Network failure can prove to be very costly or even downright disastrous for a business, even when the downtime is relatively brief in duration. When mission-critical systems are unable to communicate over a network, operations can grind to a halt, resulting in financial losses, lost productivity and negative user experiences.
Fortunately, there are a number of effective strategies to avoid network failure and subsequent periods of disruptive downtime. The first step is to understand the most common causes of network failure. Only then can a company’s IT professionals address the root of the problem.
The Cloud and Avoiding Network Failure
Cloud migrations abound, an increasing number of companies are opting to leverage cloud technology for their network servers and data stores. The cloud brings many benefits in terms of reliability, scalability, and redundancy — traits that make for a well-performing network.
Cloud-based data storage solutions allow for continual data access even when network failure strikes. This can negate some of the damage that results from a network failure. Beyond this, though, you can avoid network failure entirely with cloud-based network servers. Virtual network servers are scalable and they allow for redundancy in a manner that just isn’t possible with other server types.
Cloud-based network servers are typically updated and maintained by the cloud solutions provider, which lessens the burden on a company’s in-house IT professionals. This also means that you’ll enjoy the latest cutting-edge cloud technology with a network performance boost.
Avoiding Network Failure With the Right Configurations and Maintenance
A large segment of network failures are associated with bad network configurations and a lack of proper maintenance. It doesn’t take much to cause network failure and the equation gets even more complicated when you have multiple IT professionals working on the same systems.
The solution: determine and document the ideal configuration for your network and its associated servers. Then, a single IT admin should be assigned to manage the network and its configuration. This way, you won’t have multiple people pressing buttons in a way that’s apt to cause network failure.
Avoiding Network Failure With the Latest Technology
Outdated technology — software and hardware alike — can have a dramatic impact on network performance and server performance. The latest and greatest server and network technology doesn’t just help you avoid network failure. New equipment and software can boost network performance in a dramatic way, especially if the new hardware and software is replacing significantly older technology.
Even with these advantages in mind, many business leaders are hesitant to invest time and money into the replacement of technology that’s functioning properly. But they often fail to realize that when things do go wrong — and eventually, they will — they’re going to see a much higher price tag for the cost of repairs. And that cost will come in addition to any downtime-related losses.
System Audits to Prevent Network Failure
Periodic system audits can go a long way toward avoiding network failures and other productivity-sapping events. Technology is constantly advancing and evolving. This leads to numerous updates and changes within a company’s IT infrastructure. Over time, systems may fail to perform as expected due to all of these piecemeal modifications. The end result: poor performance and ultimately, network failure.
A comprehensive audit allows you to examine the whole of an IT infrastructure and its many configurations. Once this audit and evaluation process is complete, you will be well-positioned to make modifications that will optimize performance and minimize the chances of network failure.
Scalability as a Strategy to Avoid Network Failure
Traffic overload is one of the most common causes of downtime stemming from network failure. When servers are inundated with incoming client requests, response time slows and ultimately, the server may be overloaded to the point of a complete crash. The result: downtime.
In cases such as these, a scalable server configuration often represents the ideal solution. Scalable server configurations allow for the automatic allocation of resources on a dynamic, as-needed basis. This allows you to meet rising (or falling) demand in real time. The result is greater network stability and improved performance. Virtually all of today’s cloud-based network servers are “elastic” or scalable, making this cloud solution a good pick for mission-critical networks with variable traffic volumes.
Load Balancing as a Strategy to Avoid Network Failure
Load balancers offer many benefits in terms of performance and reliability. These advantages extend to network performance by optimizing server performance and preventing the server overloads that ultimately lead to downtime.
Load balancers work by intercepting “clumps” of incoming client requests, which are evaluated using a pre-established laid balancing algorithm. The server requests are then distributed across multiple servers in a server pool. This prevents a scenario where a large volume of client requests overwhelm a single server, resulting in overload and network downtime.
Global server load balancing can be especially advantageous for companies that are seeking to avoid network failure. Global server load balancers leverage a network of servers that are situated in different regions across the globe. If the nearest data center is impacted by a power outage, inclement weather or some other adverse event, server requests will be automatically routed to a data center in a different, unaffected region. This allows you to avoid network failure and all of the negative consequences. Global server load balancing has emerged as a top pick for organizations that need to maintain mission-critical network connections.
Healthy, well-maintained servers translate into a stable, responsive network. But you need the right load balancing technology in place to enjoy these benefits. That’s where Resonate can help. We specialize in providing clients with stable, scalable, and high-performing load balancer technology. The Resonate team is always available to advise on which load balancing solution is best for a client’s needs. We invite you to reach out to learn more about how load balancing can help you avoid network failure.