ISPs depend heavily on vendors for hardware, software, and platforms, but over time those dependencies can quietly begin to shape the company’s technical direction. Roadmaps change, features slip, acquisitions happen, and priorities shift, often leaving CTOs explaining why the strategy approved internally no longer aligns with the tools in production.

This session helps CTOs recognize and manage strategic drift introduced by third-party dependencies. The discussion focuses on how to evaluate vendor alignment beyond current features, how to hedge roadmap risk, and how to preserve architectural flexibility even in highly vendor-dependent environments. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks for deciding when to lean in, when to push back, and when to plan an exit, all while minimizing disruption, technical debt, and organizational friction.