent, with a focus on London, Sussex, Essex and Berkshire.

Existing customers should use their agreed support and escalation channels. This form is for service enquiries, not a monitored emergency ticket.

Tell us what you need.

A short outline is enough. Please do not include passwords or sensitive network details.

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