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The digital age is gradually influencing every business and domain. It has created a need to rely heavily on IT networks. Because of seamless networking, communication, data transfers, and operations will be smooth. And this is why cyber spies target them, which eventually increases downtime and hampers back-office operations.
This guide has all the key practices, tools, and benefits that can help in maintaining and securing businesses’ IT networks. So, let’s introduce you to what IT network maintenance means.
What is IT Network Maintenance?
IT network maintenance represents the ongoing process of tracking, managing, and troubleshooting the IT network of an organization. This practice aims at optimising its performance on various levels. This optimisation encompasses software updates, hardware examinations, security audits, and performance monitoring of hardware that defines a network. Overall, this maintenance practice strengthens the security of sensitive data, its transfer, and communication. Moreover, the software and hardware are frequently aligned with technological advancements. These practices support the recovery management of data and networks.
Why Is Network Maintenance Important?
A study by the Uptime Institute states that uncertain IT downtime accounts for approximately $5,600 loss every minute. The major victims of the loss of revenue are large organisations, which also suffer from damaged reputations. The lag in the data security causes these damages and losses, which could be undone through proper network maintenance.
In essence, the network maintenance services enable beneficiaries to get rid of the vulnerability risks. And the difference becomes visible in these areas:
Reduced Downtime
Proactive maintenance of the technology network can alarm companies by detecting potential issues through regular monitoring. The timely intervention minimises downtime without burdening the budget. And the operations in the backend continue to run smoothly.
Enhanced Security
The University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering discovered that more than 2,200 attempts at vulnerability take place each day. Likewise, Astra Security revealed that 4,000 cyberattacks hit every day. These incidents make it necessary to introduce rigorous security measures, a secure firewall, and more sophisticated arrangements for current and effective data management and communication.
Optimal Performance
Slow network performance can hinder productivity. Regular audits and updates help in attaining the continuity of your network and also, improve data transfer speeds.
Compliance and Legal Protection
Corporate datasets, especially customer details or leads and accounting details, are highly sensitive and need strict data protection regulations in place. Regular maintenance ensures businesses comply with standards and, hence, avoid penalties.
Key Practices in IT Network Maintenance
Various technology engineers and experts usually follow key practices to maintain the security and agility of their IT networks. Here are the most common practices for your glance.
Regular System Monitoring
Regular monitoring comes first when it comes to the maintenance of your technology network. It can be done manually or automatically. However, monitoring tools are mostly preferred to track network performance in real time. Simultaneously, they scan potential bottlenecks or suspicious activities. It helps in securing digital data and environments. In this regard, studies confirm that 84% of network problems can be eliminated through active monitoring and early detection.
Updating and Patching Software
Avoiding or ignoring the latest software version can be the most obvious passage for hackers to hack. Every updated version of the software is introduced by removing bugs in its previous version. So, regular updates and patches are necessary. Cybersecurity Ventures reported that 60% of data hacking is caused by outdated software.
Data Backup and Recovery
Being sensitive, corporate entities keep their data secure. Also, they invest in recovery plans to retrieve lost data in no time. A Global Data Protection Index report revealed that 83% of organisations witnessed at least an incident of data-based vulnerability or disruption in the previous year. These incidents create the need for an efficient backup strategy for data.
Network Optimisation
Network optimisation is all about streamlining it. It basically emphasises how to enhance the overall performance of your IT infrastructure. This task involves fine-tuning network configurations, effectively managing bandwidth usage, and balancing load.
Security Audits and Penetration Testing
Network management majorly involves security audits of software and hardware. For this purpose, engineers thoroughly examine the patch or its possibilities. They may utilise penetration testing techniques by imitating cyberattacks so that the security of the network can be determined. In its reference, IBM came up with a finding in this context, stating that companies performing regular security audits face fewer than 40% or fewer cyber incidents than those who don’t.
Now that you know the importance, let’s present some impressive tools to maintain your technology network.
Essential Tools for IT Network Maintenance
Here are some tested and extremely popular tools for IT network maintenance.
Network Monitoring Software
Monitoring online traffic and the health of your server is necessary. Tools like SolarWinds, Nagios, and PRTG accept this challenge and evaluate their performances. They also alarm by providing a detailed overview and real-time alerts regarding unusual activities so that troubleshooting can be initiated proactively.
Patch Management Tools
Software must be up-to-date, and you don’t have to manually do it. Tools like ManageEngine, Ivanti, and Automox can do it automatically.
Backup and Recovery Solutions
Data backups must take place regularly. Acronis, Veeam, and Carbonite-like tools can automate data backups so that data can be retrieved if it is compromised due to security failure or data corruption.
Network Configuration Tools
Some popular tools like Cisco Network Assistant and WhatsUp Gold enable users to configure, troubleshoot, and optimise network settings. This can help in smoothly operating in the backend without facing lengthy downtime.
Security Software
Securing the network against cyber spies is critical, which can be convenient by introducing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and antivirus software from providers like McAfee and Cisco. Regular updates and scans are integral to maintaining a secure environment.
After exploring tools, it’s necessary to explore the advantages of IT networks and maintenance.
Benefits of Regular IT Network Maintenance
Cost Efficiency
Regular maintenance of the IT network can eliminate unexpected downtime, which often costs hundreds to thousands of dollars. Also, it minimises the cases of security breaches.
Improved Productivity
Well-maintained networks provide seamless IT infrastructure where they can timely operate without any lags. This arrangement improves their workflow efficiency, which increases their productivity.
Enhanced Security
The maintenance of networks, data, and their security should be a regular practice. It helps in determining and fixing technical glitches before they elevate and do further damage.
Better Compliance
Data is counted as a luxury, which requires regulatory standards like GDPR, HIPAA, etc. to be followed. Regular audits and maintenance should be followed as per regulations to avoid penalties and anything that tarnishes reputation.
Scalability
As the business grows, the scalability of the network becomes a necessity. Regular maintenance helps in understanding when and how to scale the IT infrastructure without significant overhauls.
Conclusion
IT network maintenance is something that you cannot get rid of. It is crucial to maintain smooth operations in the IT infrastructure. This managed service is vital to proactively monitor, regulate updates, and ensure data security, which is associated with downtime. These services help maintain optimal performance, saving businesses lots of money and time.