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Routine Network Performance Management Activities

Explain routine network performance management activities


Routine network performance management activities are as follows:

Planning

In the planning stage, the future demand of network capacity is determined by historical data and growth trajectory based on business forecasts, technological trends, regulations, etc. Redundancy needs to be factored in while the budget will determine what the priorities are. For example, if the trend is heading toward Wi-Fi 7 but most devices are not Wi-Fi 7 enabled, the benefits of installing such routers would not be felt, thus it would not be a priority. However, by implementing intent-based networking that automates networking, a network administrator could do more with less resources, the value would be delivered instantly. A further example is the network administrator could weigh the pros and cons of having Ethernet or Infiniband and it is likely that Ethernet cables are deployed because there is most community support and technical know-how already in the organisation.

Designing

When designing a solution, a network administrator would have to weigh the benefits against the cost, i.e. where to locate the routers to maximise coverage cost-effectively; the best way to connect a printer onto the network so it can receive data from different workstations and not tied to a single point of failure; the safest way to install cables from a security as well as a health and safety perspective; or the tradeoffs between one type of typology over another, i.e. bus versus star. Another aspect of designing is network segmentation to ensure data security and IP address allocation that is user-friendly, such as incrementing the IP numbers in ascending order so future users would understand the logic behind the design.

Installing

The installation stage is where the design is implemented. This involves the physical and logical, that is to physically lay down the cables and install routers, switches, and IT equipment; and configure access controls, provision users and IP addresses.

Network operations

The network operations stage is where all the devices are connected, ready to be used, monitored and analysed to perform fault detection and system optimisation. This involves pinpointing and diagnosing bottlenecks that degrade performance. Data analysis provides insights into the root causes of latency to help the network administrator assess the severity and triage the bug in real-time.

Audit reports / update of security policy

A network audit starts with an up-to-date list of IT assets owned by the organisation to ensure every asset is compliant with the regulations. It is recommended to conduct a network security audit annually, though if there is a major change to the system or regulations, or if the network is big and complex, more audits may be required. It is important to include physical and virtual infrastructures, identify third party providers and the certifications they hold, e.g. Cyber Essentials, third party software, the current network configurations, backup policies, disaster recovery plans. The audit informs the organisation of any upgrades of hardware and software, underutilised resources, security gaps either in the system and/or written policies, and licence renewal dates. As a result, the network can be hardened, resources can be optimised, and the security policy is updated and disseminated in various methods such as an email or an awareness session.