Admin management is basically the process of setting up, managing, and troubleshooting networks. IT departments use admin management tools to make sure that the technological aspect of your business is established in a resilient way. It aims to prevent disruptions and security issues, as well as maintain high performance.
In this article, we will discuss the five core objectives of admin management tool and network monitoring best practices you can deploy in your organization.
Five Main Objectives of Admin Management Tools
1. Administration
Admin management tools maintain an inventory of network resources and equipment across your entire organization. This includes cables, hubs, routers, servers, computers, and other hardware. Additionally, these tools set up networks, monitor their performance, and update and troubleshoot software.
2. Operation
Admin management tools see to it that your network runs seamlessly without issues. They monitor the network for performance problems and fix issues the soonest time possible or before the end-user is affected.
3. Maintenance
Admin management tools can schedule the repair and upgrades of your network equipment, including desktops, cables, servers, switches, etc. It also installs patches and keeps your software up-to-date, implements preventive measures, and improves faulty configurations.
4. Provisioning
Provisioning is another task done by admin management tools. They can allocate and configure network resources to complement a particular service or need. For instance, your team needs extra storage space for a certain project. With an admin management tool in place, the network administrator can provide resources to meet the changing requirements of businesses.
5. Security
Securing your organization’s network is important to ensure that all your IT equipment can perform their critical functions. Admin management tools can install and maintain network protection software, monitor hardware and software behavior, track endpoint devices, and resolve security issues easily.
Best Practices for Network Management
IT administrators should put an effective strategy in place when it comes to network management. For one, you can use admin management tools to help you get an overall picture of your network. This makes it easier to track performance issues, identify security problems as soon as they arise, and perform system-wide activities automatically, rather than addressing each machine individually. It minimizes downtime for your network and makes the most of your resources.
Here are some of the best practices that you can adopt to ensure that your network is in tiptop shape.
Know Your Network
By knowing the behavior of your network, you can quickly identify any abnormalities or issues, helping you solve them rapidly. Also, having clear performance metrics in your admin management tool enables you to set appropriate alerts whenever something goes wrong in your infrastructure.
Escalate Problems Appropriately
Whenever a problem arises, ensure that the correct person is alerted and made aware of the issue. Assigning personnel responsible for security, firewall, and virtualization can expedite resolution in each of these areas.
Layered Breakdowns:
Regardless of the network monitoring or management software you’re using, make sure that it can provide details and do troubleshooting at each layer of the network.
Failover Protection
When you use admin management tools, it’s usually installed on the network you are managing. This means when your network malfunctions, your tools can become faulty too. The network should be structured in such a way the server at which the monitoring tool is installed is accessible even in the event of a major network failure.
Planning for Growth
When setting up a network for your organization, there's always the goal of scaling up. If you haven’t prepared your network capacity to grow, you might run into problems later when you try to expand your network. Use admin management tools to ensure your network is performing well within capacity and assess components that may need upgrading in the future.
Final Thoughts
Managing a complex, large network might sound overwhelming but you’ll be well on your way to running everything smoothly when you’re knowledgeable about your network functions. Automating parts of your network by making use of admin management tools can free up time of your staff for more important matters. It’ll also ensure that your network is free from issues that could impact the quality of service you provide.
ITarian is an admin management tool that helps monitor all of your desktops, servers, and software. It provides detailed information about your assets, such as software licensing, configuration changes, capacity utilization, and hardware warranty status. Call us today to get yours!
