What is a Network Maintenance Plan and Does Your Company Need One?
Keeping a network operational is a difficult task. It typically consists of a variety of duties that help guarantee that your IT network is being adequately maintained and safeguarded from a wide range of potential issues. The size of the networks that are maintained will be determined by the rate at which your company develops and evolves. As you grow, your network becomes increasingly complex. But first, let’s go back to the basics.
What is a Network?
Simply put, a network is a collection of two or more connected devices or computer systems that communicate with one another. Consider a network as a group of computers, servers, and other gadgets that are interconnected to provide data sharing. Networks can be managed by your in-house IT team or a third-party managed network provider.
A managed network support services provider should be able to set up a managed network for your company when you hire them. But what exactly is a “managed network?”
A managed network is a sort of communication network that is controlled by your third-party IT service provider that works to manage the network requirements for your business. Your IT service provider is in charge of setting up, running, securing, and maintaining your network.
One fantastic feature of managed network services is that network solutions are frequently provided via a cloud infrastructure service. This means that you can control your network from anywhere at any time as long as you have a reliable internet connection.
Networks are most commonly used for:
– File sharing
– Email and instant messaging platforms are examples of communication methods
– Data and resource sharing
– Remote accessibility
But keep in mind that not every network solution is the same. Your organization’s use of computer networking, for example, may differ from that of a corporation with more than 10,000 employees. Technological advancements have resulted in a plethora of new devices, software programs, and connection platforms that necessitate a sophisticated framework. A comprehensive network maintenance strategy is now required in an ever-changing world.
What is a Network Maintenance Plan?
A network maintenance plan makes sure that all of your network’s crucial components are routinely checked for any issues. A good maintenance strategy should be able to foresee issues before they arise and implement the appropriate countermeasures. This ensures business continuity and reduces instances of downtime.
A good network maintenance plan includes tasks like:
Hardware and Software Installation
Plans for network maintenance include installing hardware and software to ensure that the tools and software you have are functional.
Upgrades and Configurations
Software and hardware configuration and upgrades should be able to be planned by your managed network provider. This ensures that your software and hardware are in good working order and improves overall network security.
Network Security
Data protection on your network is referred to as network security. This entails using credentials for every employee, vendor, client, and anyone else with whom your company works. Your networks’ continued operation is network security’s primary goal. Furthermore, your managed network provider must be capable of protecting your network from malicious cyberattacks, power outages, and natural disasters.
Data Backup
Nowadays, data is king. A managed network provider should be able to regularly create and store backups of your data. Data loss can disrupt a company’s workflow; ensuring that your data is safe and secure ensures that your company is always up and running.
Documentation
Knowing the importance of documentation, which is frequently disregarded as a minor aspect of network administration, is crucial to understanding your network as a whole. Documentation keeps you on track and clarifies your network maintenance strategy’s main goal.
Does Your Business Need a Network Maintenance Plan?
The advantages of having a network maintenance strategy include the following:
- Enhanced Productivity and Reliability
All of your network’s crucial components will be monitored thanks to a well-designed network maintenance strategy. In the event that problems arise, proactive support should be readily available. A network maintenance plan, like any other IT service, increases your business’ dependability and provides peace of mind.
- Security
When a network is not properly maintained, numerous security elements are frequently compromised, leaving it more open to virus and Trojan attacks as well as remote hacking whenever the network is connected to the internet. A network maintenance support, however, makes sure that the network’s performance and security are always being monitored. The last thing you want for your company is the negative press and legal actions that result from a weakened business network infrastructure.
- Optimized Connectivity
Having computers in a network is typically sufficient to establish communication between each component. However, data is constantly in transit whenever users access resources on other computers; the time it takes to retrieve data may vary depending on the layout of your network and the number of actively working computers. A well-maintained network ensures that your connectivity is optimized, allowing your employees and customers to access data and other resources without having to wait too long.
Network Solutions, like any other system, are in place to protect you in the event of an unprecedented attack. There will inevitably be downtime or outages that disrupt your normal business operations, but no network maintenance plan can account for everything that could go wrong.
Managed network services, fortunately, are becoming adequate, if not superior, alternatives for professional and dependable network solutions.
