It can be difficult to determine which managed network services are right for your business. Buying less than you need will slow down your business, but buying too much will waste resources. Here's our overview of the main features and their benefits.
Today's business can start with something more than an idea and a computer. The setting can be a kitchen table or a cafeteria. It is quite possible to start a business without an office, but today few businesses can start without an Internet connection. The expansion attracts more people and more computers that need to be connected not only to the Internet but also to each other. This may be easy for a one-room startup but quickly becomes more difficult for an organization that spans a large campus, such as a hospital.
Keep thinking big and imagine an organization with multiple sites. It can be several offices, hundreds of stores, several warehouses. Then there are remote workers who need to connect and even vehicles, devices, and packages that may need network connectivity and communication. What starts with an idea and a computer can quickly evolve into an organization that produces large amounts of data that must be transferred to colleagues, customers, and other stakeholders, and transferred efficiently, securely, and quickly.
This can be a headache. It costs money and requires IT management, which is why many organizations are turning to managed networks to help them compete in a rapidly changing environment. But where do you start? There are many services available, and below is an overview of the main options, starting with the initial connection to the Internet.
Managed LAN Services
However, most businesses require more than just an Internet connection. They need a local area network that connects their team to the applications and data they need to work. A Managed Lan Services connects computers, printers, shared servers, and any other devices you need to exchange information to keep your business running smoothly. These needs can often be flexible and unpredictable, so they need to use modern switches and routers to transport traffic efficiently.
For example, for the University of Westminster, the network must provide services to thousands of students whose demands for faster connection speeds and more bandwidth are constantly growing. Daniel Holter, Director of IT Infrastructure, says: “Our students are online all the time and expect to be able to access content, use online applications and collaborate while studying without interruption.”
The network the university was using relied too heavily on one connection, which often resulted in failures that the on-site team had to manually fix. Working with Redcentric, the university was able to modernize its network with new core routers designed to meet the huge bandwidth requirements within an affordable architecture. The resulting network eliminated the previous single point of failure and provides future reliability and protection, saving the university money.
A well-designed and managed LAN can work in complex environments such as universities, hospitals, large offices, etc. It can also reduce the demand for your IT team, allowing them to focus on more important tasks. A managed LAN can add features such as segregation and separation so that groups of users with different security or service needs can flexibly coexist on the network. It can even include things like Power over Ethernet (PoE), which allows Ethernet to be connected to power phone devices, Wi-Fi equipment, and other devices, reducing operating costs and installation time.
Managed WAN Services
Many organizations today need to connect multiple sites, and this can add another layer of complexity beyond the local network. A managed wide area network (WAN) network connects many sites, from factories and warehouses to offices and schools. It delivers the same performance, reliability, and security that an organization expects from its LAN.
For many organizations, their global network must connect to other specialist networks such as Janet, the UK Research and Education Network or the equivalent for the health sector, the Health and Human Services Network (HSCN). For these and other similar networks, such as the emergency services network, security and regulatory compliance are vital.
Networks like these are tempting targets for all types of attackers, from cybercriminals and nation-state actors to those who simply want to vandalize and disrupt operations. This is another case where finding a specialist with the relevant experience can save you money and time.
Even a standard wide area network can be challenging. When I! Sushi, a restaurant chain with 80 branches in the UK, turned to Redcentric because it had an inefficient global chain that caused regular blackouts throughout the chain. This sometimes went on for days, disrupting customer payments and critical reporting, and undermining customer confidence and staff morale. The problem was exacerbated by a contract with a supplier that did not facilitate flexible network expansion and divided support responsibilities between main contractors and subcontractors. When a problem arose, responsibility was transferred between suppliers.
SD-WAN
The proliferation of cloud technologies has helped create a new type of network: the software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN). As the name suggests, this is a software-driven virtual network rather than the traditional architecture of physical routers and switches. This approach enables you to send network traffic more intelligently at a speed that meets the requirements of the latest cloud applications.
Today's software-as-a-service applications in the cloud often appear to be running on the user's computer, but in reality most of the processing is done on cloud servers. For this to happen efficiently, so that users can get their work done without unpleasant delays, the connection must transfer data quickly. This is where SD-WAN comes in.
Although these are "virtual" networks, they need to be monitored, maintained, and protected. Firewalls, antimalware tools, web filtering tools, and other security technologies can protect both the network and its connections, just as they do other types of networks. The main difference is that the connection types can be more varied, from devices with physical connections to devices with wireless or mobile devices. This makes the network more efficient in terms of time and money.
All of this can be done without burdening the organization's IT team, and all functions can be controlled by a managed service provider. The level of monitoring required will depend on the individual needs of your organization, but the industry standard is to check network availability every five minutes. With 24/7 monitoring, a problem that occurs in the middle of the night can often be resolved remotely before the customer is aware of the problem.
Managed Wireless Networks
We've talked in passing about wireless connections to your networks. They cannot be overlooked in modern business. From making your staff work more efficiently, to understanding guest usage, and even benefitting from your network, wireless can bring all kinds of benefits.
For example, Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, UK was the first racetrack in the world to offer a single wireless solution to all stakeholders. Previously, Ascot required TV companies to run many cables to connect to the network when covering horse racing competitions, while bookmakers and food service companies had to rent landline phone systems to accept credit card payments.
The wireless network, designed, planned and installed by Redcentric, addressed these issues and offered other enhancements such as wireless connections for all 500 Tote betting terminals and photo finishing equipment. Coaches and journalists can now also get information about replays and races. Even the turnstiles are networked to provide accurate real-time visitor counts in any area, allowing Ascot to sell more tickets.
Secure Remote Access
Wireless networks are ideal for flexible onsite work, but how can businesses stay productive when employees increasingly need the ability to work outside the office? Working from home is becoming more and more popular, but workers often want to work on the train, in a coffee shop, or at a client's office. In addition, they hope to be able to perform tasks from a variety of devices such as a smartphone or laptop.
To be productive, they need access to their data and applications, which are usually stored on the company's network. This includes all kinds of sensitive information that often needs to be sent over a public network for remote access to work. Fortunately, this problem can be addressed with an end-to-end encrypted virtual private network (VPN) that keeps employees productive while maintaining security and compliance.
Having a dedicated solution also brings other benefits, such as giving the business control over who has access to what data, from where, and from what device. For example, a company may decide that certain types of data can only be accessed from the company's smartphone, not personal. Or, they can deny network access from a public Wi-Fi network. All of this can be defined and monitored so that you can analyze user behavior and make sure you have the appropriate permissions.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you an idea of which managed network services are right for your business. The ideal solution for most businesses is likely to be a combination of the above. This is one of the reasons a dedicated ISP is a good idea - they can make sure you only buy the services you need with the performance you want.
Other reasons, as we have discussed, are cost savings, reduced IT time costs and the confidence that experts are constantly monitoring your network. By addressing all of this, your organization can focus on its true priorities.
