What the reliability bathtub curve means for your hardware refresh cycles

The traditional “bathtub curve” suggests hardware reliability drops sharply after 3–5 years. But Service Express data—spanning 20+ years and 500,000+ devices—shows most servers and storage remain reliable for 10 years or more.

By challenging outdated assumptions, IT teams can:

• Avoid unnecessary CapEx by delaying refreshes
• Save 50–70% with third-party maintenance
• Cut e-waste and reduce carbon impact

Smarter lifecycle planning means greater savings, sustainability, and reliability—without sacrificing performance.