The Challenge of Vendor Selection

Selecting the right SASE vendor can be overwhelming, with over 30 providers each claiming superior capabilities. Navigating these options often feels like sifting through endless pitches that don’t fully align with your needs.

Without a structured approach, it’s easy to lose focus and make decisions based on incomplete information. That’s where a Decision Matrix comes in—a tool designed to bring clarity, structure, and objectivity to the vendor selection process.

What Is a Decision Matrix?

A decision matrix is a straightforward tool that helps you evaluate vendors based on pre-defined criteria. By scoring vendors against weighted priorities, you can tailor the process to your needs and focus on the solution that best fits your business.

How to Build a Decision Matrix

1. Define Your Criteria

Identify the key factors that matter most to your organisation.

Examples include:

• Technical capabilities

• Total cost of ownership (TCO)

• Integration and scalability

• Vendor roadmap

• Support and SLAs

• References and PoC results - the shorter the POC the more benefit you will get

2. Assign Weights

Allocate a percentage weight to each criterion based on its importance to your goals.

A typical example might look like this:

• Technical capabilities: 30%

• Cost (TCO): 20%

• Integration & scalability: 15%

• Vendor roadmap: 10%

• Support & SLA: 15%

• References & PoC results: 10%

3. Score Vendors

Rate each vendor on a scale (e.g., 1-10) for each criterion based on real-world data, such as proof-of-concept results. Whenever possible, include references from customers with similar needs and use cases to validate claims.

4. Calculate Weighted Scores

Multiply each score by its corresponding weight and sum the results. The total score will highlight which vendor aligns best with your priorities.

Why Use a Decision Matrix?

• Objective Decision-Making: Decisions are driven by data, not opinions.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Transparency in scoring ensures alignment across IT, security, and business leaders.

• Efficiency: Narrows the field to focus on the vendors that best match your needs.

By using a decision matrix, you turn a daunting vendor landscape into a manageable, objective process tailored to your organisation’s goals.

At MountNex, we specialise in helping businesses navigate vendor selection with clarity and confidence.

How do you structure your vendor decisions?