It Networking Infrastructure

Think of your network as a complex system and your IT infrastructure as its lifeblood. Your network must support all the digital devices in your company. It needs to be fast, redundant, and secure.

If your IT infrastructure isn’t up to par, your company can struggle to operate at peak efficiency. You may experience network connectivity issues, slow data transfers, and computer crashes. Your IT team can spend hours troubleshooting these problems, which can take valuable time away from more productive tasks. The best way to improve your IT infrastructure is to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. Here are some important tips to help you improve your IT Networking Infrastructure.

Plan for growth

If your business is growing, you’ll need an updated IT network to support it. This can be challenging, as you may not have the budget to hire more staff or expand your current IT team. You could end up with a lot of spare capacity on your network, which can add latency and cause issues with network communication.

The best way to plan for growth is to start small. Set realistic growth expectations for your business and how you want it to operate. Then, identify the necessary steps to get there, such as purchasing more bandwidth or expanding your data center. This will help you avoid falling into the trap of thinking you need to rush a new server or purchase a new router.

Keep your networks UP-to-date

When you have a new device attached to your network, it sends a signal to your router asking for permission to join the network. Your router then looks to see what software is running on the new device and informs other devices on the network of the new device’s presence. This process is known as OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Layer 2 functionality.

Every time you upgrade a device on your network, you need to ensure the new device is talking to the router using the same IP address. If not, you could experience network connectivity issues. You may also lose access to certain devices on your network if they don’t have the latest software installed.

Avoid leaving devices unpatched

As your business grows, so does the risk of serious data breaches and cyberattacks. It’s important to keep all your devices up to date, but this isn’t always possible. If you only have time to update a handful of devices, make sure they are prioritized. The most important device on your network should be patched first. You can use a device management system to track the health of your devices and ensure they are all running the latest software.

Incorporate good security practices

Security is an important aspect of any network, but it’s particularly important for an IT network. This is because all your devices rely on the same network components, such as the router and switches, to function. If any one of these devices is compromised, it could lead to problems for all your networked devices. For example, a compromised router could serve as a stepping stone for hackers to access other machines on the network or even computers on the same network.

You should use strong passwords for all devices on your network and have a strict password policy. You should also enable two-factor authentication on your accounts, if possible. This gives added security by requiring a secondary code, like a text message, whenever you log in to an account.

Make data backups a priority

Data is the lifeblood of your business, and it’s stored on your networked devices. It’s important to make regular backups of your data to protect against hardware failures, natural disasters, and human error. A backup can save you from spending hours trying to reconstruct lost data. You should back up data on a periodic basis, such as once a week or bi-weekly. You can use the software on your computer or an external hard drive.

Conclusion

Your IT infrastructure is an important part of your business, and it’s important to take care of it. You can improve your network by following these tips.

Plan for growth by starting small and being realistic with your expectations. Keep your networks UP-to-date by upgrading devices and ensuring they are using the same IP address. Avoid Cyber Security Solution leaving devices unpatched, as this risks data breaches and cyberattacks. Incorporate good security practices, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and making regular backups. Make data backups a priority by storing them securely.