While technological advancements have simplified certain aspects of network management, they have also introduced new and complex challenges. As networks evolve, driven by innovation, the need for skilled human expertise remains more critical than ever.
Indeed, human investments don’t always engender the same kind of excitement as technology acquisitions. However, it’s this area that has the most influence on the efficiency, innovation, and organisational buy-in of any network. For that reason, businesses must stay keen to adopt good network management practices alongside their tech integrations. Such practices are foundational in enabling complex technology investments to solve real and often very human issues. Let’s explore some of the more critical networking best practices to implement in your organisation.
A detailed network management plan can serve as a valuable reference for all of a network’s stakeholders, preventing confusion over responsibilities and keeping human and technology resources properly allocated. This document must cover the network’s configurations, access policies, and standard procedures for such things as disaster recovery, audits, and user onboarding. It should also be updated regularly to ensure that the plan continues to be relevant in the context of new technology and business developments.
This critical first step can be confusing if you don’t have the right expertise on hand. Hiring qualified network services that understand your business’s challenges can smoothen this process dramatically, reducing the hurdles in creating a reliable network.
Malicious actors are always on the hunt for vulnerable networks, whether they belong to governments, major conglomerates, or small mom-and-pop operations. The increasing use of AI among cybercriminals has also dramatically increased the volume of cyberattacks, making it just a matter of time before your network is targeted. Thus, putting network security first is essential for safeguarding data and maintaining the trust your organisation has worked so hard to earn.
Among the more specific practices you can implement include:
Continuous Monitoring. Advanced monitoring tools can provide real-time insights into potential security threats as well as insights into performance bottlenecks. Assigning enough IT professionals to provide 24/7 coverage should also enable the prompt resolution of any security issue, even outside of office hours.
Educating Employees on Security Best Practices. Human-centred attacks remain the most pervasive threat to network security. Regular training and screening of employees from the C-suite down to front-of-house staff remains critical for maintaining credible security, even in today’s highly automated network environments.
Implementing Technical Safeguards. Implementing firewalls, automated intrusion detection systems, and regular security audits are a must for safeguarding data against cyber threats. However, by themselves, they are insufficient for ensuring tight network security. Having qualified experts at the helm of these systems remains key in guaranteeing total service continuity.
Dividing a network into segments can bring significant improvements to your network’s security, performance, and overall resilience. Segmentation allows for more efficient traffic management and also keeps users from accessing data they don’t need, preventing leaks. Proper segmentation can also limit the spread of potential breaches and potentially enable some parts of the network to keep functioning.
Businesses that neglect IT staff development can become highly dependent on just a few key individuals to keep things running. If these personnel leave the organisation, your network’s performance can deteriorate, risking downtimes and security breaches.
The first thing to do is to ensure proper documentation of all IT procedures. However, documentation alone will not always be sufficient, as practical knowledge, experience, and creativity all play roles in keeping networks working as intended. Investing in the continuous education of IT personnel is, therefore, critical for long-term IT success. They should not only be trained in internal systems but also in relevant areas that may affect the network.
With a knowledgeable team, there is less of a need for individual “IT rockstars” to run things, as everyone can effectively respond to emerging challenges. Furthermore, this investment can help drive a culture of innovation, enabling teams to do more with whatever resources they have.
Routine internal audits can help identify vulnerabilities, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement, particularly after major changes have been implemented. Just as importantly, conducting these assessments keeps networks compliant with industry standards and internal policies as laid out in your network management plan.
Though occasionally stressful, audits are often necessary because, given enough time, all organisations will tend to drift away from their plans and policies. Frequent audits ensure that sweeping course corrections are less needed and that the network continues to function as originally envisioned.
Keeping network devices and software up to date helps patch vulnerabilities and improves overall functionality. Ideally, updates will be automatically implemented, but there may still be a need to establish a schedule to review updates and to minimise disruptions to operations.
Strong relationships with your technology vendors help guarantee timely support and may even give your team insider insights on upcoming technologies and challenges. More importantly, close vendor relationships help facilitate tailored solutions that align with your organisation's needs, avoiding needless investments in products you don’t need.
As important as hardware and software are, the experience and creativity of skilled professionals continue to make the biggest difference in network performance. As your business grows, partnering with seasoned pros will ensure you have the support necessary to maintain an efficient and secure network.
We specialise in delivering bespoke, comprehensive network infrastructure services tailored to the unique needs of New Zealand businesses. Contact us today to discuss your next steps.
