Improving Enterprise Network Operational Efficiency

Despite a recent trend towards organisations outsourcing network security to third party management companies, a recent study conducted by Forcepoint clearly shows that most enterprises actually prefer internally managed full network visibility, control and flexibility to make their own choices about changes. When talking to CISOs and SOC teams, Telesoft has found that manageability, automation and centralised management tools are key to keeping a network running smoothly, and without a putting extra strain on limited resources. Large enterprise networks are also becoming more distributed, which places extra credence on fit for purpose remote management capabilities.

We have put together our top five tips for increasing Enterprise Network Operational Efficiency.

1. ACCESS TO DATA

Using smart probes, sensors and switches provides SOC and NOC teams with secure and consistent detailed information about the data traversing the network, without being inundated with inessential noise is massively important for network management. Which provides a strong foundation from which to build upon new systems and processes, easily integrating new efficiency enhancing technologies and solutions.

2. PROPERLY ORGANISING WORKFLOW

Workflow and automation technologies minimise operational complexity, dramatically improving protection and compliance. A key metric to streamlining operational complexity is automatically identifying incidents and rules which demand immediate analysis and action driven by real-world events.

3. SCALABILITY TO SUPPORT NETWORK GROWTH

Most companies start out as small companies and grow over time, as do their work stations, servers and network devices, usually a configuration that ‘just grew that way’. Creating and implementing a strategic plan for future network growth will help avoid potential future network problems. An example of key areas for consideration are security, bandwidth, storage capacity and management/administrative requirements.

4. RESOURCING AND EDUCATION

Keeping good IT talent on board and defending against the ‘insider threat’ is key to fostering network operational efficiency, demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals is growing at an astonishing rate. It is also of paramount importance that the general workforce is educated to prevent employees from performing actions like plugging in an infected thumb drive or opening a virus carrying attachment from an e-mail, which would put the organisation at risk.

5. MODERNISING YOUR ANALYTICS CAPABILITY

Although change is often viewed as disruptive, in the long run the benefits will far outweigh the challenges. Ask yourself what data analytics and visualisation could potentially mean for your organisations network operational efficiency. There is often much value in currently unavailable data that will improve ROI, improve performance increasing throughput, expand network visibility increase and increase investor confidence.