The Future of Network Management

Network scope and shape have been quickly evolving for the past several years, and changes continue to accelerate as new technologies emerge. With the modern reliance on mobile devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), network organization and security are leagues different from what they were even a decade ago. To help businesses prepare for the future of network security and identify the potential direction network technology is taking, Prelude has identified trends in network management, security and organization so enterprises can start taking steps to prepare for the future these technologies will bring.

What’s Changing With Network Management?

Five shifts and advancements impacting the direction of network management include:

1. Businesses Are Moving on From Wireless Network Controllers

Wireless network controllers evolved as a way to consolidate the functions of wireless network management into a single tool. However, they are quickly becoming obsolete due to their relatively high parts costs and their largely unnecessary function. As networks increasingly focus on simplicity and streamlining, such accessories will no longer be needed. In fact, many controllers at the forefront of cutting-edge technology less than a decade ago have now reached end-of-life and end-of-support status. The obsolescence of such items means organizations need to prepare and make changes to pertinent technologies as soon as possible.

2. Ethernet Switch Speed Keeps Expanding

Switches will remain within network organizations, as they provide power and connection at access points, but they will expand in per-port speed. Currently, switch speeds can vary widely depending on the type and the cables they leverage. Fast Ethernet (FE) switches typically provide speeds up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps), while Gigabit Ethernet (GE) switches can deliver speeds from 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) to 800 Gbps when supported by fiber-optic cable. Though the path to accomplishing this will be expensive, functionality and speed will improve significantly with such changes, making them valuable for businesses to implement.

3. The Cloud Migration Continues

The cloud has revolutionized information technology across numerous industries, and organizations of every size are leveraging cloud-based technology to transform operations. Virtualization and software-defined networking are now the golden standards of modern IT network management, and this push will continue well into the future. Cloud-based network management software allows companies to manage their networks reliably from anywhere and also makes it possible for network management to be adeptly handled by third-party providers rather than network users. With this technology, network management service providers will become more common, allowing businesses to cut costs significantly while still ensuring high performance.

More businesses, especially healthcare organizations, are also adopting hybrid cloud solutions. This mix of private and public clouds delivers the agility and budget-friendliness necessary to meet their operational needs while supporting compliance. IT experts can carefully configure the network to ensure which applications deploy in which environment to manage data flow and user access according to regulations.

4. Uptime and Transfer Rates Take Priority

As companies and their customers become increasingly dependent on data and connectivity, the threat of downtime will increase. Minutes of downtime and slow transfer rates will quickly turn customers off, so ensuring 100% uptime will continue to be an essential consideration in network monitoring in the future. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G technologies are instrumental in meeting reliability and data transfer needs, and proper management and network security methods will be essential for ensuring satisfaction and connectivity.

5. Sophisticated Network Management Support Technology Becomes Vital

Artificial intelligence (AI) can do much more than quickly analyze data and generate answers. This technology is advancing us toward self-healing and self-optimizing networks through infrastructure automation. This transformation will substantially boost reliability, security and speed. Expect those improvements to create better user experiences and an increased competitive edge while slashing network management costs.

Similarly, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) bring IT professionals new ways to analyze network data visually and in real-time. These immersive technologies enable more strategic decision-making, practical troubleshooting and improved optimization.

Along with these groundbreaking developments comes an increased focus on tools for advanced observability, the practice of understanding internal activity through examining outputs. With cloud-based and hybrid cloud networks becoming the new norm, sophisticated solutions for gaining transparency and actionable insights are necessary for effective and efficient network management.

The Bottom Line for Businesses

In the future, businesses can expect IT network management and organization to become more advanced yet simpler. The technology will expand and become more complex, but network management for the user will be easy, with self-configuring networks and network management as a service. These benefits will be particularly helpful for the long-term care and senior living markets, which need to ensure excellent speed of service for their customers while keeping healthcare costs down. To experience these benefits, however, businesses need to recognize and make the changes necessary to remain up to date. While it may mean increased costs in the short term, it will mean extensive savings and simplicity in the long term.

Prelude Is More Than Just a Healthcare IT Service Provider

Prelude Services is a trusted healthcare IT network partner that provides innovative information technology services and resources for senior living and long-term care organizations. Established in response to the healthcare industry’s increasing demand for IT services, Prelude aims to provide accessible and secure IT network management solutions that meet the needs of healthcare facilities. With over 700 facilities under our care, we work to provide solutions for our clients and can do the same for you. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you prepare for the future of network management.