Critical Components of Effective Data & Voice Network Design

Today’s businesses know that success cannot simply be measured by bottom-line profit. Smart entrepreneurs are aware that the game has changed, and those who want to keep up with it have to adapt and adopt the necessary technologies that are fundamentally critical to successful business operations. Perhaps the most critical component is the implementation and maintenance of an effective data and voice network design that will support all of the current and future Information Technology (IT) infrastructure requirements.

The best managed IT service providers know that effective network design should aim at the successful evaluation, understanding, and scoping of the requirements of a secure, resilient, and scalable data and voice network. It often involves the creation of a network diagram to be used as a blueprint for the physical design of the network, and it typically includes:

• A logical map of the network
• Cabling structure
• Quantity, type, and location of network devices (router, switches, etc.)
• Wireless network design and access point (AP) locations with associated Heat Map
• IP addressing structure
• Network security architecture and overall network security processes

If it is your first time designing one, make sure that you focus on these major areas for consideration to help streamline the process for maximum efficiency.

Data Security

Data security should be among the most significant priorities for any business that needs to work on their network design. Connectivity is the end goal of the system, yes, but it should not lose sight of protecting all the data generated by that connectivity, whether internal or external. Your IT team should have solid security protocols in place for data storage, data access, and data protection.

Redundancy and Backing Up

Since we’re already discussing data security, it is necessary to make redundancy and backing up a part of the conversation. Why? Even the most secure network can fall prey to major risks that can damage the integrity of their data through unauthorized access or other major security mishaps. Redundancy makes sure that you have the right backup devices that can take over mission-critical components if one of them fails or inoperable. For instance, having two servers means that one can take over for the other if it requires maintenance, gets attacked, or otherwise becomes lost to the network. Similarly, if connectivity to the Internet is a must for your company at all times, you should look at having more than one connection set up to minimize downtime during unfortunate situations.

Disaster Recovery

Finally, design measures for data recovery. These may cover provisions for backup power, data backup mechanics, and standardization of protocols and procedures for network or server crashes. And they should include all types of potential disasters, ranging from those that happen in the office to the entire metropolitan.

As one of your trusted managed IT, service providers, Far Out Solutions offers a whole suite of services to help businesses create, implement, and maintain the best possible network. Talk to us today!