NaaS or your own network: which suits your business?

The difference in brief

With an owned network, your business purchases equipment and arranges installation, management and future replacement internally or through suppliers. With NaaS, you subscribe to a solution whose scope is defined by the agreement.

Demand IT’s monthly fee covers hardware, licences and network management. We own the equipment and replace faulty hardware at no additional cost. Installation and cabling are priced separately. Other suppliers may use NaaS to describe a different scope, so compare the agreements.

To see how the options work with us, explore network as a service, installation without a subscription and network installation rates.

Use the same period and requirements for both calculations

Compare alternatives over a common planning period. For ownership, include purchase, installation, ongoing work, service agreements and planned replacement. For NaaS, include fees across the period, any starting costs and items outside the subscription.

Account for internal time, while keeping estimates distinct from quoted prices. Internet access, security features and user support may need separate lines. Ask for written boundaries so costs are neither counted twice nor left out.

NaaS is not automatically cheaper over the full period. Consider the importance of ownership, cash flow, responsibility and your ability to change the solution.

Estimate your network budget

The calculator provides a preliminary monthly price based on your premises and user count. We confirm scope and price after a site visit.

When might NaaS be relevant?

NaaS may be worth exploring when you want to avoid a hardware purchase, replace an existing network or prepare new premises. It can also suit businesses wanting design, installation and equipment responsibility in one arrangement.

Ownership may be appropriate if existing equipment meets your needs, you have the capacity to manage it and there is a clear reason to retain ownership of the assets. A change should be supported by requirements and economics, rather than the availability of a different contract model.

Questions to ask before choosing

Ask for an equipment and scope description. Discuss service hours, fault handling, contract length, notice, office changes and what happens to equipment when the service ends.

Check internet connectivity, security and backup connections in particular. Assess these against business needs and ensure the agreement specifies them where included. A promise of replacement on failure does not itself tell you how quickly replacement will happen.