April 23, 2014
A network is like a car. In order to make sure it keeps running properly, it’s important to constantly be looking for signs of trouble; but, even when there aren't any problems, it is still important to perform routine checkups. You want to keep everything moving at the right speed in order to keep performance levels high. You also want to prevent problems from occurring and be able to address them quickly if they do. Analyzing your network can point out potential problems before they cause any damage or downtime and prevent your users access to the information they need to do their jobs.
Why We Recommend an Annual Network Analysis as the Minimum
How often you have your network analyzed will depend on what type of business you have, but we recommend at least once a year. During a network analysis, we examine several things.
Changes
First, we look to see what has changed since your last analysis. Has your business expanded? Is your current network struggling to keep up with the amount of users or data traffic? Have you added any new equipment? Each change is another piece of the puzzle.
Wireless Devices
Next, we look to see if any new wireless devices have been added in your area or whether any non-authorized users have access to your network. Significant increases in wireless devices or usage can impact your networks performance.
Security
Every business has confidential information – some more than others – but all businesses want to be protected from cybercrime. We check the security strength of your network and determine whether or not changes need to be implemented.
Overall Network Performance
Here we test things like speed and server space allocation to see if there are any recurring problems cropping up. Again, the goal is to catch potential issues before they balloon into problems.
When Should You Do an Immediate Network Analysis?
Naturally, when things are going well, you're less likely to be worried about a network analysis, just as you're less likely to take your car to a mechanic when your engine is running smoothly. However, in between yearly analyses there are events that can take place which indicate an immediate network analysis is needed. Ask yourself these questions to determine if an analysis is required:
- Has your network performance changed?
If your network has started to slow down, that can be a sign of a bigger issue. It's a good idea to conduct regular speed tests – these performance measurements will alert you when your network begins to slow, making it easier to find the cause quickly. - Has your Internet bandwidth changed?
If your bandwidth decreases unexpectedly, you will most likely notice a performance change. An analysis should take place to identify and address the cause. - Has your traffic changed?
When the amount of traffic on your network changes, a network analysis will help determine the users or functions causing the traffic and what changes need to be made to accommodate or address the load.
If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, you may be due for an analysis in order to get your network back working at its maximum potential. Naturally, every business's network is different based on its unique needs. When we manage networks, we begin by creating a performance baseline unique to that business. This way we always have a benchmark to compare during any future network analysis.
Fixing Network Problems
When your network is running slowly, it may be because of any number of issues. As such, your network will need to be thoroughly analyzed to determine where the problems root cause – it could be monitor switch ports, firewall throughput, database issues, network card driver or setting, a failing switch or individual device performance. Unfortunately, these problems can be hard to find unless you've systematically explored each of potential issue.
It takes an incredible amount of knowledge and experience to understand the complexity of your network and how to solve any issues affecting performance. A routine network analysis can identify these problems and initiate the appropriate measures or solutions. Request an appointment with a networking specialist to discuss the benefits of network analysis for your business.
