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Is your network working hard for you or are you working hard for your network? Many network managers will try to stretch their system to the max by running equipment at higher utilisation rates and delaying upgrades. Experts warn that this is a risky approach – it could degrade application performance, create poor network experiences for staff, and ultimately lead to productivity losses

Mike Smith, Network product development manager, SunGard Availibility Services contributes below:

“No network infrastructure, even if it is optimised, will last forever and as SunGard's Mike Smith points out, IT systems can "move from vital to obsolete in the blink of an eye." His recommendation is that network managers should re-evaluate their technology every two to three years and ensure that their network costs are matching the network efficiencies.

"As technology changes, so too does the needs of the network. A network manager must stay ahead of demand and ensure that the organisation is able to keep up with the industry. As time goes on, costs become lower and technology quickly becomes more affordable."

Smith also says that on-premise systems have never been ideal from a costing stand point." They create vast amounts of capital expenditure as businesses attempt to increase capacity, and large amounts of operational expenditure due to maintenance. With businesses more inclined than ever to try and squeeze every penny, many companies will be tempted to stand by their legacy systems and try to put off spending until more prosperous times. However, this can be a false economy, limiting business growth and wasting resources."

According to Smith, the rip and replace model of business should be a last resort. He says that not only is it highly disruptive to a business but it means that the organisation will end up paying for systems to run simultaneously until the final switch over is made. "There is also no time for system checks or application testing to take place, which means that if there was an issue in the transition, the IT department will be dealing with unfamiliar technology."

Instead, he suggests that businesses should consider getting the most value from their legacy infrastructures by phasing them out gradually when making the move to any new system. "Organisations are then able to carefully control costs, and need only pay for systems that are currently in use. This will limit business disruption, reduce costs, and ensure that the organisation is able to take as much value as possible from its legacy systems."

Smith adds that companies need to plan carefully when provisioning for a network, and the network manager needs to consider where the organisation will be three or five years down the line.

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