Hidden Costs, Slow Setups, and Scalability Nightmares? Ask These Questions First — Checklist

When it comes to evaluating a network observability solution, price tags don’t tell the entire story. According to Garnter, 80% of tech buyers regret their purchases due to hidden costs, poor scalability, or delayed value realization. 

So, how do you ensure you’re investing in a tool that actually delivers? It starts with asking the right questions up front. Not sure where to begin? We’ve created an ultimate checklist to guide you in making the best possible decision and help you avoid costly surprises down the road.

1. Implementation and time to Value

A network observability tool isn’t much help if it takes a long time to implement. The faster you can deploy and start capturing insights, the sooner you can see ROI. 

Key Questions to Ask:

• How long does implementation take?

• When can we expect actionable insights?

• Is it plug-and-play or does it require complex setup?

• Will it require significant IT resources for deployment?

💡 A shorter time to value helps you quickly leverage insights to optimize costs and efficiency.

2. Speed and Performance

Slow query response times during an incident can mean major financial and security risks. An observability solution should deliver real-time or near-real-time insights to prevent costly delays.

Key Questions to Ask:

• Does it provide real-time or near-real-time insights?

• How quickly can it process queries, especially during security incidents?

• Can multiple users access dashboards without slowdowns?

• Does it support rapid troubleshooting and root cause analysis?

💡 Faster insights reduce downtime, improve security response, and enable data-driven decision-making.

3. Scalability and Future-Proofing

Your network is likely growing. However, will your network observability solution keep up in the future, or will you face expensive upgrades down the road? 

Key Questions to Ask:

• Can the solution scale as our network grows?

• Does it support multiple vendors and hybrid environments?

• Will we need extra licenses or infrastructure upgrades as we expand?

• Does it integrate with third-party security and monitoring tools?

💡 Future-proofing now means avoiding costly “rip and replace” scenarios in the future. 

4. Infrastructure and Hidden Costs

Storage, infrastructure, and hidden fees can significantly inflate long-term expenses. Transparency is key to avoiding budget overruns.

Key Questions to Ask:

• How much storage and infrastructure does it require?

• Is pricing transparent, or are there extra fees for data retention?

• Can it be deployed in the cloud, or does it require on-premises infrastructure?

• Is it easy to export data for external analysis?

💡Unaccounted-for costs can undermine ROI. Ensuring predictable pricing and flexibility is critical to success. 

5. Cost Savings and ROI Optimization

A good network observability solution should pay for itself by cutting waste, optimizing resources, and preventing costly security incidents.

Key Questions to Ask:

• Does it help identify inefficiencies and overspending?

• Can it reduce cloud costs by improving visibility into egress traffic?

• Does it support compliance reporting to avoid regulatory fines?

• Will it save time and reduce manual efforts in monitoring and troubleshooting?

💡By improving network visibility and reducing unnecessary costs, the right tool generates a measurable ROI. 

Rethinking Network Observability

Traditional network monitoring solutions weren’t built for today’s world. They came from a time that required heavy instrumentation, custom development, and vendor lock-in just to function. As networks grow more complex, these legacy approaches struggle to keep up, adding cost, friction, and operational overhead. See how traditional solutions compare to ElastiFlow below.

Choose a Solution That Delivers Real Value 

Selecting a network observability solution requires looking beyond just cost—it’s about value. Avoid costly mistakes by focusing on:

• Fast implementation and time to value

• Real-time insights to optimize network operations

• Scalability to prevent costly migrations

• Predictable pricing with no hidden fees

• Measurable ROI through cost savings and efficiency gains

Check out our On-Demand Webinar: Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners in Network Management to learn how to maximize ROI in your network monitoring strategy.

If you're ready explore this checklist in depth and see how ElastiFlow fits your needs book your demo now.