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Read the guide →Network management in short
Network management is the process of running and monitoring your business network with technologies and tools, tracking performance and faults across your servers and IT infrastructure. Its goal is a network that stays secure and runs without errors at all times. It has five key components: network administration, network maintenance, network operation, network provisioning and network security. Managed well, your network keeps the business running and helps protect it against cyber threats and data breaches.
When many business owners hear the words “network management”, they immediately turn to their IT team to handle the scenario. But every business owner should understand their network, and what is involved in its management.
A business’ network is what keeps it running. And managing your network effectively means protecting your business against cyber threats and data breaches. With network management forming such an essential part of any business, don’t you think it’s time that you started to gain an understanding of what it entails?
What is Network Management?
Network management refers to the process of managing networks using various technologies and tools. It allows you to track both performance and faults within your servers and IT infrastructure. The primary goal of a network management system is to have an error-free and secure network at all times. But, network management is no easy task. and that’s one of the reasons your IT team and administrators need help.
What a network management solution does is help you and your admins to streamline the processes within your IT environment. But before you sign up for a computer network management tool, here are a few things you need to know beforehand
Why is Network Security Management Important?
Securing systems, apps, and devices that contain important business information is not a fool-proof way to protect your company against cyber threats. Cyber attackers can still infiltrate your systems through your network. After all, that’s how most businesses and users usually transfer important company-related information. That’s why network management solutions are so important.
Network security management involves putting various procedures and rules in place to prevent unauthorised users from gaining access to your network. Some key benefits of network security management are that it acts as a defence against cybercrime, provides for a safer and improved customer experience, and facilitates quick data recovery.
It shouldn’t be an either-or scenario. To ensure that your critical data is protected, and to maintain optimal cybersecurity, you should protect your essential systems, apps, and devices. But you should also pay close attention to your network security management so that you remain vigilant against cyber attacks.
Network Management: What are the Components Involved?
Since you now know what network management is, you may be wondering how networks are actually managed. Network management is a process that encompasses numerous different tasks. There are, however, five key components that should be included in any effective network management process.
- Network administration
Network administration essentially involves keeping, and regularly updating, an inventory of all your network equipment and resources. This includes cables, hubs, devices, and routers. It can also involve setting up new networks, operating systems, network management tools and software across your entire network. - Network maintenance
It’s not enough to simply set up new systems, or to keep a log of which resources you have in place. Your network equipment needs to be regularly upgraded and repaired, and this is where network maintenance comes in. It includes the maintenance of resources like transmission cables, routers, workstations, servers, and switches, on an ongoing basis. It also involves patching and updating software regularly and implementing preventative policies, adjusting faulty configurations, and ensuring that your network access control measures are up to date. - Network operation
You’ve got network systems in place thanks to administration, and they’re up to date thanks to maintenance, but are they operating as effectively and efficiently as possible? Managing your network operations involves ensuring that all aspects of your network are running smoothly. This includes monitoring your network regularly to make sure that it’s performing optimally, detecting faults and performance problems, and then fixing these issues before they compromise security or impact your users and employees. - Network provisioning
You can have all the network resources in the world, but if they’re not allocated or configured correctly, they’re not going to help your business. Network provisioning is about making sure that your resources are being put to use to positively impact your business, and help you achieve your goals.For instance, your company might want to hold a team building event, requiring your employees to come into your offices from all of their remote working locations. This could lead to the broadband in your office struggling to keep up with the number of users it suddenly needs to handle. Your network admins will need to provision the broadband to ensure that your systems have the bandwidth, transfer capacity and storage space that they need to handle the higher demand. This way you can make sure that your resources are being allocated correctly to allow for smooth operations, no matter what scenario you find yourself in. - Network security
As mentioned earlier, keeping your network secure should be one of your top priorities. Network security is essential for any business to operate and meet the needs of its customers and clients.Making sure that your network is protected involves installing protection software and regularly maintaining it, continuously monitoring your network and IP behaviour, quickly addressing any security breaches or issues that may occur, and keeping track of the devices that should have access to your network.
Network Management is Not Always a Challenge
Now that you know what network management is, why it is important, and what it involves, you may be starting to panic at the huge challenges your business faces. It can be a complex process, and a difficult one. But managing your network doesn’t have to be a challenge. Thankfully, with the right security tools and our expert cybersecurity solutions, you can see a good deal of your network management becoming automated, or managed externally.
We understand that you want to protect your systems from cyber threats. That’s why we offer security solutions that monitor and safeguard your network at all times. From security and upgrades to recovery backup, Solid Systems’ team of IT pros are here to help you protect your network and keep your business running smoothly. With us as your security partners, you can focus on building your business while we work on protecting your assets.
Reach out to us to find out more about our offerings and how we can help you.
Frequently asked questions
What is network management?
Network management is managing your network using technologies and tools to track performance and faults in your servers and IT infrastructure. The primary goal is a network that stays secure and runs without errors at all times.
What are the components of managing a network?
There are five key components: administration, which keeps an inventory of equipment; maintenance, which upgrades and repairs it; operation, which keeps it running efficiently; provisioning, which allocates and configures resources; and security, which protects it.
Why is network security management important?
Securing individual systems, apps and devices is not enough on its own, because attackers can still get in through your network. Managing network security protects your business information against cyber threats and data breaches.