The Ultimate Guide to Enterprise Network Management: Strategies, Tools, and Best Practices

You’ve probably heard the term "innovation" more times than you can count. It’s a topic that echoes through executive discussions, hallways, and high-level decision-making sessions. Besides the adoption of emerging technology, one key driver of innovation that is often underemphasized is network management.

Strategically managing your network is vital to realizing the full potential of your infrastructure, supporting growth, and staying competitive amid an unpredictable digital environment. But how can you handle the challenges of enterprise network management without getting lost in the process?

We’ve put together an ultimate guide to walk you through the core aspects of network management, from essential strategies and best practices to modern solutions, so you can maximize your network’s potential and answer the following questions:

1. Why is a Holistic Approach to Network Management Essential for Business Success?
2. What is the Role of Routing and Switching in Network Management?
3. How Can Network Assessments Prevent Disasters and Save Costs?
4. What Steps Should You Follow for an Effective Wireless Site Survey?
5. What Emerging Networking Technologies Can Enhance Enterprise Connectivity?
6. How is Networking as a Service Changing Connectivity, and Why Are Managed Services Crucial?

Why is Network Management Important for Enterprises?

According to the 2023 Auvik Network Management Report, 75% of IT professionals and decision-makers don’t have complete visibility or understanding of their network configuration. This “lack of visibility” refers to not having a clear and comprehensive understanding of your network's configuration, performance, and health. When IT professionals or decision-makers lack visibility into these integrations, they may overlook the interoperability of devices, systems, and network components, leading to blind spots that affect effective management and troubleshooting.

“The most common mistake enterprises make is underestimating the number of client devices needing support and the types of applications users try to run on the network. Another key issue directly impacting our services is underestimating the bandwidth required from a connection perspective. These problems all stem from a lack of visibility into the network’s actual capacity and performance.”

- Nathan Wierzgac, Director of Sales and Business Development, WZC Networking

As digitalization and remote/hybrid work environments become the norm, enterprises face escalating cybersecurity risks and mounting costs from downtime. As a result, they can no longer afford to adopt a reactive approach to network management.

Holistic network management solutions provide an integrated and all-encompassing strategy to monitor, maintain, and secure your network. Viewing your network as a whole, rather than in isolated parts, allows you to anticipate issues, enhance performance, and prepare your network for whatever the future holds.

Why is a Holistic Approach to Network Management Essential for Business Success?

Network reliability is one of the many factors that impact an enterprise’s ability to function effectively.  A stable network supports smooth communication, uninterrupted cloud access, efficient data transfer, and business applications. Can standard network solutions support these functions?

Scaling your enterprise means hiring more employees, procuring additional devices, and implementing new systems to meet your organization’s demands. While these are essential tools in your toolkit, they also introduce security vulnerabilities and greater challenges in maintaining your infrastructure. Standard network solutions might initially suffice but you’ll likely outgrow them fast once you scale your enterprise. Overdependence on off-the-shelf solutions will eventually lead to network limitations, frequent downtimes, and security vulnerabilities.

Overcoming these hurdles and achieving sustainable growth requires strategically assessing and optimizing your entire system.  

Holistic Wi-Fi solutions involve an extensive evaluation of the entire network infrastructure prior to any enhancement. Strategic network management includes various critical practices, such as:

• Consultation
• Network Design
• Performance Monitoring
• Security Management
• Traffic Optimization
• Capacity Planning
• Incident Management
• Network Automation
• Compliance and Reporting
• Troubleshooting and Support

Ultimately, a holistic network solution provides a unified framework that aligns your infrastructure with the strategic goals of your organization. It enables seamless interdepartmental collaboration, reduces latency, and strengthens data integrity while optimizing resource utilization. Investing in such a solution means you get to future-proof your network while supporting your current enterprise demand without interruption.

What is the Role of Routing and Switching in Network Management?

Routing and switching are the fundamental functions of a network, which are responsible for connecting various segments of your network infrastructure. A router connects the company’s local network to the internet or links different branches to make sure the data reaches its destination via the most efficient route. Meanwhile, switches manage data flow within a single network by using MAC addresses to forward data frames to the correct devices, ensuring efficient communication within a local area network (LAN). They connect computers, printers, and servers within the same office network, allowing the devices to communicate with each other quickly and reliably.

Dynamic routing protocols are employed to manage complex, large-scale networks. It’s best to partner with expert network providers to deploy and manage these protocols. Experts provide you with access to advanced technologies, such as the ones we’ll highlight below, to improve network throughput, latency, and fault tolerance as your organization scales.

• Software-Defined Networking (SDN). Provides centralized control, enabling faster network adjustments and improved resource allocation.
• High Availability (HA) and Redundancy Protocols. Ensure minimal downtime through backup systems and alternative pathways for data traffic.
• Network Function Virtualization (NFV). Reduces reliance on hardware, increasing flexibility and lowering costs.

How Can Network Assessments Prevent Downtime and Cyberattacks?

The Impact of Network Downtime

Unexpected network or system outages are unusual but inevitable. In fact, even industry giants experience painful downtime. Gartner estimates that unplanned downtime costs around $5,600 per minute.

A multi-location enterprise could have an extensive network of servers, databases, and endpoints, where a single failure could trigger widespread downtime. On the other hand, smaller organizations might not have the same IT resources to resolve network issues quickly.

The True Cost of Cyberattacks

On average, companies shell out $165 per stolen record during a data breach. Beyond monetary repercussions, enterprises also face reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential legal consequences.

“Once clients realize their confidential information has been compromised, you might have trouble regaining their trust.”

‍- Nathan Wierzgac, Director of Sales and Business Development, WZC Networking

A network can act as a conduit for a cyberattack if it reveals vulnerabilities such as weak passwords, outdated software, or misconfigured devices. Unsecured endpoints and unmonitored traffic also provide opportunities for infiltration, allowing them to move through the network, steal sensitive data, deploy malware, or launch ransomware.

Address Network Vulnerabilities Through Comprehensive Network Assessment

You can detect potential network issues through comprehensive assessments. Working with experts gives you a clearer understanding of your network's weaknesses, as they have the experience and equipment to determine problems, such as outdated software or misconfigured devices, that might otherwise be missed during a standard ping test.

• Conduct Pen-Testing: Perform penetration testing (simulated cyberattacks) to evaluate the security of Wi-Fi configurations and other systems, identifying vulnerabilities before real attackers can exploit them. This helps protect employee devices from compromise.
• Implement Network Alerts: Set up network alerts using SNMP traps to notify IT personnel of potential problems, enabling quick detection and resolution of issues before they escalate.
  
  
• Utilize AI Tools: Deploy AI tools to stabilize, optimize, and manage network performance. These tools can automatically adjust settings, optimize traffic flow, and ensure proper power and channel configurations, freeing up IT staff.

What Steps Should You Follow for an Effective Wireless Site Survey?

Building a high-performing, resilient network starts with a straightforward step: conducting a thorough pre-installation site survey. But what exactly is it? A site survey helps identify specific network requirements, coverage areas, and potential for future growth. Enterprises need a well-structured, comprehensive assessment of critical factors, including access point placement, interference sources, and bandwidth requirements.

A wireless site survey involves several steps:

1. AP on a Stick Survey: Determine optimal access point placement for best signal strength by temporarily positioning an access point.
2. Physical Site Walkthrough: Identify interference factors (walls, machinery, etc.) that affect signal propagation.
3. Network Design Considerations: Design for future device growth, user density, and bandwidth needs in high-traffic areas.
4. Post-Survey Validation: Verify network speed, signal strength, and latency at key locations.
5. Ongoing Network Health: Maintain peak efficiency through continuous performance monitoring and adjustments as needed.

These steps yield the best results when executed by wireless network experts. With in-depth knowledge, experts ensure an accurate evaluation of key factors, including interference, signal strength, and scalability, which lays the foundation for a network designed to perform at its best.

What Emerging Networking Technologies Can Enhance Enterprise Connectivity?

According to 2023 research, 96% of executives believe innovation is essential for their organization's success and growth. Despite this, only 21% have achieved their innovation goals. A lack of trust in the data, insufficient bandwidth, limited resources, and challenges in technology modernization all contribute to this gap.

Many organizations view technology innovation as disruptive to their operations, but the reality is that not every emerging technology requires pursuit. What matters is identifying the appropriate technologies to help you overcome your bottlenecks and position the organization for sustained success.

“Many organizations struggle to maximize efficiency and resilience. Some businesses may lack the staff or technical expertise to handle multiple sites and advancements, while others face interference issues in shared office spaces. As a result, they miss out on the functionality of modern solutions.”

‍- Nathan Wierzgac, Director of Sales and Business Development, WZC Networking

A network expert can help you identify and implement emerging technologies by evaluating your current infrastructure, assessing the latest innovations, and recommending the most suitable solutions. Here are several emerging technologies that have the potential to deliver substantial improvements in your network performance and scalability:

Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E extends the Wi-Fi 6 standard to operate in the newly available 6 GHz frequency band. As a result, organizations can benefit from more spectrum, reduced congestion, and enhanced overall performance compared to the traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Wi-Fi 6E utilizes a 6 GHz band with additional non-overlapping channels, reducing interference and congestion, particularly in high-density environments. It enables faster data rates and lower latency, making it ideal for bandwidth-intensive applications like 4K/8K video streaming, video conferencing, and cloud computing.

5G and Beyond

5G service at known operator locations increased from 68.4% in Q3 2023 to 76.7% in Q1 2024. This technology provides strong connectivity with ultra-fast internet speeds, low latency, and the ability to support numerous devices simultaneously. 5G deployment continues steadily across various countries, with the US leading the way as one of the top global markets for 5G coverage.

5G Network Slicing

As 5G expands globally, network slicing enables engineers to create multiple virtual networks within a single 5G infrastructure. Each slice can be customized to address specific bandwidth, latency, security, and quality of service (QoS) needs. With 5G network slicing, engineers can:

• Rapidly deploy and adjust slices for various use cases
• Enhance mobile broadband performance
• Support large-scale IoT deployments
• Enable ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC)

Quantum Networking

Experts foresee quantum networking transforming organizational operations, much like how the internet revolutionized computing and society.

For end-users, quantum networks will function similarly to the classical networks used daily for transmitting and sharing digital information. However, quantum networking remains largely theoretical at this stage. The key distinction lies in its use of qubits, which encode data in a fundamentally different way than traditional bits.

Implementing a quantum network will create virtually unhackable communication channels and enable high-speed data transmission, boosting efficiency and performance across various applications. As this technology matures, companies will require skilled partners to implement these networks and remain competitive in the evolving digital environment.

Scalable, Secure, and Smart: Introducing Wireless Connect+

Wireless Connect + is WZC Networking’s premier network solution, built to scale enterprise operations through enterprise-level connectivity, advanced network management, and proactive security.

Our in-house network solution incorporates advanced features such as dynamic scaling, AI-driven traffic management, and zero-touch provisioning to enhance network performance and cost optimization. AI-powered traffic management dynamically adjusts to network demands, while strong security protocols and proactive monitoring enhance protection.

How is Networking as a Service Changing Connectivity, and Why Are Managed Services Crucial?

Networking as a Service (NaaS) is a subscription-based model that allows customers to access networking services through the cloud, eliminating the need for on-premise infrastructure.

Delivered alongside the internet service provider’s connection, NaaS offers on-demand access that lets administrators scale network resources according to real-time demand. Such flexibility helps organizations optimize performance during peak periods while reducing costs during times of lower activity.

NaaS offers several key advantages:

• From CapEx to OpEx: Shifts expenses from capital expenditures (CapEx) to operating expenses (OpEx), creating more predictable budgeting and reducing upfront hardware investment (routers, switches, etc.).
• Enhanced Scalability and Flexibility: Enables rapid scaling of network resources to meet changing business needs.
• Enhanced Security: Improves data protection through advanced security measures like encryption and threat detection.
• Compliance with Industry Regulations: Helps businesses meet industry-specific regulatory standards, such as SOC 2.

Next Step: Implement Network Management Best Practices with the Help of RF Experts

Connect, protect, scale. With our wireless network experts by your side, you can implement network management best practices that not only enhance performance but also strengthen security and support your long-term growth. With 25 years of RF experience and industry knowledge, WZC Networking is a trusted partner for organizations aiming to enhance their network infrastructure with holistic solutions.

Contact WZC Networking to enhance your network with expert-driven RF optimization, intelligent traffic management, and security-first configurations. Start building a more resilient and future-ready network with WZC Networking today.