With the increasing reliance on technology and prevailing trust on the cloud, we are witnessing an exponential growth of enterprise networks. The growth is not just limited to size; enterprises network are expanding in terms of scope as well. While there are numerous benefits enterprises are reaping from technology, there are some challenges and drawbacks as well. Even the slightest network management setback can have major implications for your business. Cisco, as the leading provider of enterprise network solutions, offers product and services that allow for efficient and risk-free network management. Cisco training can help enterprises train their team to prevent, manage and mitigate setbacks while avoiding a huge loss.
In a recently conducted survey, Oracle Enterprises revealed that there is an increasing number of challenges network managers are facing today. This is largely due to the proliferation of network channels. Failure to face these challenges mean the team is unable to prevent setbacks that can have a devastating impact on the whole enterprise. Here are some of the commons network management setbacks that any IT team should be equipped to deal with.
Poor and Underperforming Network
One of the most common, and equally devastating, a setback is poor network performance. Enterprise networks are designed to perform up to a certain optimal level. High-speed communication is an important optimal performance of applications associated with the network. Lack of efficient management can lead to poor performance that results in downtime, and ultimately, limits productivity. Performance issues also impact the overall reliability of the network even in case of higher than usual traffic. With more and more applications communicating with the network, excessive traffic is not an unusual scenario. Network managers should prepare the network to prevent any setback caused in such scenarios.
Network Configuration Issues
Network configuration becomes more complicated with the increasing complexity of networks Too many devices and applications become part of a network and increase the chances of configuration errors, which in turn compromise the performance of the network. IT teams need to create proper rules and make efforts to keep the firewalls up to date. There should be a solution to automate the policies as a manual application can lead to inconsistencies and setbacks.
Increasing Cost of Network
This is a setback many enterprises overlook until it strikes them with a huge blow. As a network grows, so does the network cost. There are certain issues and inconsistencies, which if not tackled initially can cause trouble in the long run. It is imperative to ensure that the network is able to support the growing need of IT applications and services that require a more robust network. In a simpler word, the network must be scalable within budget.
Security Setbacks
Network security is the major challenge faced by enterprises today. It is the top priority for IT teams and network managers. Protecting network and user data is no longer a simple task. Organizations need to lay out multiple layers of security for their networks. As networks are becoming more complex, the number of attacks on networks are also on the rise. While encryption is the most basic step toward network security, it does meddle with the ability to efficiently monitor network activities. It takes a higher level of expertise to make sure all your security work together without compromising network performance.
Patchwork Solutions
Here it is important to mention that disruptive technology such as IoT is further complicated the network and increasing the chances of setbacks. The inclusion of new technologies has to lead to a whole new challenge of fragmented management solutions.
It is reported that one-third of the enterprises are currently using between four to eleven active monitoring and troubleshooting tools to manage their network. One of the primary issues that arise from the usage of a larger toolset is lack of network visibility. Interoperability is another problem that can impact the overall network performance due to excess of toolsets. A good alternative is to use fewer but feature-rich solutions.
With that said, keep in mind that another common setback faced by the network manager, especially during the growth phase, is vendor-lock in. In the times of multi-cloud, it is not uncommon to see enterprises stuck with the network architecture that doesn’t support the modern capabilities of multiple solutions. Network managers need to find a solution that saves time, resources, and cost.
Cisco training in network management can make your IT team more capable of preventing as well as managing these common setbacks. Here is what you need to know about Cisco’s answer to your challenges.
Managing Your Network Setbacks
Cisco has a wide range of network management solutions including products that optimize network performance and efficiency. Proper utilization of the products will enhance network stability and availability without compromising scalability. The goal is to help enterprises achieve their performance and productivity targets.
- Some of the key elements of effective network management solutions include:
- Real-time reporting that allows effective capacity planning and trend monitoring, which allows for optimal performance round the clock.
- Proactive surveillance and automated troubleshooting allow network managers to track vulnerabilities and ensure enhanced network security.
- User-friendly management tools make simplify the automation of day-to-day tasks that are otherwise time-consuming.
- Network security is further enhanced by indicating devices that are close to their expiration.
- Scalability and rapid deployment make it easier to adopt new technology without major changes in the existing architecture.
In short, Cisco has a complete set of solutions for effective network management, continuous network monitoring, and proper training can provide IT teams with the necessary skills required efficiently utilize those solutions.
Conclusion
Network management is becoming a complicated task by the day. With increasing traffic, higher speeds, new devices, and the inclusion of advanced technologies, the possibilities of network setbacks is also on the rise. These setbacks can prove detrimental to an enterprise. The best way to avoid such situation is to prevent the setbacks through prudent monitoring and preventing. Cisco certification allows IT teams to ensure better implementation of network management solutions across the organization.