How to add threat insight and response to your network

  

When I hear about interesting new technologies such as IT Services Columbia SC, I start thinking about how I’ll be able to use them and how they’ll be a huge benefit to me… but then the task of the set-up comes to mind and I realize that, actually, it all sounds like a lot of effort. 

When it comes to adding Synchronized Security to your network, though, it’s super easy, and can be done without replacing any of your existing IT cybersecurity Columbia SC infrastructure. That’s right, no rip and replace.

Linking your endpoint and your network, Synchronized Security gives you a clear picture of what’s happening on your network every day, instantly identifies threats and then automatically does something about it when they get in – with Security Heartbeat™ and Synchronized App Control.

How does Synchronized Security work?

The Security Heartbeat™ shares health and threat intelligence between Intercept X and the XG Series to provide at-a-glance health status monitoring as well as automatic real-time response to threats. When a device Heartbeat goes RED, dynamic rules in the XG appliance can automatically cut off that system from other key parts of the network to prevent lateral movement or the leakage of information.

Also, by sharing information on networked applications between our endpoint and firewall products, the Synchronized App Control feature enables you to have visibility and total control over every application running on your network – even rogue, obscure or custom ones – so you can block the apps you don’t want, and prioritize the ones you do.

How do you enable Synchronized Security so easily?

Deploy Intercept X alongside your existing desktop AV, and then add an XG Series appliance to your network… It’s that simple. Don't forget to pay attention to firewalls Columbia SC. 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now for more information about computer security Columbia SC.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence 

Financial Benefits of Managed IT Services

Managed IT services are considered as a significant investment. Having said that, it’s only natural to think about its return. And when it’s about managed IT services, there are several benefits that will immediately translate into cost savings.

Before anything else, do you have any idea how managed ITservices Columbia SC can help your business reach different corporate efforts? Here are a few things you need to know.

Money Benefits of Managed IT Services

Managed IT services can help companies in many ways. They ensure that the right resources and people are allocated in the best way possible, which results into financial benefit. Another common way managed IT services help organizations include investing in new resources, boosting customer satisfaction, and optimizing the utilization of current resources, as well as refining the agility of a company. Here are a few financial benefits of managed IT services.

User Productivity

As IT directors and business owners, you turn to technology to boost your productivity and improve how you do business. If your technology doesn’t do that, then there is a problem. You lose money whenever your employers can’t work. Unplanned downtime can cost companies more than $50,000 per 100 users. By having managed IT services, you can cut back on your server and network downtime by over 85%.

Infrastructure Expenses

By working with a managed IT services provider, you can lower your infrastructure costs in many ways. When an IT support Columbia SC provider takes over your infrastructure, you can downsize the amount of your on-site infrastructure through their data centers. You will save on the hardware cost and on the energy that it uses as well as the space needed to house it.

You will also see more savings related to consulting, training, and licensing. All of these requirements will be covered by one monthly investment. IT services are better managed and streamlined through one provider. In general, companies can save more than $100,000 per 100 users only on the cost linked to infrastructure.

IT Staff Productivity

This advantage is directly related to the productivity of your staff, especially your IT department. In many cases, you see an IT staff consumed with fixing malfunctioning equipment or user problems. These tasks will remove their focus from their main responsibilities. IT outsourcing will help your staff stay focused on their priorities.

Minimal Initial Investment

Managed IT services offered by SpartanTec, Inc. can help you offset the cost of the initial investment. Instead of spending a lot of money on software and hardware upfront, you will be paying for the professional service through affordable monthly payments. Since the service is considered an operational expense rather than a capital expenditure, you do not have almost as much resources linked to the management of your business technology. Additionally, updating to a brand new software will be included in your service and that means you don’t have to pay for extra cost just to keep your technology updated.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now for more information about our managed IT services and to learn how our IT solutions can help your company. 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Managed Security Service Providers, Choosing the Right Security Vendor

Businesses struggling to secure their networks against determined cyber attackers are facing a perfect storm of challenges: most networks are in the midst of a dramatic transformation, including IoT, virtualization, and the cloud, the number and sophistication of network attacks is increasing, the cost of being breached continues to rise, and the security skills shortage continues to widen. As a result, many CISOs are looking to migrate some or all
of their risk out of their IT departments and into the hands of professionals that offer managed IT services Columbia SC.

The challenges facing these MSSPs are also considerable, including defending scores of customers while balancing security effectiveness against business profitability. As a result, today’s MSSPs need tools that are highly scalable, support multi-tenant environments, and provide robust, single-pane-of-glass management and orchestration.

They also need reliable, high-performance, and cost-effective security that allows their networks to dynamically adapt to changing risk environments, and that can also scale to secure hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands of customers at once, even when traffic spikes unexpectedly.

To make this happen, MSSPs must select a security vendor that not only ensures their own success as a service provider, but also the security of the customers they protect. With hundreds of thousands of customer nodes under management, and billions of dollars of assets under their protection, the world’s top MSSPs hold their firewalls to extremely high standards for reliability, functionality, and flexibility.

Functions of the MSSP

At its core, an MSSP must provide two kinds of basic IT services Columbia SC: security asset management and continuous monitoring. Customers with multiple locations and business-critical applications running across the network have stringent uptime requirements, so device management and monitoring are crucial to maintain business productivity.

Many service providers that provide IT support Columbia SC also add security analytics and threat intelligence services to help mitigate new attacks, including actionable intelligence and a comprehensive view of the distributed security infrastructure. Going forward, these firms will likely differentiate themselves in new areas such as penetration testing, threat intelligence aggregation, information portals, and customer self-service.

Many MSSPs will also want to provide security remediation, incident response, compliance services, or loss prevention to further differentiate them in the market. Securing thousands of customer locations, meeting service delivery SLAs, and balancing profitability with engineering headcount and infrastructure are ongoing challenges facing MSSPs, so they need specialized security vendors that understand their business model and can help them meet customer requirements.

Why Top MSSPs Standardize on Fortinet

Frost & Sullivan recently recognized that “Fortinet has achieved a dominant position with MSSPs with its FortiGate line of high-performance firewalls.” In their recent ranking of over 100 network security platforms, Fortinet scored “the highest possible ranking among North American MSSPs.”

Fortinet covers critical aspects of an MSSP’s business model like no other security manufacturer—offering the best in multi- tenancy, the most hardware flexibility, the highest performance through hardware acceleration, and the lowest total cost of ownership of any security vendor.

What Makes Fortinet Different?

Fortinet understands that the MSSP is a strategically differentiated channel partner, and for years has developed technology specifically suited to the MSSP business model. A foundational tenet of our strategy is to enhance our MSSP Partners’ profitability.

Our unique channel enablement strategy creates a symbiotic relationship with MSSPs, as their customers rely on Fortinet products for network uptime and application availability, while Fortinet relies on the MSSP to win new customers with a blend of professional services and high-touch support that reduces our own cost of support.

Fortinet’s MSSP innovative strategy can best be described
in four key pillars or areas of influence: Vision, Technology, Economics and Support. These areas capture many of Fortinet’s differentiators for MSSPs, and help clarify the reasons for Fortinet’s dominance in the space.

Vision

Fortinet’s vision of security designed to operate as an integrated whole, while providing cost-effective performance and protection is key to its long-term position as a strategic business partner for network and managed security services providers.

Fortinet’s Strategic Visionary Investments

• Industry-leading MSSP partner program
• Global support from dedicated MSSP teams
• Enhanced technologies service development support
• Specialized team supporting best practices, customization, and automation
• Cloud premium brand and broad support
• SDN and NFV Development Partner

Fortinet’s vision focuses on ongoing security innovation, advanced threat intelligence, delivering the fastest security platforms on the market, OS portability to secure the cloud and IoT, and leadership in software-defined networks (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV).

Fortinet’s vision is actualized around our end-to-end
security fabric that allows MSSPs to secure nearly any environment. This approach not only improves security, but also reduces operational costs and complexity for professional service organizations that are entrusted to secure their customers’ networks.

Technology

Ten out of ten top global carrier MSSPs use Fortinet in some of the busiest, highest-performance networks in the world. Why is that? There are several reasons:

Technical Dominance in the MSSP Market

• Native multi-tenancy

• Customizable centralized management and reporting
• Extreme performance scalability and platform flexibility
• Ongoing advanced technology research and development

All of Fortinet’s flagship security products support multi-tenant services and granular, delegated administration. This makes
it easy for a service provider to host multiple customers on a single security appliance or provide delegated administrative capacity and single-pane-of-glass management for the security infrastructure.

FortiGate firewalls also offer a broad suite of security controls that provide MSSPs with a full-featured platform to deliver advanced, adaptive security functionality to their customers. This allows the MSSP to deliver a wide variety of managed security services to match their customers’ security requirements.

Economics

MSSPs have distinct cost components to consider in their management accounting processes because they preside over a complex business model with profit margins as heavily dependent on operational efficiencies as they are on hardware and software costs.

Average revenue per unit (ARPU) is a key factor for MSSPs as they consider selecting security platforms for a managed security service. MSSPs are obviously looking for a higher return on investment, as they will often own the security asset and depreciate it accordingly.

Fortinet delivers the highest ARPU in the industry due to multiple unified threat management controls and high-performance hardware, allowing the MSSP to convert more services into revenue on a single device. Those aren’t the only reasons. Fortinet also delivers:

• High-demand, revenue-generating controls
• Inclusive threat intelligence service
• Native virtualization per device
• Enhanced technologies investment

This flexibility and functionality allows MSSPs to turn on more billable security services and secure more users behind one device than any other manufacturer.

Total cost of ownership (TCO) is another important economic consideration, as this encompasses the direct and indirect costs of deploying and managing a security platform. Fortinet provides the lowest TCO for a variety of reasons:

• Scalable, centralized management and open source APIs for automation
• Cost-effective hardware
• Simplified subscription and support
• OS uniformity across hardware and virtual platforms
• Non-user-based bundled pricing
• Special pricing models for OPEX
• Mass deployment and automation toolkits for improved operational efficiencies

Fortinet presents the lowest TCO and highest ARPU of any security manufacturer.

Support

Fortinet’s MSSP vision is global, with dedicated teams in each area of operation functioning under a worldwide standard for MSSP empowerment.

Fortinet MSSP specialists have backgrounds in managed security service provider operations, product development, and training that cross business development and engineering disciplines. They also understand the executive, operational, and sales aspects of the business. This expert level of support, along with the specialized content and tools they create, dramatically shortens market delivery timeframes and product development cycles, and increases the likelihood of a positive product launch while improving go-to-market results.

Fortinet’s MSSP teams also function as subject matter experts in an overlay organization that supports field sales, providing specialized support for partners with a mission of improving profit margins and operational efficiencies. This specialized support comes in the form of product development, financial modeling and engineering assistance, along with operational best practices documentation, market intelligence, and MSSP-specific sales collateral and go-to-market support.

Selecting a security vendor in today’s congested and confusing security market can be a real challenge. Fortinet has more experience and proven success in helping MSSPs build and deploy profitable managed security services than any other vendor in the industry. We have trained, professional teams ready to help you today.

Learn more about Fortinet’s industry-leading MSSP program here.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and learn how our managed IT services can help protect your company against cybersecurity. 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Weighing the Pros & Cons of Managed Security Services Providers

 

Organizations today are increasingly moving towards managedIT services as an alternative to on-premise and in-house implementations. Working with a managed security services provider can help organizations benefit from best-in-class technologies at a reduced cost and with less overhead.

This offers substantial value to organizations in the SMB sector that don’t have the IT infrastructure or budget to create a modern, comprehensive cybersecurity solution. A cybersecurity managed services provider (MSP) can bridge this gap by delivering services such as network monitoring, patches and updates and responding to service requests—freeing on-premise IT to focus on value-added tasks and innovation.

Three top advantages an MSP can provide include:

1. Specialized, skilled technicians. To SMBs that rely on a few generalists to keep networks and systems functioning, a cybersecurity MSP provides immediate access to a complete security team with no ramp up time.
2. 24/7 support and monitoring. Unlike most SMBs, cybersecurity MSPs have the infrastructure and personnel in place to sustain 24/7 IT support and monitoring. This is critical when you consider that many data breaches and security issues occur during off hours. A cybersecurity MSP will notice any suspicious activity and react accordingly.
3. Best-in-class technology. A managed security service can be instantly deployed without any additional investments in equipment or infrastructure. Cybersecurity MSPs have best-in-class technologies supported by cloud resources. More often than not, what SMBs can afford is no match for what an MSP can deliver.

Factors to Consider When Working With Cybersecurity MSPs

When considering switching to an IT services Columbia SC provider, there are several factors SMBs need to be aware of to minimize risk. One is the on-premise placement of third-party equipment that can add to the vulnerability of a network.

Typically, an SMB connects directly to an MSP through the Internet, but the placement of some necessary on-premise equipment can sometimes interfere or interrupt the connection. Organizations are advised to work with MSPs that have measures in place to prevent and mitigate these risks.

The very nature of entrusting a 3rd party with valuable customer data, intellectual property and other competitive information is risky in itself. Organizations need to carefully vet IT outsourcing companies and make sure their claims of reliability and integrity stand up. Reviews, word-of-mouth, and testimonials can all be used to find an MSP that can be trusted with the protection of your data, brand and business.

In most cases, the advantages of working with a reliable MSP with a proven reputation for integrity and success far outweigh the potential risks. A trusted, experienced MSP can identify issues relating to infrastructure, third-party systems or on-premise technologies that can turn into problems, and cost-effectively deliver a comprehensive cybersecurity solution to address them.

SpartanTec, Inc. works with best-in-class technologies to provide comprehensive and trustworthy protection for organizations’ specialized network security challenges.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

 

7-Step Strategy To Fight Ransomware

 "Your files have been encrypted. Follow the instructions to pay us and get them back."

Ransomware demands like this appeared on many computers in 2020, and experts predict the ransomware scourge will only get worse in 2021. Why?

Ransomware provides criminals with easy income, for one; and extortionists with minimal technical skills can get in on the act. They can build code from open-source repositories, buy a package, or even use "Ransomware as a Service." Contributing to the dismal outlook are signs that attacks will grow more sophisticated, targeting specific victims and perhaps even using artificial intelligence.

With ransomware, victims most often have to pay in Bitcoin, which enables the kidnapper to remain anonymous. Attackers often force victims into making hasty decisions with threats of raising the ransom price or encrypting more files if demands aren’t met promptly.

 

 

Avoiding these risks requires advanced planning and a strategy for responding to demands and mitigating damages. Here are some cybersecurity tips:

1. IT Consultant Columbia SC says backup offline for the best prevention. Drives which are attached to a computer are as vulnerable as the main drive. A cloud backup, updated frequently, is safe from ransomware installed on a computer. Run backups as frequently as possible — and update automatically.
2. Have a policy for the worst case. Advance planning forestalls panic. Will the company refuse to pay no matter what? Will it pay if the potential loss goes beyond a certain level? The time to set a ransomware policy is when the business isn't facing an imminent threat.
3. Develop an incident response plan. Responding to a ransomware attack requires quick and effective decisions. The first step is to isolate the targeted machine to prevent further damage. The company needs to inform the FBI; local law enforcement can't do much.
4. Develop an operational contingency plan with the help of an IT Support expert. Even with good backup, an attack will cause a period of disruption. You can't restore the files till the malware is removed, or you'll just have to start over. Plan in advance how the business sustain operations while files are unavailable and computers have been pulled off the network for software repair.
5. Make sure top management is on board. Ransomware policy affects the whole company, not just IT. Executives should understand the risks and sign off on the policies.
6. Conduct security training to reduce risks. Most ransomware is spread through phishing emails and malicious or compromised websites. To minimize risk, train employees on how to recognize dubious email and not open unexpected attachments.
7. Maintain a comprehensive security strategy by hiring IT Services Columbia SC. Anti-malware is just one part. Your security infrastructure should extend protection to all endpoints, use segmentation to limit proliferation and enable quick, coordinated, adaptive responses to threats. Deploy a tightly woven fabric of integrated solutions including firewalls, IPS, antivirus software, sandbox technology and everything in between.

SpartanTec, Inc. can deliver the advantages of an integrated, collaborative security platform to prepare you in advance for the worsening ransomware forecast.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

The Basics of NIST Cybersecurity Framework

 

Have you ever come across the terms NIST Cybersecurity Framework? Do you know what it is? How is it applicable to your business?

NIST is the abbreviation for the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It’s under the U.S. Department of Commerce. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework can assist companies of different sizes. It helps them get a good understanding, management, and reduction of cybersecurity risks to safeguard data and network.

All these are voluntary. It provides your business a clear outline of the best practices, which you can use to decide in what particular area you have to focus your money and time on to boost your company’s cybersecurity protection. Fortunately, you can count on IT services  Columbia SC providers to assist you with this.

There are five areas where the NIST Cybersecurity Framework can be used on.

• Identify
• Protect
• Detect
• Respond
• Recover

Identify

• With the help of experts in managed IT services Columbia SC, come up with a complete list of all the data, software, and equipment you use. Some examples are point of sale devices, tablets, smartphones, laptops, and desktops.
• Clearly identify the responsibilities and the roles for vendors, staff, and everyone else with access to confidential data.
• Determine the steps that you have to take in order to protect your company against cyberattacks and limit the damage it causes in case it happens.

Protect

• To boost your computer security, you should have full control on the people who are allowed to log on to the network and use devices such as the computer.
• You must use effective security software to protect all your data.
• You must encrypt sensitive data, in transit and at rest.
• You must conduct regular data backups.
• You must regularly, if possible, automate, the software updates.
• You must set formal policies about how to properly dispose old devices and electronic files properly.
• You must set a regular training schedule for everyone who uses your computers, network, and devices. Talk about cybersecurity so your employees know their personal risks and the roles they play in the workplace. 

Detect

• You have to keep track of your computers for any unauthorized access using software and hardware such as USB drives.
• You must inspect your network for unauthorized connections or users.
• Investigate all unusual activities by your staff or within your network.

Respond

• You must set a plan in place on how to inform your clients, employees, and others involved whose data may be at risk.
• You need a plan on how you can keep your business up and running.
• You should create a plan on how to report the cyberattack to the authorities.
• Know how to investigate as well as contain the cyberattack.
• Your cybersecurity policy must be updated regularly. Create a plan that factors in all the takeaways from your experience.
• You must prepare your company for any unexpected event such as calamities that may put your business and client data at risk.
• Don’t forget to test all of your plans on a regular basis.

Recover

• If your company suffered a cyberattack, you have to know how to help your business bounce back.
• You must fix and restore the areas of the network or devices that were affected.
• You must constantly keep your employees and clients up to date about your response to the attack and what steps are being taken to recover from it.

 

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and let our team of IT experts assist you in protecting your company and your data against cybersecurity threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Understanding the Basics of Cybersecurity

 

By understanding the basics of cybersecurity and implementing them in your business will help you protect your company and lower its risk of falling victim to cyberattacks. Always remember that cybercriminals don’t discriminate. They will attack small, medium, and even large enterprises when given a chance.

Computer Security Tips: Protect Your Devices and Files

Update your software – You need to set automatic updates for your operating systems, web browsers, and apps.

Secure your files – Store all of your files in a secure location. Don’t forget to back them up on an external hard drive, offline, or in the cloud.

Use strong passwords – Never leave your devices unattended and unlocked whether you’re in your office or in public spaces.

Encrypt your devices – You must encrypt all media and devices that contain confidential information. It applies to your tablet, laptop, smartphones, backup tapes, cloud storage solutions, and removable devices.

Use multi-factor authentication – Set up multi-factor authentication for restricted areas or parts of your network that contain confidential information. Aside from logging in using a password, you may require a temporary code or a passkey that needs to be inserted into the computer.

How to create a strong password?

Experts at managed IT services Columbia SC says a strong password contains at least 12 characters that are a combination of symbols, numbers, and lower and capital letters. Don’t reuse passwords. It’s also not advisable to share them by email, text, or phone. You should also set a limit in the number of log-in attempts to restrict password guessing cyberattacks.

Don’t forget to train your staff

You must develop a culture of security by setting up a regular schedule for training employees. You must update your employees when you find out about new vulnerabilities and risks. In case your staff don’t attend, you should impose a consequence such as rejecting their access to your network.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now and let our IT services Columbia SC specialists help keep your business safe and protected against online threats. 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

5 IT Services That Have A Huge Effect On Your Business

 

The IT sector in the U.S. is worth nearly $1.5 trillion and it’s still growing. Global IT spending is expected to reach $4 trillion this year. This massive increase in the demand for IT services will pave the way for more IT jobs. This sector is expected to create more than 500,000 job opportunities.

The question now is what are the IT services that will be provided by such new jobs? What’s more important is to determine which infotech services companies like yours need to invest in.

5 IT Services You Need To Invest In

1.    Network, Infrastructure Procurement and Management

IT procurement firms will give all the required equipment to set up a new network. They are your go to company for getting your business programs and computers. They can create your telecommunications network such as your internet connection. The majority of procurement companies also offer asset management and maintenance services. They can upgrade your devices and fix damaged equipment. They can provide hardware equipment, software equipment, and wireless or wired connections.

2.    

Cybersecurity Solutions

Another IT service Columbia SC you need to consider is cybersecurity solution. It protects your computers and networks from online threats and digital hacks. Hackers may disrupt your business operations or extort money from you, or worse, both. They do this by changing, stealing, damaging, or destroying your confidential information. Spreading malware is only one of the methods cybercriminal use to get what they want. That’s why you need cybersecurity to make sure that your business is protected against malware and other forms of online attacks.

3.    Cloud Based Services

Cloud based services are IT support that are done from a remote facility. Cloud service providers will lease their software, hardware, as well as operating systems to their clients. They will also handle the maintenance of both the programs and equipment. It gets rid of the need for companies to have a sizable office space. It will free you from expensive equipment maintenance. The three most common types are infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, and software as a service.

4.    Internet Based Communications

IT service providers can set up internet based communications for your firm. They will maintain software and hardware that will power all these programs. They can also create your own communication programs based on the needs of your company. A few good examples are voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), videoconferencing, and chatbots.

5.    Technical Support

Technical support is the least complicated of all IT services. But it is considered as the backbone of them all because they are the helpdesk for every technical issue encountered. It can be offsite, provided by a managed IT service provider or on-site, through your in-house IT team.

Once you have determine the appropriate IT support Myrtle Beach SC your company needs, the next thing to do is find a reliable company that can provide you with what you need. Call SpartanTec, Inc. now for more information.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now for more information about the managed IT services we offer. 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

Tips For Measuring Network Performance

 

These days, you need to have enough budget to make sure that your internet connectivity and other technology depending operations work seamlessly if you wish to run your enterprise effectively. As an increasing number of organizations continue to depend on SaaS and cloud applications to finish most of their tasks, it becomes crucial that they’re not only online 24/7 but that they can also offer their IT services reliably and effortlessly. These creates a much greater need for a company to measure their network performance periodically to make sure that:

1. They are getting their money’s worth.
2. Each component is working optimally
3. The rate of data flow between the network and users are consistently monitored.
4. Metrics are established to let them improve their user satisfaction.
5. Impending errors or bottlenecks that could result in network crisis are detected in advance.

 

 

What are the challenges that surrounds the measurement of network performance?

You have to know the different components and parameters that are included in a network before you can offer an assessment. Taking into account the complexity of a contemporary wireless network, choosing manual approaches, an indepth evaluation is nearly impossible and would be very cumbersome to process as well as finalize. As a result, trying to measure the network performance without using a specially made tools and processes, will consume the company’s productivity, and have financial losses for each minute of downtime.

The demands of networks grow daily and that’s why it’s important for measurements to be conducted correctly. The quantitative and qualitative aspects of a network has to be captured in every measurement process, so that all required data are made for use, in case there’s a network performance problem.

Common Network Performance Challenges

A common issue when trying to gauge the performance of a network was the insufficient real time provision that allows instant detection of issues in bandwith, servers, network paths, routing, and transmission. This mean that IT experts had to perform network measurement half blind up until they come across issues halfway. In most cases, the data obtained isn’t complete as packet loss or errors in latency may not be identified, therefore causing technical oversights that could result in IT crises over time.

Measuring Network Performance

Network Latency – used to measure the delays in the network, concentrating on the time spent in the successful packet transfer or a data packet from one point to another in a network. A network that has zero or almost zero latency is a network that’s working properly.

Things to consider when measuring network latency:

• Distance between points
• The quickest route between the ends
• Delays probably due to applications or hardware processing the transmission of data

Packet loss – number of packets that have been sent out successfully but never reached their destination.

Bandwidth and Throughput – Bandwidth is the number of data that could be transmitted between two points in a certain time period. Throughput is the number of data that was transmitted between two points in a given time period.

Jitter – its measurement could be detected while using the network for VoIP, by identifying the closeness of the VoIP video or audio to real life interaction.

What Affects Network Performance?

Applications – there are certain applications that are not streamlined to meet the network capacities or those that have slow performance could add unneeded stress on the bandwidth of the network and negatively affect the user experience.

Network and Infrastructure Issues

All switches, firewalls, and routers are included because they could in a certain way cause network performance issues.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. for information on how we can assist your business to manage and measure your network performance regardless of the size.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence