UNSPSC 43222615: Storage area network SAN switch

A storage area network (SAN) is a high-speed special-purpose network (or subnetwork) that interconnects different kinds of data storage devices with associated data servers on behalf of a larger network of users. Typically, a storage area network is part of the overall network of computing resources for an enterprise.

A storage area network is usually clustered in close proximity to other computing resources but may also extend to remote locations for backup and archival storage, using wide area network carrier technologies.SANs support disk mirroring, backup and restore, archival and retrieval of archived data, data migration from one storage device to another, and the sharing of data among different servers in a network. SANs can incorporate subnetworks with network-attached storage (NAS) systems

UNSPSC 43222615 Storage area network SAN switch, a Commodity code, does not reflect what state and local governments are actively buying under this classification. Recent solicitations posted under this code span network infrastructure far broader than SAN switches alone—encompassing enterprise switching, firewall equipment, Wi-Fi systems, traffic management switches, and related services—suggesting either tagging inconsistency or a code designation that has drifted from its narrow product definition. Issuing bodies include county governments (Gwinnett County, Georgia; Jackson County, Georgia; Wake County, North Carolina; Chatham County, Georgia), school districts (Garland Independent School District, Texas; Pinellas County Schools, Florida), transit and utility authorities (Texas Department of Transportation), cities (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Ocala, Orlando, Eugene), and state departments (Maryland DOT, Texas DIR, California). Repeat buyers are not prominent in the recent posting set; activity is geographically scattered across the Southeast, Texas, and California with no dominant jurisdiction.

Recent opportunities reveal the actual purchasing pattern: Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners issued IFB for HP ProLiant servers and peripheral equipment on an annual contract (response due October 29, 2026); Jackson County, Georgia solicited proposals for replacement Cisco switching and routing infrastructure with professional services (due July 2, 2026); Wake County, North Carolina requested bids on specified Cisco networking equipment for a building site (due July 10, 2026); Chatham County Sheriff's Office procured Cisco Catalyst 9500 network switches as a one-time hardware purchase (due October 20, 2026); and the City of Orlando issued RFP for a converged network system and Wi-Fi 7 infrastructure design and installation at a stadium venue (due October 20, 2026). Cooperative purchasing vehicles appear in several solicitations (Axia Cooperative for used networking equipment, NASPO contracts for Juniper switches). Current activity is modest—roughly two to four relevant postings per month—and tilts toward refresh-cycle hardware replacement and infrastructure modernization rather than new deployments. Margins are typically tight on commodity hardware; value accrues to integrators and services vendors handling configuration, installation, and ongoing support.