Cost-effective Network Management: Features And Characteristics

With the advent of Information Technology in business came the feature of business automation. Automation not only within one's own sphere of work or operation, but in synchronisation with operations outside the local sphere also. This gave rise to networks. To manage individual networks as an integrated entity came in Network Management and nothing on earth this day is worth if it not be cost effective. We therefore end up with Cost-effective Network Management as a necessity for the day's activity. A complete network is made up of two components. They are the hardware component and the software component. One has to only see it to believe it so far as the number of individual components that comprise a complete network. When called upon with a problem being experienced by a customer at some remote location the first necessity that the network manager requires is the visual picture of the complete network.

The task of the network manager becomes even more difficult due to the fact that the network map is never the same even on successive days at some instance. This occurs as every business house has to continuously adapt to the changes in the market and thereby effect changes in the procedures that he conducts his business.

Given this scenario, there is need for such a tool that provides a continuous updated view of the complete network components to the network manager as also allow the network manager to manage the components from a remote location. One such class of software which provides the various programs that are running across a network as well as the networks hierarchical view is called Managed Services Provider programs (MSP). There are some MSP which do not need any user intervention and called fully automated MSP and there are others which need human intervention at each step. There are MSP which are a mix of these two also. The Network manager's availability and capability would decide which MSP be best suited for a client. Cost saving factor of such software requires no amplification. Rather than having individual network manager at each individual physical location trying to talk with each other, one network manager sitting remotely is able to monitor and provide solutions to the individual network system.

The power and ability of MSP software is judged mainly by the reporting capability of the software and by the view spectrum of the entire network that this MSP software is able to project. However there are various other factors and features that each individual company would indicate in their product manifesto. Features like ease of deploying the MSP software itself across the entire network. The demand for system resources that the software be inherent with.

For increased profit margins a cost-effective network management system is a deciding issue to any business house. This is especially so given the 'e' factor that has attached itself in every facet of a business in today's world. A Managed Service Provider is capable of bringing down price incurred by the business house in network management, in turn assuring increased profit margin to the business house. It could therefore be concluded that MSP is a cost-effective tool.

How To Get Cost-Efficient Network Management

 

Managed Service Providers are the modern corporation's way of maintaining cost-effective network management in today's technological, information-based era. These systems alleviate the need for micro-management by the company over the details of computer and network efficiency, and service anything that needs fixing, reporting, or eliminating for better profit.

Employee Monitoring- It can often be a huge burden on a company's network and profits if employees are able to get away with regularly listening to music, watching videos, or chatting with friends over instant messaging while working. MSP software enables full monitoring of an entire system of computers, keeping track of the media, downloads, and browser history of each hard-drive assigned to the network. Hardware Examination- Following the pledge to keep a company's network streamlined and clean, MSPs catch all hiccups in the programs loaded to the system, and any faulty network connections. The software always searches deep into the programming to discover he reason for error, and can often fix it on its own. Histories of function and performance are logged to show overseers any repair or replacement needs. Parameters- Business leaders can edit the flood gates of their network as much as they like using MSP software. Stricter boundaries can be placed around access into the database, emails, and outside networks. Likewise, very loose parameter can be set to allow for greater freedom through the database and the internet, such as may suit smaller or more media driven companies.

Thorough Reporting- MSP software maintains crucial logs about all activity history procured from each hard-drive, and compiles it all into a single database. Suspicious activity, malfunctions, logic gaps, and attempts to break access rules are immediately reported to the head of the system in a detailed report. Histories of reports are filed and kept well organized in case future occurrences call for an examination of any past patterns from a certain computer.

Regular Backup- MSP software can save a company a great deal of time and money by servicing it with regular backup of all pertinent company files, data, and its own report histories, so everything can be restored in case of an emergency. Memory space on system hardware can also be saved for faster processing speeds by filing archival data into the separate safe-hold database as well. This feature spares companies the need to manually maintain restorative copies, saving them all of that time and technician money. Baseline Feature- To make the function of the well-oiled business machine even smoother, MSP software comes with the ability to mold itself into the functionality of the company and its behaviors. The system learns what is considered normal and appropriate for the individual network it is applied to, and reacts accordingly to any mysteries or red flags. This keeps the software from being an unalterable, rigid system that reports only what it has been directly programmed to, and instead allows for every unique company to function its own way. Way of the Present- What may have once seemed like a futuristic dream of business entrepreneurs is now a reality with MSP software. Cost-effective network management can be achieved without scores of manual system surveying, and saves all the time and money on what used to be needed for a technician. With higher efficiency, cleaner functionality, and higher profit margin, no corporate business of the twenty-first century should miss the chance to reap the benefits of Managed Service Providers.