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Speed and network performance is a critical success factor in today’s competitive business environment. But a high-speed network is no use to anyone if it’s not available. Companies which neglect to install a resilient infrastructure will undoubtedly pay the price in the long term.

To stay ahead of the game and keep networks running around the clock, businesses need to get back to basics. The key elements to focus on are structured cabling and moving towards Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) adoption. ITIL is the framework of best practice approaches intended to facilitate the delivery of high quality IT services. An additional technology to develop and maintain network performance is Intelligent Infrastructure Management (IIM). IIM solutions provide a missing link between real-time network management tools and the traditionally passive structured cabling infrastructures that connect network devices.

Companies looking to implement a new infrastructure need to bear in mind both current and anticipated application requirements. If they are not using videoconferencing or IP CCTV, and are not yet monitoring building systems such as heating, lighting or air-conditioning using their IP infrastructure, one day they will probably want to, as bandwidth applications are increasingly in demand.

IT infrastructure, including servers, switches and PCs, lasts from three to five years. Structured cabling, however, is expected to last 20 years. Businesses should opt for the best and the most resilient infrastructure possible – Cat 5, Cat 6, 10 G Ethernet and fibre are all options worth exploring. ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø in headroom through dark fibre and spare capacity will help futureproof the building for years to come.

In selecting an installer there are a number of factors that need to be considered, including the level of vendor support, the warranty period and the accreditations achieved. The supplier’s trading history and financial stability should also be investigated. Technical expertise is crucial, especially in Intelligent Infrastructure Management, as is an understanding of voice, data and Unified Communications technologies.

There are three essential issues when considering a new network infrastructure. Firstly, be sure to look at the cost of downtime to the organisation. Companies need to decide the level of service needed. Is a few hours’ downtime acceptable, or is near to 100 percent uptime actually vital? This can be calculated by determining what an outage will cost each hour.

The loss of productivity, lost profits and brand damage that network outage can bring all make a very strong case for investing in an infrastructure that can support the demands of the business and its users. Financial institutions and global corporates were the first to invest in technologies such as Intelligent Infrastructure Management (IIM) as a few minutes’ downtime hits the bottom line hard. Today, the maturity and price points of IIM and enterprise grade application monitoring enable all organisations to ensure a constant healthy network.

The next question to resolve is which of today’s applications will be vital tomorrow? Convergence of voice and data services are now the norm for businesses large and small. Videoconferencing, web conferencing and collaboration tools are all in demand from users, and will stretch conventional networks. Remote working, centralisation of servers and a move to 24/7 application access via Blackberry, PDA and thin client technologies elevate the network to a true utility in today’s corporate environments.

ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø management systems – heating, lighting, CCTV, air-conditioning and others – are becoming increasingly IP enabled. Being able to integrate building systems, monitor and control energy usage more efficiently and provide an optimal environment for staff can generate network traffic. Scaling the network correctly at the planning stage enables companies to support these applications moving forward.

The third aspect is the true cost of Move, Add, Change, Delete (MACD) activities. Moving can cause IT and telecoms headaches, cost money and disrupt business. With many organisations moving over 25% of staff on an annual basis, minimising the impact is crucial. Ensuring ample capacity when planning a network can save well over 50% of the costs of having to re-cable at a later date.

Management of physical infrastructure and IT assets can be time consuming and costly, especially if carried out sporadically. Implementing a system which can track structured cabling MACD activity from the outset will save money over time.

Although there a number of factors to consider when installing and maintaining a resilient network and cabling infrastructure, a trusted ICT solutions partner can advise on what makes sense for each business.