NSM is likely a poor choice when:
1. a modern, actively developed platform with current UI/UX, up-to-date API documentation, and a visible roadmap is required
2. published, product-specific compliance or security attestations (e.g., SOC 2, ISO 27001) are mandatory and cannot be obtained from the vendor
3. broad, current multi-vendor device support and modern automation patterns are a procurement priority (vendor-neutral automation or NSO are more appropriate)
4. significant, recent peer-review evidence and analyst coverage are required for risk assessment; NSM has a limited public review footprint
5. building new net-new network architecture in 2026 where contemporary automation tooling and cloud-native integrations are strategic priorities