Network Infrastructure Management

The term “network infrastructure” refers to the hardware and software resources comprising an enterprise’s network, plus the network’s services. Having an organized network infrastructure enables network connectivity and increases operational efficiency. Since the network infrastructure is interconnected, it also provides a stable communication network between users, applications, servers, processes, services, external networks, and the internet.

The standard network infrastructure has three tiers:

1. Network hardware: including routers, switches, and cables

2. Network software: including firewalls and operating systems

3. Network services: including wireless protocols and IP addressing

According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), network infrastructure management can be broken down into five major categories. They are referred to as “FCAPS.”

Fault management: Finding, analyzing, and troubleshooting errors within the network infrastructure

Configuration management: Tracking, managing, and making changes to all the components within your network, specifically routers, switches, servers, and firewalls

Accounting management: Uncovering information about how well resources are being used in your network to make smarter capacity planning decisions

Performance management: Establishing performance baselines, reacting to trends, and analyzing the overall performance of components on your network

Security management: Identifying and troubleshooting security vulnerabilities within your network