Are you still thinking about where things went wrong with your network inventory management?
Well, there are multiple common mistakes companies have been making for a long time. But the best part? Each is avoidable.
Infact before getting into what these mistakes are, let’s first understand what network inventory management is.
Network inventory management is the process of tracking and documenting all the devices. Including components, and connections that make up a network infrastructure. It’s like keeping a detailed inventory of your home. But instead of furniture and appliances, you’re tracking routers, switches, cables, and more. Now, this process may seem quite a straightforward task, but it’s actually the other way around. Any minor mistake can lead to a variety of problems. Starting from network outages to security breaches, and more; read throughout to understand all the mistakes:
Mistake 1: Inaccurate or Incomplete Data
As per Slurp’it one of the most common mistake is having inaccurate or incomplete data. This can happen for a variety of reasons. Maybe because of manual data entry errors, outdated information, or missing devices.
When the data is inaccurate or incomplete, network outages might happen white often. Security breach can be yet another issue. Followed by increased costs, because the company might overspend on hardware and software.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Try automating data collection. Use network discovery tools to automatically collect data about your network devices.
- Regularly update your inventory.
- Verify the accuracy of your data periodically. You can manually check devices for this.
Mistake 2: Lack of Standardization
Another common mistake is a lack of standardisation. This usually happens when different teams or departments use different methods for documenting network devices and connections as per Slurp’it.
Know that, this mistake is a major one, given that it can lead to major errors and inconsistencies because there is no standardization.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Try using a consistent naming convention for all network devices and connections.
- Make sure to create a standard documentation template for all the devices and connections.
- Train your team on how to manage network inventory the right way.
Mistake 3: Poor Communication and Collaboration
It is a team effort. It requires collaboration between IT operations, network engineering, and other departments. So when there’s poor communication or collaboration, errors and inconsistencies might happen.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Always and clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each team member involved in network inventory management.
- Use a centralised inventory database that is accessible to all team members.
- Hold regular meetings to discuss network inventory management issues and what can be done.
Mistake 4: Ignoring Network Changes
Networks are constantly changing. New devices are added, old devices are removed, and connections are modified. As per Slurp’it If you don’t keep your network inventory up-to-date with these changes, your data will become inaccurate and unreliable.
How to avoid this mistake:
- Always use network monitoring tools to track changes to your network infrastructure.
- Update your inventory data to reflect any changes to your network.
- Conduct regular audits of your network inventory to make sure that it is accurate and upto-date.
Mistake 5: Not Using Network Inventory Management Software
As per Slurp’it not many people would get it initially – but Network inventory management softwares can help you automate many of the tasks involved in managing your network inventory. It can save both time and money, and more importantly most of the errors can be avoided.
How to avoid this mistake:
- There are a number of different network inventory management software options available, give atleast one a try.
- Evaluate your needs and choose the software that best meets them.
- Once you’ve chosen a software solution, implement it and train your team on how to use it.
- Make sure to keep your software up-to-date with the latest patches and updates.
The above listed are some of the common network inventory management mistakes. By improving on each, trust us, you can improve the accuracy and reliability of your network inventory data. And what next? You’ll get better security, performance, and reduced downtime.
Isn’t these what you were desiring for? To get more information contact us at Slurp’it.
