Whether you have a preexisting network or are building one from scratch, having a documented design and mapped-out infrastructure will make your network exponentially more straightforward. Designing a network for your home probably isn’t needed, but it’s vital in an office or business. A report from Research and Markets found that a managed service provider (MSP) can reduce IT costs by as much as 45 percent and boost operational efficiency by up to 65 percent. Additionally, with the increasingly popular Internet of Things (IoT), cameras, sensors, light bulbs, and locks, to name a few, a networked design is needed for peak efficiency.

When was the last time an expert needed to diagnose an issue on your network? Could you have saved time and money with a network design guide? 

What is a Network Design Guide?

A network design is the planning and mapping out of the infrastructure of an IT network. It’s like a housing blueprint; all connections are configured for the best possible implementation and network health. Each business is different, and its needs are equally unique, so a cookie-cutter approach won’t be sufficient.

A typical scenario would be minimized with a proper network design: a new employee sits at their desk and docks their laptop without an internet connection. For efficiency reasons, every desk has a hardwired connection but no signal. The help desk gets called, and someone from IT comes out to look, but it seems as though the wall connection is dead. Here’s the kicker: no labels on the network switch in the data closet or network design, so now this mess is going to take a considerable amount of time to rectify. 

A network design goes beyond just the wiring; it also extends to the network’s hardware. For instance, an inefficient network could cause high latency, which, in turn, creates a very spotty connection for your business.  

How to Design a Network

It’s crucial to hammer out the requirements before starting the design process so that less rework is needed down the line. This will require meetings with stakeholders to ensure all needed requirements are being accounted for. 

At this point, you might feel overwhelmed, and that’s completely understandable, but don’t worry; this is an extensive guide meant to fill you with information that turns into understanding. When you partner with an industry expert like Complete Computers, we tackle all of this so you can focus on running your business.

Tips for Network Design Guide

A high-functioning network infrastructure enables your employees and business to service your clients without worrying about connectivity issues. When you run into network or security concerns, your customers lose trust. Use these tips to help audit your system: 

Simplify and Document

The available technology today is complex, so your network design needs to be as simple as possible whenever feasible. It seems counterintuitive, but adding unnecessarily complicated connections and devices is asking for things to go wrong.

Document everything and make sure that it’s updated when changes are made. Not only that, but all the main stakeholders of the business should have access to the documentation. The last thing you need is for an issue to pop up and for the holder of the complete network infrastructure to be on vacation and can’t be reached.

Install Security

Invest in a firewall and spare no expense. According to IBM, a ransomware attack costs a business US $5.13 million on average. You need to protect the traffic and devices on your network. Cybercrimes are becoming more sophisticated and frequent. By adding a firewall, you aren’t deterring anybody trying to access it but ensuring nobody gets through.

Make It Scalable

Keep a positive outlook for your business and have your network designed in a way that anticipates growth. The last thing you want is a sustained spike in business, but you must go through an entire network redesign to accommodate the growth. Have something built now that will grow with you with minimal adjustments needed.

Monitor and Adjust When Necessary

There’s a high probability that the network design will be flawless and ready to go from the start. Any plan might look great on paper, but adjustments might need to be made when implementation begins. Your MSP will have built-in network monitoring; if changes or updates need to be made, they will schedule them.

A Comprehensive Network Design Your Company Deserves from Complete Computers

Your network isn’t something to take lightly; a professional must be consulted to ensure business security. With the technological intricacies related to network infrastructure, unless it’s a technical passion you’re familiar with, your budget should include either an update or a total redo.

Complete Computers is your all-encompassing technology provider that can take your business structure to the next level. Contact us today and discuss how we can partner with you.