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title: NET(net) IT Supplier News and Optimization Newsletter - November 2025
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Consulting independence, IBM Negotiation Guide(s), and The Quantum Apocalypse is already here - is your IT prepared? 

| View in browser The NET Effect Newsletter January 2026               IT Supplier News, Insight, and Market Intelligence. In this issue: Consulting Independence: A Note from our CEO The IBM - Confluent Collision: A NET(net) Survival Guide The Quantum Apocalypse Isn't Coming: It's Already Here Z17 Shackles: The IBM Mainframe Negotiation Playbook As we begin a new year, many organizations are taking a hard look at who they trust to advise them on their most critical technology investments. The advisory landscape has changed materially over the last decade, often in ways that are not obvious from the outside. Independence, objectivity, and true client advocacy matter more than ever, and they are values we have protected intentionally since day one.   NET(net) stands apart as one of the few remaining IT Value Optimization firms whose only loyalty is to its clients. While much of the market has consolidated into larger advisory platforms or adopted business models that rely, directly or indirectly, on supplier funding, sponsorships, or data monetization, NET(net) has deliberately chosen a different path.   We take no money from technology vendors and do not sell or repurpose client or market data in any form for external use. Our market intelligence is built, funded, and governed internally, preserving its integrity and ensuring our recommendations are driven solely by client outcomes, not external influence.   This independence extends beyond economics to structure and mindset, allowing us to challenge entrenched pricing models, question default vendor narratives, and advocate aggressively without conflict or constraint. The result is a firm that operates with uncompromised objectivity, true client-side alignment, and a long-term focus on preserving value rather than promoting ecosystems or protecting relationships.   We look forward to continuing to serve our long-standing clients and welcoming new ones in 2026. Thank you for placing your trust in NET(net)!   - Kellsey By: Steven Zolman    IBM’s definitive agreement to acquire Confluent for roughly $11 billion is not a "strategic partnership" to accelerate hybrid cloud innovation. It is a textbook consolidation move by a legacy giant eyeing a critical data streaming asset to shore up its portfolio.    We aren’t buying the "kumbaya" narrative of synergy. We are bracing our clients for impact. Read Article By Fred Teekens:   If your organization is still operating under the delusion that "quantum computing is a future problem," you're not just behind the curve; you're driving straight into a digital black hole. As a strategic advisor at NET(net), I see the fear, the confusion, and the and borderline negligence in meeting rooms worldwide. Your managed IT security? It could be managed right into the ground unless your teams are prepared now.   Click below to read more...   Read Article By: Steven Zolman   Your organization manages 100,000+ MIPS of IBM mainframe infrastructure. You're evaluating z17. And somewhere in your budget planning, you're staring at a spreadsheet that shows mainframe costs potentially escalating from $50M annually to $259M annually by year 10.   You need to know: Is this inevitable, or is this a negotiation problem masquerading as a technology problem?  We can help you realize cost savings on IBM z17 upgrades and develop IBM x17 Upgrade Strategies - read on... Read Article Schedule a meeting See Our Newsletter Archive Did this get forwarded to you? Sign Up To Our Monthly Newsletter Here NET (net), Americas, EMEA, APAC, +1 616-546-3100 Unsubscribe Manage preferences |
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