Some Important Facts About Network Consulting

| Monday, June 20, 2011
By Jason D. Penaz


The importance of the Internet to all business enterprises has spawned a network consulting industry to support small and medium businesses with their Internet Technology systems. Most of these firms address three major areas; IT Monitoring and Management, Remote Access and IT Risk Management.

Monitoring and Management

Anyone who uses the Internet understands the frustration when their provider is down. Multiply this frustration several times over when it happens to a business enterprise. Downtime can result in the loss of thousands of dollars of sales. This translates to the loss of any digital assets as well. A firm with specific and wide ranging expertise in monitoring and managing an IT system can save a company from the losses that are associated with IT malfunctions.

Remote Access

Most firms monitor and manage from a remote location and are capable of resolving most issues as they happen without disrupting the workplace. Remote access affords monitoring in real time for a rapid response to any problems. If an on-site visit is required in response to a problem, the firm will be able to ascertain exactly what type of expert should be sent to resolve the issue.

Real time access within a format allows for in-depth reporting and a simplification of managing and planning. The ability to quickly resolve an IT problem also protects hardware from undue wear and tear. Time is then better spent by company management in planning and growing the business instead of resolving IT issues.

Risk Management

Managing the security of an IT network is one of most important aspects of network consulting. IT systems are at risk from a variety of sources such as hackers, worms, viruses, electrical malfunctions, plus from breakdowns in hardware or software. As the technology advances, the risks increase as well. IT security measures are usually designed to establish several lines of defense. Firewalls are usually the first layer followed by antivirus and anti-spyware software.

Data back-up is another critical security measure in order to insure the continuity of business function. A combination of on-site and off-site back-up is usually recommended in the case of a devastating event that destroys the business property. Off-site data protection grew as a result of the information that was lost when the World Trade Center buildings collapsed on 9-11. Data-backup was on other floors than their companies, but still with the same building.

As Internet Technology grows and advances, so too will the need for network consulting firms to not only stay abreast of the advances, but to anticipate and be ready for them. This is particularly challenging since IT is the most rapidly changing technology on the planet today.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment