Infrastructure, Network Setup and Maintenance
Network infrastructure is made up of the hardware and software resources of an entire network. These resources enable network connectivity, communication, operations and management of an enterprise network. It also serves to provide a communication path and services between users, processes, applications, services and the internet. Unfortunately it is not always a simple procedure to setup your business network. Many businesses these days are faced with a multitude of challenges when it comes to the connection of laptops, desktops and mobile devices to their networks.
Security can also become a challenge due to the increased number of cyber criminals that target businesses.
Planning a Network Installation
As a business, a plan needs to be developed in assessing your current network requirements and consideration needs to be given as to how your business is likely to change over a certain period of time.
The following steps are normally advisable when planning a network installation for your business:
Consider Your Business Usage Requirements
It is important to consider the number of people that you are going to need connected to the network in order to give you an idea of the kind of computers and devices that the network is going to need to support. Also take into consideration how many users are going to be interacting with the system and what features are going to be needed.
Input Gathering
Try to take into account the needs that various teams and departments are going to require on your network plan. Determine the requirements of each team and then determine the costs involved of incorporating the different needs into your network plan.
Plan Ahead
Think ahead and try to factor in what direction you feel that your organisation is likely to take in the future. Expansion can sometimes affect your network needs, especially if you acquire new staff, expand the office or introduce remote working. If you do this now, then you are less likely to be stuck with an inadequate network later on.
Security
Your business needs to ensure that it builds security features into its network plan in order to keep it protected.
Network security can include:
Passwords,
Virus protection,
External firewalls and Data encryption.
Other Things to Consider
Now is a good time to address any other issues that you feel may affect your network integration as well as the use and maintenance of your network.
Consider the following in order to enhance the foundation of your network plan:
Management of Information
Information on your server needs to be managed in a way so that your users are able to find what they need. It is imperative to create standardised naming conventions for files on the server as well as establish rules for the creation of new files and folders.
Remote Access
You may have staff members that travel often and work from locations outside of the office. If this is the case, then it is important to build remote access capabilities into your network. You can do this by using the Internet of through remote dial-in.
Train Your Staff
Working with a network is a relatively simple affair but may mean that your employees will need to learn some new habits. Training programs need to be put into place so as to enable your employees to take full advantage of all the networks offerings. This training can increase productivity and enhance how your employees are able to work through their daily tasks. Training should be built into your network rollout timetable and follow up sessions should also be offered to all employees.
Decide who will manage the network
As your network solution becomes more defined, you will need to make the decision as to whether you have capable in-house resources to install and maintain the network yourself or whether you would prefer an external company to take care of all your networking and maintenance needs. External support is often required when using remote network administration tools so as to keep your network running smoothly.
Network Maintenance
Networks need to be kept maintained and regular maintenance is vital in order to make sure that your network has fewer security risks, increased efficiency and optimal performance.
Network maintenance consists of having to do whatever it takes to keep your network up and running
Custom network solutions such as hosting inside of a data centre instead of on premises.
Businesses who do not have a big IT team may do well to consider managing their network though an outsourced network maintenance company.
A Businesses network is one of the most vital parts of their IT system. It connects all PC’s and Laptops to resources such as servers, business programs, email, files, internet access, Wi-Fi, printers and the cloud.
