Contributed by Jared Orr
Network Lifecycle Management (NLM) is truly the unsung hero of a successful IT environment. It keeps your team connected, ensures seamless communication, and provides essential internet access.
As Gartner said it best, “The cost of an unmanaged network estate can be extremely high. Without clear visibility into your current environment, you risk ineffective RFPS (Request for Proposals), leading to bad deals and inflated costs. This lack of insight can also result in paying for unused or redundant circuits.”
While not the most glamorous aspect of IT, network lifecycle management is an indispensable process that ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. But what happens when you’re growing too fast, opening new locations, or dealing with acquisitions?
Let’s talk about it. There are three main pieces to the NLM puzzle that we’ll talk about in detail in this article:
- Planning & Procurement
- Operations Management
- Expense Management
Why Network Lifecycle Management Matters
Network lifecycle management gives IT teams a look into the entire lifecycle of a network from design to decommissioning. This includes everything from sourcing and procurement to operations and expense management. This makes the process of ensuring that the network remains efficient, cost-effective, and reliable much easier.
When your organization is expanding rapidly, it’s easy to lose track of your network assets. You might end up with redundant circuits, overpaying for services, or struggling to integrate new locations. Effective network lifecycle management helps you make informed decisions and avoid these pitfalls.
The cost of an unmanaged network estate can be extremely high. Without clear visibility into your current environment, you risk ineffective RFPS (Request for Proposals), leading to bad deals and inflated costs. This lack of insight can also result in paying for unused or redundant circuits.
The Challenges of Rapid Growth
Growing quickly is a good problem to have, but it comes with its own set of challenges. If you’re opening new locations or acquiring new companies, you need to quickly get a handle on their existing network infrastructure. Without proper visibility, you could be paying for unnecessary circuits or struggling to integrate disparate systems.
How do you ensure minimal downtime during these transitions? Dealing with carriers can be a nightmare. According to recent statistics, 38% of IT and networking professionals cannot proactively identify network performance issues. That’s time and resources that could be better spent on strategic initiatives. This is where network lifecycle management comes in.
Designing the Perfect Solution
Why would someone need to buy new circuits? The answer lies in solution design. Whether you’re setting up a brand-new office or upgrading your existing infrastructure, finding the right circuits is crucial. This involves balancing your budget with your performance needs to ensure you’re getting the best value.
The first step is to conduct a thorough needs assessment. Here are some questions to consider:
- What are the specific requirements of your new location or system?
- How much bandwidth will you need?
- What are the redundancy and failover requirements?
Answering these questions will help you design a solution that meets your needs without breaking the bank.
Sourcing the Best Circuits
Once you’ve designed your solution, the next step is sourcing the circuits. This involves comparing different providers to find the best deal. But it’s not just about cost; you also need to consider other factors such as:
- Reliability
- Support
- Scalability
Thoroughly reviewing contracts is essential to getting the best terms and conditions. Look for hidden fees and restrictive clauses and ensure that the service level agreements (SLAs) meet your requirements. Effective contract management can save you a lot of headaches down the line.
Getting Up and Running with Minimal Downtime
Once you’ve sourced your circuits, the next step is operations management. This is all about getting things up and running efficiently. The process of ordering circuits can be complex, involving multiple steps and coordination with various stakeholders. Effective order management ensures that everything goes smoothly without unnecessary delays.
But getting circuits up and running is only half the battle. Once they’re operational, you need to manage them effectively. This includes monitoring performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring that everything is running optimally. Here’s how you can implement this:
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Monitoring Performance
- Regular Checks: Conduct regular checks to monitor the performance of your circuits. Use network monitoring tools to track key performance indicators such as bandwidth usage, latency, and error rates.
- Automated Alerts: Set up automated alerts for any unusual activity or performance degradation. This proactive approach helps in identifying potential issues before they escalate into major problems.
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Troubleshooting Issues
- Identify Problems Quickly: When an issue is detected, diagnostic tools are used to quickly identify the root cause. Efficient troubleshooting requires a systematic approach to isolate and resolve the problem.
- Document Solutions: Keep detailed records of issues and their resolutions. This documentation can serve as a valuable resource for future troubleshooting and help in building a knowledge base.
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Ensuring Optimal Operation
- Regular Maintenance: Schedule regular maintenance to ensure circuits are operating at peak efficiency. This includes updating firmware, replacing faulty components, and optimizing configurations.
- Capacity Planning: Continuously assess the capacity of your circuits to handle current and future loads. Ensure that you have adequate resources to meet increasing demands without compromising performance.
- Performance Tuning: Fine-tune performance settings based on real-time data and analytics. Adjust parameters to optimize throughput and minimize latency for better overall performance.
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Security Management
- Implement Security Measures: Apply robust security measures such as encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems to protect your circuits from cyber threats.
- Regular Audits: Perform regular security audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. Stay updated with the latest security patches and best practices to safeguard your network.
Organizations with robust IT operations management experience 50% fewer system outages and downtime incidents. Businesses also report a 40% increase in service availability through proactive monitoring and management of IT operations.
The Importance of Expense Management
Network lifecycle management isn’t just about keeping things running but also managing costs. Effective expense management ensures that you’re not overpaying for services. This involves getting all your invoices in order, checking them for accuracy, and ensuring that they’re processed and paid on time.
Supporting your accounting team with clear and easy information can make a big difference. By providing detailed AP posting and GL coding, you can streamline the financial side of network management, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring that everything is accounted for.
Optimizing Your Network Expenses
You can make informed optimization decisions with clear visibility into your network expenses. This involves analyzing your invoices and usage data to identify opportunities for cost savings. Perhaps you’re paying for circuits that you no longer need, or maybe you can get a better deal with a different provider.
Optimization isn’t just about cutting costs but also about ensuring you’re getting the best value for your money. By making data-driven decisions, you can keep costs low while maintaining high performance and reliability.
Bringing [IT] All Together
By taking control of your network environment, you can make informed purchasing decisions, minimize downtime, and keep costs low. Whether you’re dealing with rapid growth, new acquisitions, or simply looking to optimize your existing infrastructure, effective network lifecycle management is key to success.
Ready to improve your network management? Implement these strategies and see the difference for yourself. Your organization will thank you.
