What Is Network Infrastructure?

What is network infrastructure?

Network infrastructure refers to the hardware, software, and virtual elements that serve as the basis for creating interconnections between devices and the network they reside in. 

Network infrastructure definition

Network infrastructure is the collection of resources, both physical and virtual, that create interconnectivity within your network and facilitate the movement of data from one destination to another – establishing communications between other users, devices, and the outside world. 

What does a network infrastructure consist of?

When we think of network infrastructure, we typically of hardware components such as routers, servers, switches, and modems. However, network infrastructure examples also include software components, including operating systems, business applications, and various IT tools like network monitoring and management software. Network monitoring protocols are another important component of network infrastructure, as they establish guidelines regarding how communications are created and how devices can react and talk to one another. 

What is network infrastructure design?

Network infrastructure design is the ground floor of network infrastructure services. It refers to the planning stage of establishing an IT network and involves defining relationships between devices and establishing network requirements such as bandwidth and capacity.

Defining the framework for how your network infrastructure operates is crucial in diagnosing issues quickly and limiting downtime. The network infrastructure design phase is also when security measures are defined, the need for scalability is assessed, and initial network topology is established. 

The 5 aspects of network infrastructure management

• Network Monitoring: Track performance data and key device metrics across your entire network so that you can be alerted to discover, investigate, and resolve issues quickly. You can then determine whether or not an issue is related to a more integral component of your network infrastructure.
• Notifications and alerting: Often referred to as “fault management”, these procedures ensure that administrators are always up to date on critical activities occurring on their networks. These can take the form of notifications when regular maintenance has completed, alerts to device errors, or reports on anomalies within historical data.
• Configuration management and network provisioning: This category refers to the ability to alter device configurations from a centralized location. This ability is essential for ensuring configuration best practices are being followed and replacements and patches are being made at appropriate times.
• Security management: Ensuring that your network is secure is a major factor in limiting downtime. Deploying cybersecurity tools like antivirus solutions, endpoint protection software, and firewalls will help keep your network secure. Enabling secure remote connectivity with tools such as a virtual private network (VPN) is another important element of network security. This technology allows remote users to securely interact with the organization’s network through use of encryption and authentication.

• Network mapping: is a process used to visualize the physical and virtual equipment in your IT network, whether SNMP, Layer 3, and more. Network mapping provides network administrators with total network visibility and insights into key performance metrics such as device status, physical connections, traffic metrics, and more. 

   

How do network infrastructure management solutions work?

Infrastructure management solutions are generally structured as a collection of modules and an application monitoring solution joined by a centralized interface. Wireless environments and servers are typically monitored by separate modules while management functions takes place on the back end of the solution. 

A network infrastructure management solution spans your entire enterprise, monitoring all hardware and software components. Within a true infrastructure management solution, admins can perform all five aspects of infrastructure management. Such a tool offers comprehensive insight and control over all aspects of your network so that you can ensure continuous connectivity. 

What is software-defined networking (SDN)?

Software-define networking is a form of network infrastructure design that primarily relies on software to establish network connectivity and centrally manage where data is sent.

Software defined networking is mostly used for larger networks, as its virtual nature makes it a most scalable method than traditional hardware-defined networks.

Software defined networks reduce the complexity of network management by presenting a single, consolidated interface for network programming, as opposed to configuring each individual device. 

What is the best network infrastructure solution?

Network infrastructure management is not a “one size fits all” category for organizations looking for the right solution. Each comes equipped with a different set of features and capabilities that make them more suitable for organizations that meet certain criteria. That being said, the following are considered to be exceptional network infrastructure solutions.

Cisco Meraki Access

Cisco Meraki enables the management of enterprise-scale networks via a cloud-based platform. This is ideal for large organizations that are looking to remotely scale and consolidate their network monitoring and management.

Solwarwinds Observability SaaS

For large organizations that need assistance with monitoring and managing the network infrastructure associated with hybrid technology stacks, Solarwinds Observability Saas lends a helping hand in ensuring all network components are running smoothly and service level agreements are being met.

Intermapper

Intermapper is an enterprise monitoring, mapping, and alerting tool that helps network administrators maintain healthy IT environments and network infrastructure. Intermapper provides deep visibility into the components that make up your network, monitoring and reporting on their performance trends at every step of the way. Intermapper is considered to be one of the easiest network infrastructure solutions to use and deploy.

Arista Networks

Arista Networks leverages software-driven cloud networking for large-scale computing environments, making it a good match for those seeking a cloud-based network infrastructure. The use of software-defined networking, open-standards, and cloud-scale solutions make Arista so unique.