Technology is moving forward at a blinding pace, but unless we make an effort towards change – the wiring in our buildings remains the same.  Is it time for you to overhaul your antiquated wiring?  Here’s how to figure that out.

First of all, are you experiencing any problems with dropped Internet or VoIP connections?  If so, this is a major red flag telling you that it is time to take a look at the infrastructure.   If not, but you want to upgrade by adding VoIP endpoints, more computers or more networked devices, it is also time to take a look at the network.

The first thing to look for is what type cable is installed.   In order to operate a best practices network today, at least cat5e cabling is recommended.  If you are planning to add endpoints or have issues and don’t have cat5e, then it is best to put an infrastructure overhaul in your budget and roadmap.   

Next, take a look at the terminations.   Does each cable end have a properly terminated connector?  Are wires frayed?  Torn? If so, it pays to have a professional come in and repair the terminations so no problems occur in the future.  Also look at the condition of the insulation surrounding each cable – if it is in bad shape, then chances are you have a less-than-well-shielded data pipe at that point in your network.

Next make sure that you have enough Ethernet drops to support your future expansion plans.  If not, perhaps a few more drops are necessary only – without a full network upgrade. 

Are any wires running close to sources of interference, such as fluorescent lights?  If so, it makes sense to reroute them, or pull them and replace them with fiber optic cabling if rerouting is impractical or impossible. 

No matter whether you choose a major overhaul or simple upgrades, hire professional structured wiring installers. The right professionals will perform the above assessment using the latest network analysis tools, and will quote you a fair price for just what needs to be done and no more.   Why not call them today and start moving your building towards the future?

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Network Cabling website as the original source).

The most widely adopted approach for IT service management on the planet is known as ITIL – or Information Technology Information Library.  It describes a set of best practices and concepts for a state-of-the-art network today.

Originally created by the CCTA under the auspices of the British government, ITIL defines a supplier independent methodology including a set of operational management procedures that have been tried and tested over a 20 year period.

ITIL forms the basis of many supplier service offerings, and three levels of certification exists for those proficient in ITIL; Foundation, Practitioners, and Managers.

A full description of ITIL would span many pages as the current release contains 30 volumes – but there are a few central concepts that are key.  One is the concept of Incident Management, where an incident is defined as any event that is not part of the standard operation of the service which could cause either an interruption of the service or a reduction in the quality of the service.  Incident management focuses on restoration of normal service as quickly as possible with as little impact as possible.

Another central concept is known as Problem Management, which simply means finding the root cause of incidents so their impact is minimized.  Problem Management is more proactive than Incident Management, and focuses on trend analysis, targeting support action, and providing critical information to the organization in the resolution of incidents.

Yet another key concept is that of Change Management, which focuses on making sure that standardized processes and procedures are used when changes are made to the network and services offered.  When proper Change Management is implemented,  minimal disruption of services and efficient utilization of resources result after any changes are made.

When choosing a service package for your network,  the choice of one based on ITIL will ensure that you get a standardized approach based on many years of knowledge and experience, as well as a process that is repeatable.    Choosing a certified practitioner or making sure that certified personnel are available from your service provider is a wise choice for your network.

If you are setting up a new network, it makes sense to review the basic ITIL literature to ensure that proper procedures are set up for its management.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Network Cabling website as the original source).

Navigating all the available options for service contracts from your equipment provider, service provider or reseller can be confusing, to say the least.  All possibilities from equipment warranty only all the way to complete remote monitoring services are available, making it difficult to choose the correct package.

The first step in making this critical choice is to assess the size and strength of your internal IT department.   If your network stability is critical but your staff small or inexperienced, then choosing a “high touch” contract makes sense. However, if you have a large network and very experienced staff, then contracts that focus mostly on rapid equipment replacement and warranty may be the best option.  Warranties are becoming richer – with many equipment providers offering advanced replacement and technical support as part of the overall package.

Today, many resellers and equipment providers also offer remote monitoring service packages that can reduce downtime and provide significant ROI even when experienced IT staffing is present.  Remote monitoring tools can help pinpoint network problems before they occur, flagging the need for equipment replacement, troubleshooting, or repair before any business impact from downtime can be suffered.

Many service contracts also include access to knowledge bases or highly trained support personnel, which makes a great deal of sense no matter what the staffing levels as key equipment knowledge can save a great deal of time and trouble when problems occur.

Another step that should be taken before choosing your best option is to list out your ideal set of services.  If you have a large enterprise or network, then an automated installed base management system may be desirable as it will allow your service provider or supplier to pinpoint where equipment is located, making next day replacement service easier to implement and meet.   If you have sophisticated pieces of equipment such as telepresence systems, then on-site engineering support may be another desirable feature.

Once a list is developed – the next step is to assess your overall budget for IT support, and compare it to the pricing offered for the services you have chosen.  This may be an iterative process for some time until the optimum balance is reached.

Over time, as your internal capabilities expand, contracts can be lessened. On the other hand, it may be more cost effective to use external resources than to maintain a large IT department.   There is no substitute for performing a solid financial analysis when making these types of decisions – no matter how large or small your network is.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention our Network Cabling website as the original source).