Did you know that seven out of ten organizations stated their security risk increased significantly in 2017? What about this: last year, 54 percent of companies experienced one or more successful attacks that compromised data and IT infrastructure.
Last year brought us the biggest ransomware outbreak in history, resulting in a breach that left half of the US population at risk. Security is a huge focus as technology increases rapidly, despite last year’s shortcomings.
Every business must have a plan in place to combat cybercrime and keep a watchful eye on their network. Good thing for us, network management tools are improving just as fast as new tech is emerging.
Small business wanting to know if network management is right for you? Medium business looking to understand the benefits for your budget? Large enterprise considering an extra tool to your repertoire?
Here are the Benefits of Network Management for 2024:
1. Network Issue? Diagnosis It
We all know the struggle that is network downtime. In fact, 98 percent of businesses state that one hour of downtime costs over $100,000. No matter the size of your business, that cannot be afforded. Network management tools make it easy to monitor your network to visualize the problem, diagnose it and quickly solve it – before threats take hold.
Network management tools don’t necessarily require a complete IT team of professionals. Even if you have one individual available to keep an eye on your network, increased traffic or configuration issues can be quickly found and addressed.
2. Growing? Go for It
Growth is an important goal for all businesses. To be able to grow seamlessly and scale quickly, businesses need security and management that follows suit. Network management tools are built to grow quickly and change as needed to fit your network needs.
As you grow, you will need to monitor new devices, new IP addresses and more, continuously adding to your network. These tools can help visualize all endpoints, keeping your network secure and running smoothly.
3. Security Threats? Find Them
One of the best benefits of network management is the ability to find and quickly respond to security threats before they occur. As stated, more than half of companies experienced a successful breach last year. With hackers becoming more intelligent, network management tools cannot be passed by.
These tools are evolving, even using machine learning and artificial intelligence to learn about your network, figuring out your network’s baseline. If the baseline is disrupted for any reason, these tools will alert you immediately.
Microsoft says this about the importance of security: “The object of security is to protect valuable or sensitive organizational information while making it readily available. Attackers trying to harm a system or disrupt normal business operations exploit vulnerabilities by using various techniques, methods, and tools. System administrators need to understand the various aspects of security to develop measures and policies to protect assets and limit their vulnerabilities.”
4. Looking to Upgrade? Here’s Proof
Network management tools help you identify servers and devices that are not working properly, causing potential security holes to be opened. If you do identify something not working properly, these tools give you the proof needed to upgrade your equipment.
When it comes to the budget, building a case for upgrades is critical to your business, no matter the size.
As technology expands, new upgrades and equipment will be required to keep up. Network management tools help you stay ahead of the game before your equipment becomes obsolete.
According to an article written by Centre Red, “There are a lot of risks out there for computer users online and hackers are always finding new ways to attack systems. You really don’t want security holes in your software. Most malicious malware is aimed at exploiting weaknesses caused by users not updating their systems.”
5. Now, Plan for the Future
Perhaps above all, network management tools allow you to plan for future security risks and network outages. After learning about your network and understanding vulnerabilities, a strategy can be implemented that outlines the steps to take if a breach or network outage should occur.
Preparation is key when you are faced with downtime that could cost you thousands.
Conclusion
Network management is critical to have for any size business. When it comes to cyber-crime, no one is immune to criminals seeking to steal data for their own benefit.
Power outages and network outages happen and could cost you. The Benefits of Network Management and implementing them correctly can completely change the way you take on network mishaps, help you to grow when it’s time, and help protect your critical data from wandering eyes.
For more information and reviews on network software that might be best for you, take a look at our reviews here.
Benefits of Network Management Tools FAQs
What is network management?
Network management refers to the process of administering, maintaining, and monitoring a computer network. It involves a range of tasks, including configuring network devices, monitoring network performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring network security.
What are some common network management tools?
There are several network management tools available, including network monitoring tools (such as PRTG Network Monitor and Nagios), network configuration tools (such as SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager), and network security tools (such as Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance and Fortinet FortiGate).
What are some common network management protocols?
Some common network management protocols include Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP), and Remote Monitoring (RMON).
What are some best practices for network management?
Some best practices for network management include regularly monitoring network performance, implementing network security measures (such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems), regularly backing up network data, and keeping network devices up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates.
What is a network management system (NMS)?
A network management system (NMS) is a software application that helps manage and monitor computer networks. It typically includes features such as network device discovery, device configuration management, network performance monitoring, and network security management.
