From seamless collaboration to efficient data management and customer service, nearly every aspect of modern business operations relies on a well-functioning network. Despite this critical importance, there's a surprising disconnect between recognition and action: while 95% of CEOs acknowledge the significance of their network, only 50% say their company prioritizes network technology.¹

This gap between awareness and implementation underscores the need for businesses to better understand and invest in their network infrastructure. Network infrastructure refers to the hardware and software components that enable network connectivity, communication, and data transfer between a company's users, devices, applications, and the internet.

A reliable network infrastructure can boost productivity, enhance security measures, and increase your organization's agility in responding to market demands. On the flip side, poorly maintained networks often result in costly downtime, security vulnerabilities, and stunted business growth. Read on to learn everything you need to know about network infrastructure and how the right management solution can optimize your enterprise connectivity.

Does Network Infrastructure Differ for Wired vs. Wireless Networks?

A wired network uses physical cables, typically Ethernet, to connect devices to the network. In wired networks, data travels through these cables from end-user devices to switches and routers, creating a tangible network infrastructure.

A wireless network transmits data through the air via radio waves. Devices connect through wireless access points, offering businesses greater mobility and flexibility in device placement.

Recently, there's been a shift towards wireless networks in enterprise environments, with 58% of business leaders saying they're more confident in investing in Wi-Fi compared to a year ago.² This trend is driven by:

• Mobility: The rise of mobile devices and the increasing demand for flexible work environments have made wireless connectivity essential.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Wireless networks can be more economical in the long term, especially for businesses requiring frequent reconfigurations.
• Technological Advancements: Improvements in wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi 7, have enhanced wireless network performance and reliability.

Despite the growing preference for wireless networks, most enterprise environments maintain a hybrid infrastructure, combining wired and wireless components to ensure optimal performance across all applications.

What Are the Components of Network Infrastructure?

Network infrastructure is typically made up of a combination of hardware devices, software components, and network services, including:

Switches

Switches are central connection points for devices within a local area network (LAN). They direct data traffic between connected network devices, using MAC addresses to forward data packets efficiently.

Routers

Routers connect networks and determine the best path for data to travel. They use IP addresses to route data packets between networks and are key for connecting LANs to wide area networks (WANs) and the internet.

Servers

Servers host applications, store data, and provide network services such as DHCP, DNS, and file sharing.

Firewalls

Firewalls monitor and manage network traffic based on predetermined security rules. They work as a barrier between internal and external networks, helping prevent unauthorized access and security threats.

Network Interface Cards (NICs)

NICs are hardware components that allow devices to connect to a network. They provide the physical interface between a device and the network cable, enabling communication between the device and the network.

Ethernet Cables

Ethernet cables are the medium through which data travels in a wired network. Different categories offer varying performance levels based on network speed and distance requirements.

Patch Panels

Patch panels organize and manage network connections in structured cabling systems. They provide a centralized point for connecting devices and cables, simplifying network management and troubleshooting.

Wireless Access Points (WAPs)

WAPs bridge wireless devices and the wired network, enabling devices to connect without physical cables. Modern WAPs support various Wi-Fi standards and can handle multiple connections simultaneously.

Network Operating Systems

Network operating systems (NOS) provide the software foundation for managing network resources, user accounts, and security policies in both wired and wireless infrastructures.

Network Management Software

Network management software applications monitor, configure, and troubleshoot network infrastructure components. They provide performance insights, identify issues, and facilitate efficient network management.

Network Security Appliances

Beyond firewalls, security tools like intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), virtual private network (VPN) concentrators, and network access control (NAC) systems protect both wired and wireless infrastructures.

What Network Infrastructure Challenges Do Businesses Face?

While a robust network infrastructure is essential for modern businesses, implementing and maintaining it comes with its own set of challenges. Here are some common network infrastructure challenges IT teams face:

• Scalability Issues: A 2022 survey found that 70% of CEOs believe their network is hindering business growth.¹ This can be especially challenging if the initial network infrastructure design didn't account for future growth, as scaling up may require investments in new hardware, software upgrades, and system reconfiguration.
• Security Threats: Maintaining network security is an ongoing challenge as cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated. Businesses must constantly update their security measures to protect against new threats while ensuring these protocols don't restrict network performance or user accessibility.
• Obsolescence: Network infrastructure components can quickly become outdated. Many companies face the challenge of balancing the need to upgrade with budget constraints and the potential disruption to operations that upgrades can cause.
• Technology Integration: Incorporating new technologies like IoT devices, cloud services, or 5G networks into existing network infrastructure can be complex. These integrations often require significant planning and may require changes to the entire network architecture.
• Skills Gap: Over 40% of businesses struggle to hire and retain skilled IT professionals with the expertise to manage modern network infrastructures effectively.³
• Bandwidth Management: As data-intensive applications become more common, businesses struggle to maintain sufficient bandwidth for all users and applications.

What Is Network Infrastructure Management?

Network infrastructure management involves overseeing, maintaining, and optimizing an organization's network infrastructure components. It aims to ensure the network operates efficiently, securely, and reliably to support business operations and goals.

Effective network infrastructure management offers businesses several benefits, including:

Optimized Resource Allocation

Network infrastructure management can help businesses optimize resource allocation through careful monitoring and analysis of network traffic and usage patterns. This ensures critical applications and services always receive the necessary bandwidth and processing power, improving overall network performance and user experience.

Increased Operational Efficiency

Operational efficiency in network infrastructure management translates to significant time and cost savings. Automation tools can handle tasks like configuration backups, software updates, and performance monitoring, freeing up IT staff for more strategic work.

Faster Problem Resolution

Quick problem resolution is key to minimizing downtime and its impact on business operations. With the right tools and processes in place, many issues can be resolved before users even notice them. For problems that do affect users, a well-managed network infrastructure allows IT teams to quickly diagnose and target fixes, reducing frustration and maintaining productivity.

Reliable Network Connectivity

A 2024 report found that 45% of multi-location enterprises experience network connectivity loss and degraded service performance at least once a month.⁴ Proactive monitoring and maintenance help IT teams identify and address issues before they cause network outages or performance degradation. This leads to increased uptime and a more dependable network infrastructure, building trust among employees and customers who depend on consistent network access for their daily tasks and interactions.

Stronger Security Posture

A strong security posture goes beyond just implementing firewalls and antivirus software. Network infrastructure management involves regular security assessments, patch management, and implementing security best practices. This proactive stance helps businesses stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and maintain compliance with industry regulations, protecting both data and reputation.

Improved Compliance

Compliance isn't just about avoiding fines; it's about maintaining trust with customers and partners. Robust network infrastructure management makes it easier to demonstrate compliance during audits, implement required security measures, and adapt to new regulations. This proactive stance on compliance can be a competitive advantage, particularly in industries with strict data protection requirements.

Enhanced User Experience

A positive user experience encompasses reliable access to resources, consistent application performance, and seamless connectivity across different end-user devices and locations. When users can depend on the network to support their needs without frustration or delay, it leads to increased productivity, satisfaction, and loyalty.

Cost Savings

While investing in network infrastructure management may require upfront costs, it often leads to significant long-term savings. By preventing major outages, optimizing resource usage, and extending the lifespan of network components, businesses can avoid costly downtime and reduce unnecessary hardware purchases.

Better Capacity Planning

Effective network infrastructure management provides insights into network usage trends and growth patterns, which are invaluable for capacity planning – a must, as 37% of multi-location businesses struggle with inadequate connection capacity.⁵

Support for Innovation

Innovation often requires a robust and flexible network foundation. A well-managed network infrastructure can quickly adapt to support new technologies, whether it's accommodating a sudden increase in IoT devices, supporting AI-driven applications, or enabling edge computing for faster data processing. This adaptability ensures the network doesn't become a bottleneck to innovation but rather a catalyst for it.

How Do Network Infrastructure Management Tools Work?

Network infrastructure management software streamlines the monitoring, configuring, and maintaining of complex network environments. These tools use various network protocols to provide visibility and control over network infrastructure components. Here's how they typically work:

• Data Collection and Monitoring: Network infrastructure management solutions continuously collect data from network devices using protocols like SNMP, ICMP, and NetFlow. This typically includes device status, performance metrics, traffic patterns, and configuration details.
• Centralized Dashboard: Collected data is presented in a centralized dashboard, giving network administrators a comprehensive view of the entire network infrastructure. These dashboards often include network topology visualizations, performance graphs, and real-time status indicators.
• Automated Discovery: Many of these tools include features that scan the network to identify and catalog all connected devices. This information creates and maintains up-to-date network maps, which are crucial for understanding network structure and troubleshooting issues.
• Performance Analysis and Reporting: Network infrastructure solutions analyze the data they collect to generate performance reports and identify trends or anomalies.
• Alerting and Notification Systems: When unusual activities are detected, these tools send alerts to administrators to ensure potential issues are addressed promptly.
• Configuration Management: Many network management solutions manage device configurations across the network. This includes backing up configurations, pushing updates to multiple network devices simultaneously, and ensuring compliance with predefined standards.
• Automation and Orchestration: Advanced network infrastructure management tools often include automation capabilities for routine tasks like software updates or configuration changes. Some offer orchestration features to coordinate complex, multi-step processes across various network devices.
• Security Integration: Many of these tools integrate with security information and event management (SIEM) systems or include built-in security features. This makes it easier for IT teams to correlate performance data with security events.

These capabilities allow businesses to maintain optimal network performance, enhance security, and streamline operations, supporting the complex network environments essential for modern business operations.

Optimize Your Network Infrastructure With TailWind

Network infrastructure underpins everything from data security and customer experience to operational efficiency and innovation capabilities. By investing in and optimizing your network infrastructure now, you're making an investment in your business's future competitiveness and growth potential.

At TailWind, we designed our local, scalable, and accountable NOCaaS solution to address the unique network challenges faced by multi-location enterprises. We'll leverage our experience, practices, and toolsets to solve your network problems quickly – or help you avoid them completely – so you can focus on key aspects of your business instead.

Ready to optimize your network infrastructure? Reach out to TailWind today to learn how our NOCaaS solution can streamline your enterprise IT operations.

Sources:

1. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/ceos-network-slowing-growth
2. https://wballiance.com/wba-industry-report-2024
3. https://www.kentik.com/blog/what-do-network-teams-really-care-about-in-2024/#the-skills-gap-and-hiring-headaches
4. https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/geo-distributed-businesses-research-2024
5. https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/network-outages-hit-59