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You’re probably familiar with the experience of being on a Zoom conference where the connection keeps dropping or coming in and out. Network Copper Tap
Network optimization refers to the tools and techniques that improve a company’s overall network performance. There are countless reasons why a network might be slow, such as outdated hardware and security measures. Read on to learn more about how network optimization works and why it’s important.
Network optimization refers to the process of optimizing network performance for speed through tools, techniques and practices. There are many different factors that can create a slow network. Because so many companies rely on networks and the internet to complete every task from meetings to sharing files and collaborating, optimizing a network so that it runs as efficiently as possible is essential.
It was not too long ago that most company networks were located in one physical location. Employees came into the office and connected to the company network. But today, with so many companies either remote or hybrid, networks are completely different. Many employees use their personal devices (what’s also called Bring Your Own Device or BYOD) instead of corporate ones to connect to their corporate network. The pandemic has only accelerated these changes, completely reshaping the way networks are structured and how to optimize them.
All this leads to new challenges for company networks. “A big issue in the pandemic and post-pandemic world is the fact that corporations, companies, universities and governments don’t control the types of networks their employees have,” Dr. Chris Mattmann, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO) at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explained. Companies don’t have control over which internet provider or which device an employee is using. In addition, the shift from being co-located in a physical work location to working remotely means more people are relying on data-intensive applications such as Zoom to conduct their work, all of which are network intensive and can strain a network that isn’t optimized properly.
Today, network optimization refers not only to the network in a physical space (a company’s office, for example) but also to optimizing all of the ways every employee connects to the network, including the devices they use and the internet connections they are relying on.
If you’ve ever needed to complete a work task but have been unable to due to poor internet, you know how a poor network connection can be detrimental to a company’s overall productivity. The issue could be anything from outdated hardware, an employee being located too far from their router or inefficient network security. Comprehensive network optimization will consider all of these factors and make decisions that optimize performance.
Productivity is one of the reasons network optimization is so important. Slow networks prevent employees from being able to do everything from efficiently running virtual meetings to analyzing data sets to other necessary tasks required for their job.
Network optimization is also an important factor to consider from a business and investment perspective. Corporations often collect network data and analytics to gain more insight on their networks. Once they have all this information, network architects can strategize how the company should evolve the network. “These all become corporate decisions related to capital planning and investment,” Mattmann explained. The questions a company might ask are: How should we upgrade our network? What are the sunk costs going to be? What’s the ROI?
Network optimization is complex and the process will vary from company to company. Larger companies may have a team dedicated to network optimization that will strategize about which employees require the fastest connection and allocate resources accordingly.
Smaller remote companies may not even have a corporate network, but simply ask that employees connect using their personal internet connection. While this may be easier from a management perspective, it also prevents the ability to analyze how a network is being used and troubleshoot issues.
Here are some of the best practices business owners can follow to optimize their network.
If you’ve ever been inside a building with spotty Wi-Fi on one end of the building, then you know how important access points are to ensuring a network can run smoothly.
“Most of the time this has to do with the service delivered by an access point. Either it’s old, needs to be serviced or replaced or they just don’t have enough access points to provide an efficient network coverage,” Mattmann said. IT teams need to ensure there are sufficient access points in a building and that the routers are up to date and running efficiently.
But it’s not enough to optimize a physical corporate network since these days such a large percentage of work takes place remotely. Home networks need to be optimized, too.
An employee may not be aware that the reason their internet is slow is because they are sitting too far away from their router or because furniture is blocking the device. It may be a good idea to speak with employees generally about best practices for home connectivity and to troubleshoot individually if an employee experiences continual issues.
Mattmann shared that some companies created kits to assess a personal network. This way a company is able to monitor what might be causing network issues more closely and accurately. This has, “allowed them to tell their employees, ‘Hey, you’re sitting too far away from your Wi-Fi router. That’s why your internet is slow,’” Mattmann explained.
Many companies use a virtual private network (VPN) as a way to enable all of their employees to connect to the company network remotely. VPNs enable companies to establish a corporate network employees can connect to remotely.
However, the way VPNs are used both remotely and in the office can lead to network issues.
Once a VPN is on, it’s easy to forget to turn it off when you’re done using the corporate network. “What we found in the network community is that most people just leave their VPN on at home all the time. Now, what does that do? First, it takes licensees. So let’s say you’re a company with 6,000 employees. If no one ever logs off the VPN, all 6,000 are constantly used,” Mattmann said. “That’s been a big issue, for capacity on networks, buying more VPN licenses and people at home having a different experience,” Mattmann explained.
Depending on the company size and the importance of a strong internet connection to run a specific task, it may be valuable to consider each individual employee’s network connectivity and whether it matches the requirements of their job. Not every employee will need the same internet speed. A data scientist may require a faster connection than an employee who is using the internet to respond to corporate communication via email. An optimized network will consider these different use cases and adapt their network accordingly.
Network optimization refers to the tools, techniques and processes that ensure a network is operating as efficiently as possible. Because so much of work takes place remotely today, network optimization has gone from referring to optimizing strictly physical devices to account for the individual connectivity of every employee in a company and the many ways networks can slow down. Thus, companies are having to strategize about the best ways to optimize their networks that factor remote work, personal devices and employees’ own internet connection.
A network optimization model is an approach to a network that considers multiple factors to make it as efficient as possible. These factors typically include cost, capacity, time, reliability and performance metrics. These will be considered in designing a network that can sustain a company and meet business and performance needs. For example, a company designing a network optimization model might consider the overall cost of upgrading routers and other IT devices and whether and how much that would increase its overall profit.
One of the biggest challenges to network optimization that companies are facing is that the rise of remote work has meant companies don’t have control over their network like they used to. Instead, employees often connect remotely with their personal devices instead of a corporate device. Companies thus have much less control over their networks. These changes have completely reshaped the way networks are structured and companies have had to rethink how to optimize them.
One reason network optimization is important is because a network that’s not optimized properly can make it impossible or nearly impossible for employees to be productive. Slow networks prevent employees from being able to do everything from efficiently running virtual meetings to analyzing data sets to running conference calls and other necessary tasks required for their job.
Leeron is a New York-based writer with experience covering technology and politics. Her work has appeared in publications such as Quartz, the Village Voice, Gothamist, and Slate.
For over 15 years, Kiran has served as an editor, writer and reporter for publications covering fields including advertising, technology, business, entertainment and new media.He has served as a reporter for AdAge/Creativity and spent several years as an edito and writer at Adweek. Along the way, he has also served in managing editor roles at the likes of PSFK and Ladders, worked in PR as a director of content, and most recently served as a Senior Editor at Dotdash Meredith for personal finance brand The Balance and then Entertainment Weekly. At Forbes Advisor, Kiran brings his experience and expertise to reinforce the brand's reputation as the most informative, accessible and trusted resource in small business.
Virtual Network Device Matt is a proven leader in IT, combining a master’s degree in Management Information Systems and solid experience with a proven track record in IT, leading business initiatives to help organizations meet their goals. He has led the security practices at 2 different MSPs, been a Health IT Director, a project manager, business analyst, system administrator, systems architect...if it has to do with IT, he's probably done it. He helped author the CMMC Certified Professional and CMMC Certified Assessor field guides and has spoken at conferences all over the country regarding CMMC, IT security, risk. Matt has worked with Fortune 500 companies and small businesses, in areas ranging from engineering to marketing and supply chain to health care.