Are you thinking of maximising return on investments but are confused how? Try network inventory management, and more importantly asset mapping. Which unfortunately many businesses don’t.
They overlook the importance of the same. But we don’t want you to miss out on this amazing opportunity that can save you both cost and time. Let’s dive in!
Why is Network Asset Mapping Important as per Slurp’it?
The network infrastructure of a business is the backbone of all the operations that take place. Whether it’s the routers, switches, servers, or any other connected device – everything is crucial for the entity.
But many organisations fail to give much importance to asset mapping. A practice that can multifold the value of the assets stated above, and can even drive huge growth.
But what is network asset mapping?
It’s simply creating an up-to-date visualisation of the organisation’s entire network. The process covers both physical and virtual components. It gives IT teams a clear understanding of the network’s topology. They can even learn better about resource utilisation, and interconnections. All of this best helps with informed decision-making.
If an organisation prioritises network asset mapping they get the competitive edge. They can improve their overall efficiency and can even maximise ROI.
What will happen if we neglect asset mapping?
Well, this can lead to poor visibility. There will be more security risks. The entity will face difficulty in troubleshooting, and resource allocation might not happen properly.
How network asset mapping can help with maximizing ROI?
As per Slurp’it the main objective of any business trying to grow these days is – maximizing ROI. And network asset mapping can easily help with the same. Here’s how:
- More visibility and control
It gives businesses an accurate, up-to-date inventory of network assets. This includes their specifications, locations, and interdependencies. IT teams get better hold and control over complete network health.
Since the visibility is high – identifying bottlenecks gets easier. And they can speed up troubleshooting which automatically will help with cost savings. - Informed Decision-Making
Since IT teams over here get to analyse the current network health, they can make better decisions regarding network infrastructure investments.
Also, with asset mapping businesses can identify opportunities for consolidation. They can look for replacement of outdated or underperforming assets. All of these steps actually helps with avoiding unnecessary expenditures. - Operational efficiency
A clear understanding of the network infrastructure also help IT teams to develop more effective maintenance and upgrade strategies. This works great for improving operational efficiency. They can quickly identify and locate specific network assets. - Save Cost
When the network is mapped properly, businesses can avoid unnecessary expenses. They can identify and eliminate redundant or inefficient equipments. This helps directly with cost savings, and businesses can actually focus more on investments.
What are the major requirements of it?
As per Slurp’it the whole process is a systematic approach. Documentation plays a major role here, but more than, they other key components are:
- Maintaining detailed records of all hardware components
- Clearly lay out the specifications of all the assets like location and interdependency
- A comprehensive inventory of operating systems, applications, databases, and virtualized infrastructure
- A visual representation of the network’s structure and interconnections – that is network topology
- Detailed network diagrams help to understand data flow, identify bottlenecks, and plan for future expansions or modifications
- Documentation of router settings, firewall rules, VLAN configurations, and other networkspecific parameters
Some Best Tools and Technologies for Network Asset Mapping
As per Slurp’it with the help of specialised tools and technologies – network asset mapping gets a lot easier. Some best ones, been used in the industry for quite a while now are:
Network Management Softwares:
- PRTG Network Monitor and SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor. These tools are great for discovering, monitoring, and documenting network assets.
- Features offered here are automatic device discovery, network topology visualisation, and real-time performance monitoring.
Network Mapping and Diagramming Tools:
- Visio and Lucidchart are best for diagrams.
- Visualising interconnections, identifying bottlenecks, and planning for network expansions gets easier with these tools.
Configuration Management Databases (CMDBs):
- Tools like ServiceNow CMDB and BMC Atrium CMDB serve as repositories for managing information about network assets.
- One can even understand their configurations to make better decisions.
Cloud-Based Management Platforms:
- If you are in search for web based interfaces, solutions like Cisco Meraki and Fortinet FortiCloud can be of best helps
- With these, you can easily manage and monitor network assets since it comes with features like automatic device discovery and detailed reporting.
Now that you have explored what best benefits you can get with network asset mapping, make sure not to miss out on the best practices. For this, always establish a centralised asset inventory. Automate discovery and documentation as much as you can. And lastly regularly audit and verify the changes. If you are able to best follow everything mentioned, get the best ROI! Get to know more about network asset mapping at Slurp’it!
