Top 5 benefits of implementing a flexible managed network

There is more choice than ever for network connectivity. Getting access to fast, reliable, secure networks should be easy. However, like the turn-of-the-century rail solutions, sometimes more choice can complicate things. In this article, we discuss the benefits of a flexible managed network approach.

Having a common, baseline infrastructure is beneficial to a growing nation. Nothing illustrates this idea more than Australia’s rail infrastructure legacy. We currently have three different gauge widths across individual states and territories.

For those unfamiliar with the pre-federation rail gauge wars, each colony independently adopted a gauge (width of railway tracks) to suit their own purposes. Then, with the Federation of Australia and the removal of trade barriers, the short sightedness of dissimilar gauges became apparent.

What does all this railway talk mean for network management? The gauge variation problem is more than a colonial-era bungle; it’s an ongoing brake on productivity.

Railway evolution and networking – different trains, common gauge

Imagine this same problem occurring for networking infrastructure. Substitute states and territories for network type providers. One of those being the mixed technology rollout of the NBN, the government in collaboration with private enterprise. Others including Superloop’s network (a mix of fibre and fixed wireless networks) as well as various other operators.

In this way, we end up having different technologies and networks built for different purposes.

But, unlike the botched attempt to allow cross-state network uses for railway, there is a way to access the best of all the telecommunications network options by taking a federated approach.

For example, selecting a network offering (or state) doesn’t have to mean excluding all other choices. Your network type selection shouldn’t preclude the ability to gain access to the appropriate service according to your business’ requirements.

Networking Horses for Courses

Network communication demand means customers and users expect access to services, data and applications from anywhere at any time.

This means having to combine different technologies into an integrated, secure and easy to manage network solution. From WiFi to local and wide area network platforms through to dedicated terrestrial, fibre or fixed wireless networks, these all need to deliver integrated solutions for voice, video and data.

Furthermore, keeping up to date with what’s the best option for your business can be complex, time-consuming and costly. We know that the CIO is being asked to move more into solving core business issues rather than merely keeping the lights on and it makes sense to consider a flexible managed network infrastructure approach.

The benefit of the right approach means covering yourself for current issues as well as future goals, or simply keeping you covered when things change.

Consider the benefits of going with a single provider of managed services:

This approach enables you  to unlock new possibilities - giving greater choice and underpinning success by combining the most suitable products and services

Top 5 benefits of going with a single provider for network flexibility:

1. Third party management – if there are third party technologies or products, this is all wrapped into the single service – spend more time on core business and less on procurement processes.
2. One wrapper delivers required connectivity – access to the most suitable technology approach that suits your business, greater choice driving success.
3. Access to technology experts – industry knowledge and product knowledge helps drive innovation.
4. One provider for one point of responsibility – if you are running more than one simultaneously, you will often get fingers crossed at each other.
5. Simplification - simplify your interactions and have a single service and one bill at a competitive rate with more flexible contract terms.

Taking a federated approach (rather than a colonial one) for your network infrastructure, means you can access a managed solution that will adopt, upgrade, replace or integrate with existing network infrastructure to support your organisation’s future requirements.