In the day-to-day grind of running a business, it can be tricky to keep an eye on your network performance.
In fact, many businesses only notice their network infrastructure when things start going wrong with it: Latency begins impacting business functions, security issues start creeping up, and a lack of scalability forces the business to use outdated legacy systems longer than they should.
Of course, when this starts to happen, it’s already too late. The business is already losing money due to the productivity and security impacts of running on outdated infrastructure.
Instead, businesses can maximize productivity by proactively upgrading and keeping their IT networks up to date. We’ll break down the benefits of network modernization below, as well as some signs that it’s time for a network upgrade.
Why It’s Important To Keep Your Network Up To Date
An outdated network infrastructure can create a host of problems for businesses, including slower data transfers, decreased security and reduced productivity. By investing in a network upgrade, you can alleviate these issues and position your business for future growth. Some of the key benefits of upgrading your network include:
- Faster data transfer – An upgraded network can significantly improve data transfer speeds, enabling your team to complete tasks more efficiently and better serve your customers.
- Improved security – Modern networks are built with advanced security features that protect your data and systems from cyber threats. This is especially important given the increasing sophistication of cyber attacks.
- Improved productivity – Upgrading your network can reduce downtime and improve the overall performance of your IT systems, leading to increased productivity across your organization.
Two emerging ways to upgrade your network are to implement software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologies.
Software-defined networking centralizes the networking control plane by decoupling it from the underlying hardware and implementing it in a software application. SDN allows network administrators to easily configure, manage and optimize the network through software applications, without the need for manual intervention or device-by-device configuration. This results in a more agile and responsive network that can adapt to changing business needs and requirements.
Similarly, network function virtualization (NFV) moves traditional hardware-based functions like firewalls and load balancers into virtual machines. This virtualization enables network functions to be easily deployed, managed, and scaled as software applications, rather than relying on dedicated hardware appliances.
How Do You Know If It’s Time for An Upgrade?
How do you know it’s time for an upgrade? Here are some classic signs.
- Slow data transfer speeds – Are laggy teleconferences, slow file transfers or sluggish application performance slowing down your business?
- Frequent downtime or network outages – Is your network experiencing regular downtime or outages?
- Difficulty scaling – Are you unable to scale your network to accommodate new users or locations easily?
- Security concerns – Have you experienced recent security breaches, or do you feel your current network is vulnerable to attacks?
- Inefficient resource utilization – Is your network unable to dynamically allocate resources to meet changing demands?
- Outdated hardware – Is your network reliant on outdated, end-of-life hardware that is difficult to maintain or replace?
- High maintenance costs – Are you spending a significant portion of your budget on network maintenance and troubleshooting?
How To Make Sure Your Upgrade Is Impactful and On-Budget
When planning a network upgrade, it’s important to carefully scope your upgrade in order to ensure that the changes are impactful and cost-effective. Here are some tips to help.
- Assess your current network infrastructure – Conduct a thorough analysis of your existing network to identify areas that require improvement and potential bottlenecks.
- Determine your budget – Establish a budget for your network upgrade, taking into account both upfront and ongoing costs.
- Ruthlessly prioritize – Prioritize the most critical areas of your network that need upgrading, focusing on improvements that will have the most significant impact on your business operations.
- Create a phased approach – Break your network upgrade into manageable phases to minimize disruption and manage costs effectively.
- Monitor and measure success – Continuously monitor the performance of your upgraded network to ensure it meets your business needs and expectations. Measure the success of your upgrade by setting and comparing key performance indicators (KPIs) before and after the changes.
- Engage with an experienced partner – Working with an IT consulting company that specializes in network infrastructure modernization can help you identify the best solutions for your business and ensure a smooth upgrade process.
Need An Expert Opinion?
If you’re unsure whether your business is ready for a network upgrade, or if you need help planning and implementing the upgrade, Sanity Solutions can help. As experts in network infrastructure modernization, we offer comprehensive assessments to determine if your business could benefit from an upgrade. Our team of skilled professionals will work with you to design and implement an impactful and cost-effective network upgrade strategy tailored to your unique needs. Don’t let an outdated network infrastructure hold your business back. Contact Sanity Solutions today to discuss your network upgrade needs and discover how we can help you optimize your IT infrastructure for future growth and success.
