One of the most critical factors which affect infrastructure performance is the use of network bandwidth. Network bandwidth is the maximum amount of data that a network can transfer from one point to another. Factors like network congestion and poor network application priorities can all slow down the data transfer rate.
IT services providers can use several tools to improve network bandwidth for enterprise clients. As a leading managed services provider (MSP) in Melbourne, in this post, ITConnexion breaks down the process of identifying bottlenecks in your company’s data transfer and improving network performance.
Developing a Network Topology
To optimise network bandwidth first requires an understanding of your network setup. A network topology describes how data travels from your server to different network nodes. The main network topologies are:
- Bus Topology – All network nodes are in a line from the central server. Data passes through each node to get to its final destination.
- Ring Topology – Network nodes are set up in a circle. Data can travel in either direction.
- Tree Topology – Branches of nodes are attached to the central server. If one branch fails, data can still travel on the others.
- Star Topology – Branches of nodes attach to the central server in a circular pattern. Every node maintains a connection to the central server.
- Mesh Topology – Every node and server is connected to all others in several ways. Data can travel through multiple network pathways.
- Hybrid Topology – Combines multiple of the topologies above.
Sometimes, using the wrong network topology for your enterprise size and data requirements is the primary reason for your slow network. For example, many large enterprises need to use a hybrid topology to accommodate differently organised parts for various data transmission needs.
Establishing Network Baselines
Next, your MSP will establish network baselines. Having a baseline for network performance helps track how well optimisations are working. Furthermore, baselines reveal patterns and trends that give you insight into when you need to upgrade or expand your network capacity as it grows. Finally, having a baseline for network traffic makes it easier to identify inconsistencies from external sources or potential security threats.
Using Load Balancing to Distribute Traffic
Your company likely has some applications that are more critical to operations than others. Load balancers ensure that these high priority applications always have enough data to operate at maximum efficiency. They divide up incoming requests and divert them to the appropriate servers and pathways to prevent queues from getting too long and slowing down the network speed.
Limiting Personal Bandwidth Usage
If your employees’ personal devices are connected to your company’s server, they are taking valuable bandwidth away from necessary applications. Your company should enact a policy to dictate when employees can use their personal devices and limit what websites and applications they can use.
Using Your Network Bandwidth More Strategically
Network bandwidth is not a one-size-fits-all ordeal for enterprises. An experienced MSP like ITConnexions can help you evaluate your network baselines and make important decisions about using cloud services, timing application updates and shaping your network traffic more strategically.
Talk to the experts at ITConnexions about what technologies can optimise your network performance. Call us on 1300 89 22 00.
