Network Management
What is Network Management?
Network management is the system of protecting a computer network’s resources through administration and oversight via apps, devices, and systems.
How does network management work?
Network management is critical to the processes of data management and is defined by the five different areas of fault management, configuration management, accounting administration, performance management, and security management (FCAPS).
These five components work together to monitor and maintain network security of all resources from the access point to the data center. The main function of network management is to guarantee resources are readily accessible to and consumable by the users. Ensuring that host and user devices are all able to connect and draw resources from the network shows the overall health of the network.
How can network administrators tell if their network is in good health?
When there are inconsistencies or a lack of resources available to users, it denotes a lack of efficiency or security in the network operation. Network administration includes tracking how resources are expended to confirm that the network is in good health. The operation is focused on maintaining network function, including proactively spotting errors or issues and oversight of all network traffic. Maintenance is necessary when network resources need upgrades, either in hardware or software.
Why is network management important?
To maintain the health and optimal functionality of a network, complete oversight and maintenance is crucial. With the constant attacks on networks and the increased risk with compromised data flow, network management becomes exponentially more necessary.
Network management is not only needed for proactive protection from threats, but intelligent management centers also have the capability to convert arbitrary data to actionable data that push your network and business forward. This process is possible through network management solutions with analytic and automatic capabilities.
When it comes to network performance, network management identifies and reduces network issues and bottlenecks that would otherwise hinder the flow of internal operations and impact user experience.
With the additional support of network management software and hardware within your enterprise infrastructure, you gain the ability to address issues quickly and resolve security threats or disruptions in workflows.
What are the components of a network management system?
Network fault management
Network fault management is the layer of management that detects faults (commonly known as errors). The main objective of fault management is to not only detect, isolate, and resolve the problem, but also to keep a record of the resolution process. This protects against future faults occurring from the same source.
Configuration management
The duty of network configuration management is to configure the network and all corresponding and linked devices to do certain things. It is the job of this management to tell the system and computers how to behave and what to do. The network managers must maintain, structure, and update configuration settings, host configuration by overseeing IP addresses and servers, and securely store these credentials and update them as needed.
Accounting administration
Network accounting administration pertains to the maintenance of administration or accounting services. Responsibilities include administrative duties, such as ensuring users have login, password, or specific permission settings and maintaining resource billing based on usage.
Performance management
To maintain network efficiency, network performance management is critical. This management is performed through data collection and analysis and by instituting thresholds of operation. Data can determine underperformance and point to areas of the network that require upgrades.
Security management
Network security management promotes the protection of the network structure, which is established through the implementation of firewalls, proxies, antivirus software, and systems to detect any attempted intrusion. These security measures oversee all traffic in a network and can extend protection through implementing physical and surveillance security systems.
Network management challenges vs. benefits
Challenges
Poor network performance is one of the largest challenges for network management teams. Another major concern in network management is the quality of management resources. With cyberthreats and cyberattacks via ransomware at an all-time high in 2021, network management and security solutions are essential to operational efficiency.
Without sufficient proactive planning or allocated resources for an adequate level of network management, organizations may find their IT team frustrated and in need of additional support to manage the system’s operational needs and duties.
Rapid growth also presents a challenge to network management, as IT systems typically lack the ability to properly support operational needs.
Benefits
With AI implemented into the structure of network management resources, there is up to a 90% reduction in time spent on issue resolution. This architecture allows organizations to configure, oversee, operate, report, and troubleshoot throughout all network domains.
The benefits to network management are clear and simple: with network management, organizations optimize security, threat management, power to resolve issues efficiently, and the maintenance and management of operations. Software layers increase threat visibility, require all users to have authorized permissions, and prevent unauthorized access. This promotes the general health and operational quality of a network.
HPE network management
HPE offers a variety of management solutions that benefit and promote increased health within your data network. HPE Intelligent Management Center (IMC) Orchestrator and Analyzer simplifies the processes of network management and oversight of operations through automation and analytics. This benefits network environments that need to promptly scale due to explosive growth in traffic.
HPE Aruba Edge Services Platform (ESP) is a cloud-native solution that manages all wireless, wired, and WAN infrastructure. This runs across all locations, whether remote, data center, or across campus. Aruba Central is run on built-in AI that provides thorough analytics and intelligent insights and alerts. With Aruba ESP, there are greater business outcomes and higher operational efficiency, as it improves programs designed to convert edge data.
Gaining unified infrastructure by context visibility and simplified IT operations, HPE edge-to-cloud security eliminates a heavy load from your IT teams. It also integrates authentication, authorization, uninterrupted performance monitoring, and incorporated threat management into your enterprise infrastructure.