Why should you do a formal assessment of your corporate network
Regular maintenance, similar to that of a car, is beneficial to corporate networks. However, as everyday responsibilities mount up, network inspections are frequently left undone. Complex legacy systems can be difficult to maintain and protect if they are left uncontrolled for too long. They necessitate continual troubleshooting, as well as reactive strategies to smooth out operational hiccups and plug significant security holes.
Legacy systems hinder the ability to incorporate the newest network technology trends, such as SD-WAN, software defined access, and other automated solutions, when left unmanaged.
Is there a straightforward path forward? Engage an impartial, third-party partner you may trust to conduct a network evaluation.
What exactly is a network assessment?
A network assessment is a detailed examination of your present IT infrastructure that gives you with a thorough overview of your current situation and suggests improvements such as network consolidation, simplicity, or automation. The objectivity of a third-party partner who leads a network evaluation is an advantage. They can provide unbiased advice to enhance capacity planning and performance by bringing a fresh viewpoint to the table. They may also assist you in developing a network infrastructure plan that is in line with your company objectives.
Six major advantages of a thorough network assessment
The advantages of a high-performance computing environment are clear to see, ranging from increased agility to improved security. The value of taking a good, hard look at network health and setting out a clear road plan for improvement might be tougher to discern. The following are some of the advantages of doing a thorough network analysis
1. Investigate what is going on with your IT infrastructure.
An in-depth examination of your present IT infrastructure, including topology maps and local traffic pattern analyses, may assist you in making educated network maintenance and upgrade decisions. Your team can increase the survival of ideal systems and phase out those that don’t pass muster with precise assessments of present infrastructure assets, such as maintenance status, capabilities, and weaknesses.
2. Develop a strategic road map for your IT systems and personnel.
Your team may identify possibilities for network consolidation, simplicity, automation, and cost reduction after getting visibility into the existing condition. With a clear path to a contemporary, software-defined, and virtualized infrastructure, you’ll be able to go forward. This allows your staff to concentrate on more strategic tasks. Your IT staff will be able to move from administrators to engineers, focusing on value-added jobs rather than DR, backups, and administrative chores
3. Increase security.
Without complete visibility into your network, including knowledge of how people, processes, and other technologies interact with it, it’s impossible to protect against cyberattacks. A thorough network analysis reveals such behaviors and interactions, allowing for a proactive and preventative security approach that guards against both global threats and end-user weaknesses.
4. Discover significant cost-cutting opportunities
Capacity is allocated in a conventional, legacy computing system based on projected peak resource requirements. As a result, there are times when expensive resources are idle, and other times when capacity is insufficient. A network evaluation paves the way for the creation of a new network architecture that incorporates cloud computing. You may access as much or as little capacity as you need in the cloud, and dynamically scale to match actual demand, paying only for what you use.
5. Determine protocol improvements such as network segmentation.
Assessments can reveal flaws in your present operations and, as a result, reveal areas where you might improve. When users access data on a flat network, for example, a data breach can swiftly propagate throughout the organization. Network segmentation minimizes the attack surface and makes compliance reporting easier for your company.
6. Obtain approval for improvements
With today’s business executives more involved than ever in technology strategy, a thorough analysis may help make the case for significant improvements. Show how technological additions can directly enhance operations, support business goals, and ease specific pain areas in your proposal for desired changes
Transitioning an assessment to opportunity
A network evaluation may be the huge move forward you need if you want to strengthen your security posture, increase your agility, and improve your business outcomes. Getting a grip on your present infrastructure and topology is only the start. An examination of your network will provide you with the information you need to prioritize and pitch future investments in your company. Your approach to new technologies and initiatives will become more data-driven and strategic, centered on maximizing the value of your present assets
If you’re ready to expand your network’s potential, start by looking for partners who specialize in the main areas you require, such as virtualization, networking, and automation, as well as the knowledge needed to plan for scalable, next-generation infrastructure