Get More from Your Network with a Network Infrastructure Assessment
The efficiency and security of your network infrastructure play a pivotal role in the success of your business operations. To stay ahead of the curve, organizations must proactively manage their network infrastructure through regular assessments. These assessments are designed not only to aid in device discovery and inventory but also to pinpoint performance issues, security vulnerabilities, and crucial lifecycle milestones. In this blog, we’ll delve into the importance of network assessments and how they can help optimize your network infrastructure.
Device Discovery and Inventory: Knowing What’s in Use and What’s Not
One of the primary goals of a network assessment is to provide a comprehensive view of the devices connected to your network. This knowledge is crucial for minimizing maintenance costs by identifying unused or redundant equipment. By understanding your network’s device landscape, you can make informed decisions about resource allocation and streamline your infrastructure for optimal performance.
Security Vulnerabilities: Prioritize and Remediate
With the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberthreats, securing your network is of paramount importance. A network assessment helps you gain visibility into high-priority security vulnerabilities within your network operating systems. Identifying these vulnerabilities early allows for swift remediation, strengthening your network’s resilience against potential cyberattacks.
Device Performance and Health Issues: Enhancing User Experience
Pinpointing device performance and health issues is crucial for ensuring a continuous user experience. Network assessments provide insights into the factors affecting performance, enabling you to proactively address issues that degrade user satisfaction. This includes optimizing network configurations, addressing bandwidth constraints, and resolving connectivity problems that may affect productivity.
Lifecycle Milestones: Planning for the Future
Identifying crucial lifecycle milestones of your critical infrastructure components is key to avoiding unexpected disruptions. By understanding when equipment is nearing the end of its lifecycle, you can initiate advance planning for upgrades and replacements. This strategic approach helps you stay ahead of the global IT supply crunch, ensuring a smooth transition without compromising operational efficiency.
Maintenance Coverage: Ensuring Proper Support
Assessments also help determine the maintenance coverage of critical devices. Ensuring that equipment is appropriately covered under maintenance contracts is essential for prompt issue resolution. This proactive approach minimizes downtime and ensures that your network infrastructure remains reliable and resilient.
Licensing Insight: Operationalizing Assets Effectively
Understanding the state of your licensing is vital for ensuring that assets are operationalized effectively. Network assessments provide insights into the licensing status of your software and hardware components, preventing expensive shelf-ware and ensuring that your organization is utilizing its resources optimally.
Software Defined Networking (SDN) Controllers: Optimizing Control and Management
For organizations utilizing Software Defined Networking (SDN) controllers such as Cisco Meraki, Application Centric Infrastructure, Cisco SD-WAN, and DNA Center, network assessments offer a deep dive into their operational effectiveness. This includes evaluating configuration settings, performance metrics, and security protocols to ensure that these SDN controllers are aligning with your organization’s goals and standards.
Proactively Optimize Your Network Performance and Security
In the dynamic world of technology, network infrastructure assessments are not just a best practice but a necessity. By leveraging these assessments, organizations can gain a holistic understanding of their network, from device discovery to security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and lifecycle planning. Identifying and remedying problems early not only ensures the longevity and efficiency of your network but also fortifies your organization against the ever-present threats in the digital landscape.
Stay proactive, stay secure, and optimize your network infrastructure for the challenges of tomorrow.
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