IT Infrastructure Essentials

 

It doesn't matter if you inherit an existing IT infrastructure, or build one from scratch, there are key technologies and strategies that must all be used to create a stable and secure environment. Through years of providing administration/implementation services of information systems/networks, I have achieved a high level of client satisfaction by implementing the following solutions/strategies.

Backup/Disaster recovery (DR) plan - No matter how small your environment is, with just a few desktops and a few gigabytes, or whether you have a large company with terabytes, a backup strategy must be developed and implemented. Cloud backup solutions are convenient and offer the best protection, but tape backups can still be used. It is not enough to create a backup strategy for data. You should also consider a data recovery plan. DR plans may include a duplicate site with the same equipment available in case of an emergency or ordering new equipment and restoring backups if necessary. Usually, a manager will ask the question "What would happen tomorrow if your office burns down tonight?"

Supported Software/Hardware - An infrastructure that runs on outdated hardware without a vendor support contract will eventually allow you to restore data from backups and make your DR plans a reality. This applies to your servers, routers and phones as well as printers. Your applications, as well as the equipment itself, require support. Vendor support can significantly reduce the time it takes to get things back up and running when they do break. This leads to increased productivity.

Power/AC - This one is, to my mind, a simple decision. All servers and network devices cannot function without power, and all of them generate heat. However, I want to stress the importance and reliability of an uninterruptible power source (UPS). A good UPS supplies battery backup power to your system in the event that there is a power outage. If it has power conditioning features, it will also supply your equipment with a cleaner stream of power/voltage. This protects your equipment against power surges and spikes. AC is essential to prevent the systems' internal components from becoming too hot.

Network Monitoring- I've told my clients many times that network monitoring goes beyond pinging devices. Ping tests are great for checking that devices are responding to network traffic. However, they only provide a heartbeat to the endpoints and alert you when something is wrong. Monitoring network traffic involves monitoring CPU, Memory and Network Utilization, Temperatures, Windows Services, Disk Spaces, Power Supply Units, Fans, Event Logs, and other relevant information. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), which is supported by many network devices and operating system, makes much of this monitoring possible. An effective network monitoring system will alert administrators when problems arise before they become serious and impact business productivity.

Redundancy- Network administrators must face the hard truth that hardware failures are inevitable. All network hardware eventually fails and stops working. This is why planning for hardware failures is so important. By eliminating as many points of failure as possible in your network, you can ensure that business continues to run smoothly even if a critical component crashes. This will hopefully not have a major impact on end-users. It is crucial to identify the points of failure in your network, and plan for what happens if they fail. In my many years of IT consulting, I learned one thing: no matter how much redundancy your network has, there will always still be one point of failure.

Firewall Security is often a major concern for my clients when it comes down to their network infrastructure. A firewall is the best and fastest way to protect your network from the outside. Firewalls are not only effective at blocking unwanted traffic, but also offer many other benefits. To prevent direct access to your internal network, a firewall should be used if your business requires that one of your applications is public-facing. Although dedicated SSL VPN appliances work best for remote access purposes, there are many firewalls available today that offer built-in VPN capabilities to cater to remote users. No matter the size of your business, a firewall is a must-have for any network infrastructure.

Antivirus- Although firewalls can block unwanted traffic from entering your network, they are not effective against malware, spyware, or viruses that have been inadvertently introduced into it by end-users. Antivirus products are crucial in protecting the security of both client and server operating systems. A good antivirus program will detect and stop any threat before it causes harm, regardless of whether users accidentally visit malicious websites or plug in infected USB flash drives. Although centrally managed antivirus products have their benefits, they also come with a price. If centrally managed administration is not necessary, there are many options available that provide just as much protection today as paid products.

IT Support Having the best network/server equipment is useless if there is no one to help and maintain it. It is vital that someone monitors backups, security, application updates, logs, storage space, and other details daily. Network infrastructure health is dependent on it. Your IT support team must be proficient in the administration and troubleshooting servers, networks, databases, applications, backups, etc. Your IT team should not only monitor and maintain the infrastructure but also drive strategic IT initiatives that will help your business increase productivity and become more successful. To ensure that technology aligns with long-term company goals, it is important to have an IT business plan.

These are only the basics for a network infrastructure that is successful. Most companies will require more than that, including e-mail, spam filtering and shared storage. Custom applications are also required for cell phones, tablets, and other devices. Virtualization, which was not mentioned above, is becoming more common in datacenters. Virtualization is a technology that even small businesses can benefit from. Virtualization allows you to make more use of your server hardware. It does this by sharing it with many virtual machine operating system, which makes it less expensive to have so many servers. Virtualization is also enabling virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), a new trend. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) greatly simplifies administration and provisioning desktop systems for end users by using virtual machine desktops that have been consolidated in the datacenter Broadcom Colombia

You can expect higher levels of security and reliability by implementing the strategies and technologies discussed above. If you have any questions about the technology mentioned above or would like an IT assessment, please feel free to reach out to me.