By activating the Virtual Operator feature in the NMIS opConfig module, IT managers can empower their team to proactively address common network issues, ensuring optimal performance, security, and compliance.

 

The virtual operator can:

• Troubleshoot common issues automatically. No more sifting through logs or waiting for expert assistance. They can diagnose and resolve common network problems instantly.
• Always follow best practice procedures for network security. Because they follow a script that you create, compliance with industry standards and regulations is pre-defined by you, removing human error and leaving you confident in your network’s safety.
• Help your team move from reactive to proactive network management. Reduce errors, increase performance, and free up valuable time for strategic initiatives.

 

The Evolution of Network Operations – from Manual to Virtual

 

The landscape of network operations has been undergoing a radical transformation.

Traditionally, managing networks involved a predominantly manual approach, relying heavily on human expertise and intervention to address issues, configure devices, and ensure optimal performance. Human error, time-consuming processes, and the inability to scale effectively in the face of growing network complexity posed significant challenges to traditional network management practices.

In the past decade, network monitoring and management platforms have become more intelligent, with advances in big data providing greater insights into a network environment, how and when it is accessed, what devices are used and when, which services are performing optimally, and which services are degrading.

According to the Gartner Market Guide to Network Automation, while more than 65% of enterprise networking activities are performed manually across SME’s, a growing percentage of large enterprises automate more than half of their network activities.

Firstwave Cloud Technology has been at the forefront of this new era of machine intelligence, gathering and analysing network data to provide advanced anomaly detection and predictive analytics that allows operators to proactively manage infrastructure and devices to ensure a healthy and predictable network environment.

With the introduction of the Virtual Operator, this machine intelligence goes a level deeper, allowing the NMIS platform to take action on insights and allowing operators to script a series of activities that the operator can perform at the touch of a button.

This article delves more deeply into the concept of the Virtual Operator, exploring its benefits and potential impact on an organisation’s network automation strategy.  We will examine how automation, through the implementation of a Virtual Operator, is reimagining network administration, driving efficiency, enhancing security, and unlocking new levels of performance and insights.

 

What is the Virtual Operator?

 

The Virtual Operator, is a software agent designed to automate repetitive tasks, optimise network performance, and provide intelligent insights. It functions as a rule-based engine that learns from historical data, network configurations, and best practices, allowing it to make informed decisions and take proactive actions to maintain network stability and efficiency.

Think of a Virtual Operator as a highly specialised AI assistant tailored for network administration. It acts like an extension of the network team, taking on the mundane and repetitive tasks, freeing up human engineers to focus on more strategic and complex challenges.

 

Benefits of implementing a Virtual Operator

 

The implementation of a Virtual Operator offers several key benefits to network administration teams:

1. Human Resource Optimisation

By automating routine tasks, the Virtual Operator can free up engineers to focus on more strategic and complex challenges. This shift allows teams to maximise human talent, enabling them to tackle innovation, problem-solving, and the implementation of new technologies.

2. Improved Network Efficiency and Performance

The Virtual Operator in conjunction with the broader opConfig and opEvents module can continuously monitor network performance, identify potential issues, and proactively take corrective actions. This pre-emptive approach ensures optimal network performance, minimising downtime, and maximising resource utilisation.

3. Enhanced Security and Compliance

The Virtual Operator can implement and enforce security policies, detect anomalies, and respond to security threats in real-time. This automated approach strengthens network security, improves compliance with industry regulations, and reduces the risk of security breaches.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making

Virtual Operators leverage vast amounts of network data to gain valuable insights and optimise network configurations. These insights empower network teams to make informed decisions based on real-time data, leading to more effective resource allocation and network optimisation.

 

Use Case:  Managed Service Providers

 

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) often manage multiple client networks simultaneously. This can be a resource-intensive task, particularly when dealing with routine maintenance and troubleshooting. The Virtual Operator offers a solution to this challenge by automating many of the routine tasks that MSPs typically perform.

For example, a MSP can use the Virtual Operator to automate the process of applying security patches across multiple client networks. The Virtual Operator can execute the necessary commands to apply the patches, run tests to ensure that the patches have been applied correctly, and report any issues that arise. This not only reduces the workload for the MSP’s engineers but also ensures that the patches are applied consistently and without errors.

 

Use Case: Hybrid Networks

 

The Virtual Operator simplifies the management of hybrid networks by automating the tasks required to maintain connectivity and performance.

For example, the Virtual Operator can automatically adjust network configurations to optimise performance as workloads shift between on-premise and cloud environments. It can also monitor network traffic for potential issues and make adjustments in real-time to prevent disruptions. This level of automation ensures that hybrid networks operate smoothly and efficiently, even as conditions change .

 

 

How Businesses can expand their Network Automation beyond the Virtual Operator

 

The adoption of the Virtual Operator for network administration presents a key stepping stone towards the future of network automation for IT teams.  How can a business expand the effectiveness of Virtual Operator and what new developments can we expect to see as network automation technology further evolves?

1. Increased Automation and Self-Healing Networks

Use of the Virtual Operator alongside other modules such as opEvents, opTrend and Open-Audit will drive further automation in network management, eventually enabling self-healing networks that can identify and resolve issues without human intervention. This will lead to more resilient, reliable, and efficient network infrastructure.

2. Enhanced Network Intelligence and Analytics

The use of the Virtual Operator to routinely check network health will play a critical role in advancing network intelligence, enabling teams to gain deeper insights into network performance, security threats, and user behaviour. This will empower teams to make more informed decisions and proactively optimise their networks.

3. Evolution of Network Administration Roles

Eventually, the use of network automation tools such as the Virtual Operator will transform the role of network administrators and engineers, shifting their focus from routine tasks to more strategic and creative activities. They will become more involved in AI model development and instructional writing, data analysis, and the design of intelligent network solutions.

 

Conclusion

 

The Virtual Operator represents a significant step forward in network automation, leveraging the power of AI to enhance network performance, optimise operations, and free up human resources for more strategic tasks. As AI and automation continue to advance, features like the Virtual Operator will play an increasingly crucial role in enabling more intelligent, efficient, and resilient network infrastructure.

 

 

Reference:

Gartner 2023 Market Guide to Network Automation

https://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4913231

 

Learn what it does, how it works, how it can benefit you, and how to choose the right software for your business.

Table of contents

• What is network management software?
• How does network management software work?
• Why use network management software?
• Network management software tools
• How to choose a network management software
• Manage your network with NMIS

As organizations scale their operations and virtualize more of their infrastructure, networks are growing more complex. Add in AI integration, network automation, and globalized remote workforces, and this complexity multiplies.

Businesses need the right tools to ensure their network—and their entire operation—continues to run smoothly as they modernize. This is where network management systems come in. According to Grand View Research, the global network management market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.1% from 2023 to 2030.

Whether you’re managing a handful of network devices or enterprise-level infrastructure, the best way to protect your employee productivity and customer experience as you grow is by using network management software (NMS). This guide covers how NMS works, how your business will benefit from using it, and how you can choose the right provider for you.

What is network management software?

In short, NMS gives network teams a bird’s-eye view of every connected device on their network including routers, switches, servers, and even IoT devices. As a result, network administrators can manage configurations, track network usage, troubleshoot devices, and identify minor issues before they escalate.

How does network management software work?

At a high level, NMS integrates with your network to collect, analyze, and present data from every connected device. In order to do this, NMS is made up of network monitoring tools, device configurations, event tracking capabilities, and logging mechanisms that perform the following functions:

• Data collection: NMS uses protocols like Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), SNMP traps, Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), syslog, or Application Programming Interface (API) to continuously collect real-time data on device status, performance, and network traffic from devices including routers, switches, and servers.
• Network analysis: after collecting data, NMS will analyze it to intelligently detect issues like high latency, downtime, or unusual traffic patterns.
• Alerts and notifications: customizable alerts can be automatically set when performance thresholds are breached, for example, when bandwidth exceeds a set limit. These alerts can be sent to administrators via email, SMS, dashboard notifications, or an IT Service Management (ITSM) platform like ServiceNow or Jira.
• Automation: NMS can automate routine tasks like device configuration updates or failed device resets, based on parameters set by the network administrator.
• Logging and reporting: NMS maintains network activity logs that can be used for troubleshooting, audits, or compliance support. You can also generate detailed reports to help your team analyze trends over time and plan for future capacity needs.

The data collected from these functions is displayed on visual dashboards in the NMS platform, where you can explore and extract detailed network insights.

NMS is usually easy to set up: simply download from your chosen vendor and install on a server (typically Windows Server or Linux) connected to the network/s you want to manage. Then, configure it by following the vendor’s installation instructions to get full visibility of your network.

 

Why use network management software?

Today’s networks often involve cloud services, hybrid architectures, and remote devices. In this environment, running a network without any kind of management system is like flying a plane with no instrument panel – possible, but incredibly risky and inefficient.

Network management software helps network administrators prevent challenges like:

• Limited visibility which can lead to severe network security breaches, missed opportunities to optimize, or outages that may go unnoticed for hours and impact business operations (for example, the recent CrowdStrike outage)
• Performance issues caused by suboptimal traffic flows, inefficient resource consumption, and easy-to-miss network errors
• Siloed network management that makes it difficult for your IT team to apply updates and automations at scale, leading to performance problems and security vulnerabilities
• Missed opportunities to optimize your network performance, efficiency, and costs
• Manual configuration management, which is time-consuming and prone to human error.

On the other hand, investing in network management software comes with a host of benefits:

• Accurate inventory management: get end-to-end network visibility at a glance and easily manage which devices can access your network.
• Increased efficiency: offload essential network functions like device audits, security checks, and performance management, freeing up your network team to focus on more strategic tasks.
• Better performance: find opportunities to optimize your traffic flow and resource consumption, reducing latency and hops where possible.
• Proactive issue resolution: NMS provides real-time insights, enabling teams to catch and resolve potential outages and issues before they affect end users.
• Improved security: comprehensive monitoring tools track network activity, helping to identify potential security breaches early.
• Cost savings: by automating tasks and reducing downtime, businesses save money on maintenance and avoid the high costs that can come with network failures.
• Enabled automation: automate network changes and software updates to prevent “holes” in your network and save time.
• Right-sized forecasting: use the detailed data available to accurately predict and prepare for future capacity needs, so you don’t overspend or underprovision.

Improve your network management with our guide to network discovery, auditing, and compliance.

Network management software tools

A good NMS suite will offer several tools to give you full control over your network management experience. These are the various tools and features typically offered:

Monitoring

Network monitoring is the foundation of NMS. It provides real-time visibility into your network performance and helps track devices, traffic, and potential threats.

• Proactive monitoring: identifies issues like latency or bandwidth overload before they impact user experience.
• Device status checks: continuously monitors connected devices for availability and performance.
• Performance tracking: collects several metrics to help you manage your network performance including latency, packet loss, congestion, server load, and storage utilization, just to name a few.

Configuration management

Configuration management helps IT teams control settings and updates across every network device.

• Automated backups: regularly backs up configuration files to avoid data loss.
• Configuration rollbacks: easily restores the last known good configuration if an error occurs.
• Streamlined updates: automatically pushes updates to all devices, minimizing downtime and ensuring consistency.

Alerts and events

Network alerts are crucial to minimizing downtime and catching issues before they impact your bottom line.

• Customizable alerts: notifies chosen users based on custom-set thresholds for metrics – for example, traffic spikes, device failures, or underlying application performance spikes.
• Proactive notifications: provides the ability for teams to proactively respond to network events in real time, before they become critical issues.
• Escalation policies: tiered alert systems notify different teams based on the severity of the issue, ensuring relevant people are made aware in real time. These systems can also perform other functions like running system checks to ensure availability of required troubleshooting output for quick remediation, creating tickets to external ITSM platforms, etc.

Tracking and traffic insights

Understanding how your network traffic moves can empower you to make noticeable performance improvements.

• Analyze traffic flow: pinpoints bandwidth hogs and routing inefficiencies that may be impacting overall network performance.
• Identify usage patterns: shows which applications or devices are consuming the most resources, empowering you to make improvements.
• Optimize bandwidth allocation: prioritizes business-critical applications over other applications to accelerate your time to revenue.

Logging and auditing

Network logs and audits provide a detailed record of all network activity, and are an invaluable tool for troubleshooting and security audits.

• Detailed logs: records every network event, from login attempts to configuration changes, giving you full visibility.
• Compliance audits: maintains accurate and detailed records that can help meet regulatory standards.
• Troubleshooting: uses logs to identify patterns or errors that may be causing network issues or to identify general areas of improvement.

How to choose a network management software

There are several NMS options currently on the market, but not all are equal. To make sure you get the best possible value out of your NMS, look for a provider with:

• Out-of-the-box functionality for quick and easy setup;
• A simple and scalable business rules engine so you can easily integrate and scale it with your network as your business grows
• A large number of supported vendors so you can easily integrate it with your existing network and scale up over time
• Detailed visual dashboards that feature several ways for you to explore and view your network monitoring data
• Automated health baselining that compares your device health to the previous baseline period for deep monitoring of your network health
• Customizable alerts and escalations you can adjust to suit your organizational structure, hours of operation, and chain of command
• Support resources to help you get more out of the software – bonus points if they have a community wiki.

With the right provider, NMS will give you a high-speed, efficient, and automated network that can boost your profitability.

Manage your network with NMIS

FirstWave Network Management Information System (NMIS) is a complete NMS that handles the collection, rules, and presentation of your network data, from a single office implementation to the largest distributed environments as well as carrier networks, large global data center deployments, locked down networks, and more.

NMIS uses a single poll (usually SNMP) for performance and fault data, which reduces the bandwidth of network management traffic. The returning data creates real-time performance monitoring and graphing.

When NMIS pollers are deployed throughout your network, they can be easily managed to avoid bottlenecks and enable zero-cost redundancy. Both the front- and back-ends of NMIS are highly extensible, making it easy to add features.

Key features

• Start monitoring your network in a day with a pre-configured, out-of-the-box solution.
• Our powerful, simple business rules engine is easy to scale across networks with any number of devices.
• NMIS supports 10,000 vendors (and continuously growing) for complete integration with your current and future network setup.
• Customize alert escalations to suit your business and escalate events based on your organizational structure, hours of operation, or chain of command.
• Generate custom statistics for an extensive list of metrics with personalized reporting.
• NMIS runs on a powerful open-source foundation, allowing you to customize and extend the platform to fit your unique requirements.

Additional modules are also available from FirstWave to extend the capabilities of NMIS:

• opEvents: centralize and automate log and event management.
• opConfig: automate configuration and compliance management.
• opHA: manage distributed networks through a single pane of glass.
• opAddress: audit and manage IP addresses.
• opReports: get advanced analysis and reporting for even deeper insights.
• opCharts: access interactive dashboards and charts.
• opFlow: see exactly what’s happening across your network with advanced traffic analysis.

 

 

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Learn more

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Visit the NMIS Community Wiki

In managing computer networks, keeping services running and minimizing disruptions is crucial. One important way to measure how well network managers and operators handle problems is through Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR).

So, What is Mean Time to Resolution (MTTR)?

MTTR is a key performance indicator used in network management to quantify the average time it takes to resolve a network issue or outage from the moment it is detected.

 

This metric encompasses the entire process, from initial problem identification (when a device such as a router, switch, or server goes down or starts experiencing issues) through to the restoration of normal service. MTTR is calculated by taking the total time spent on resolving all incidents within a specific period and dividing it by the number of incidents.

 

 

In simpler terms, MTTR provides a clear picture of how long your network is out of action during a typical incident and how quickly your team can bring everything back to normal. It’s a reflection of the efficiency and effectiveness of your incident response processes.

Why MTTR Matters for Network Managers and Operators

MTTR is more than a mere number; it serves as a direct indicator of the health of your network management practices. Here’s why it’s so crucial:

1. Minimizing Downtime: Networks are the backbone of any organization, and every minute of network downtime can result in lost productivity, customer dissatisfaction, and revenue loss. MTTR helps network managers understand how quickly they can respond to and resolve issues, thus minimizing downtime and its associated impacts.
2. Operational Efficiency: A lower MTTR indicates a streamlined, efficient response process. It reflects well on the team’s capability to detect, diagnose, and fix issues quickly. This significantly enhances the network’s reliability, instilling a heightened level of confidence and bolstering the team’s reputation within the organization.
3. Customer Satisfaction (this is the most imporant one): In today’s fast-paced digital environment, customers expect near-instantaneous service. A quick resolution time keeps customers happy by ensuring that disruptions are brief and service is restored promptly.
4. Resource Management: MTTR can also help in assessing how effectively resources are being used during incident response. A consistently high MTTR might indicate bottlenecks or inefficiencies that need to be addressed, such as outdated tools or a lack of adequate training for the team.

What is a Good MTTR?

The definition of a “good” MTTR can vary depending on the industry, the complexity of the network, and the nature of the incidents. However, there are some general benchmarks that network managers can consider:

• Industry Standards: In many industries, a good MTTR is typically under 4 hours. However, for high-stakes environments, such as financial services or healthcare, MTTR might need to be even lower, often measured in minutes.
• Historical Performance: Your historical data is a great baseline. If your average MTTR has been 6 hours, bringing it down to 4 hours could be a significant improvement. The key is consistent improvement over time.
• SLAs and Customer Expectations: Service Level Agreements (SLAs) often dictate the acceptable MTTR for your organization. These agreements are usually based on customer expectations, which can vary greatly. Meeting or exceeding these SLAs should be the target.
• Comparative Analysis: Look at similar organizations within your industry. Benchmarking against peers can provide insight into where your MTTR stands and what might be achievable.

Conclusion

MTTR stands as a critical measure that network managers and operators need to monitor and improve. It acts as a clear signal of how rapidly your team can recover from network issues, affecting everything from operational efficiency to customer satisfaction. By aiming for a reduced MTTR, network teams are not only able to improve their service reliability but also bolster their overall network management approach. Ultimately, a successful MTTR is one that meets or surpasses your organization’s and its customers’ expectations, while continually striving for quicker and more effective resolutions.