SPECIAL FEATURE switches & routers
Smart decision
Paul Routledge of D-Link explains how to use smart switches to make company networks easier to manage , and to enable businesses applications to flow .
Running a successful business requires focus on the things that deliver a long term advantage ; providing a great service , being more agile than your competition , and creating a unique product or service . As it grows , this focus on the core business may mean that the technology underpinning the operation can drop off the radar - until it becomes a problem .
Anyone who has experienced the frustration of not being able to connect to a website , send an email , or enter an order , knows that some technology investments , such as a company network , have a direct impact on the ability of the business to function effectively . This is particularly true as we shift to cloud based technology , where a reliable connection is essential to productivity and real time trading
Even in a business that has not made the shift to cloud , reviewing network connectivity can pay dividends in effi ciency and effectiveness . Slow fi le transfers or unresponsiveness of on premise applications are common employee complaints for businesses that have grown or adopted new technologies since their last networking review .
A smarter network is a more efficient one and many businesses are starting to see the benefits of using ‘ smart switches ’ to make this a reality . With the increase in business applications and bandwidth hungry data , a cost effective solution is required to provide a technology driven network .
So , what are smart switches ?
Smart switches are the next generation in data connectivity , management and performance ; they essentially automate much of the functional control and on going configuration needed for an effective , reliable business network .
With many of the same benefits as a fully managed switch , but without the complexity or cost , smart switches are designed to make network maintenance much simpler and minimise the time spent configuring , especially with limited on site IT skills and resources . A number of other benefits smart switches offer are a faster network , 10GbE ports , PoE functionality , VoIP support , IP surveillance auto functions and green technology which make these far more cost effective .
A smart switch works by adding a layer of intelligent control to the network , enabling some crucial processes to be automated and prioritised , leading to a faster resolution of any issues .
Using smart switches in business
Smart switches can automate the prioritisation of traffic , telling the network what type of traffic should get priority , such as email or voice traffic , to ensure high quality calls and jitter free video conferencing , without stopping other traffic to critical applications – both internally and in the cloud .
All types of applications , from email , CRM and accounting systems to marketing automation and design tools , are now hosted in the cloud and delivered as Software as a Service ( SaaS ). These are business critical applications residing outside of the company ’ s network . Any online tool or software you log into online , rather than using locally on your computer or server , requires the network to always allow fast and reliable access to that software .
Smart switches , especially those with 10 Gigabit connectivity , can ensure consistent , uninterrupted connectivity ty to these applications , without the need for IT staff to intervene if anything goes wrong as the switch can cope with , and manage , increasing bandwidth demands whilst providing a highly reliable 10 Gigabit network . In the case of an emergency a smart switch can also provide network alerts , irregularities , and provide diagnostic reports to IT staff .
Businesses are always adding more onto their networks , this is an inevitable part of the digitisation of the workplace , whether it ’ s an IP surveillance system ,
new point of sale systems , new desktops , smartphones or video conference systems .
Smart switches smooth over this process by dynamically adjusting traffic and connection management to cope with the changes in the number of active devices on a network .
A common problem experienced across networks for small and medium businesses is traffic overload or the failure to prioritise traffic . A smart switch can alleviate these problems and ensure a consistent quality of service is maintained across both VoIP and video , even when large files are simultaneously being downloaded , transferred or backed up across the network .
The benefit of smart switches
The major benefit of using smart switches is that the network is much easier to use , and therefore less costly too , reducing the total cost of ownership . Not only this but smart switches provide far more in terms of flexibility and scalability , with the ability to create physical stacks , virtualised stacks and to upgrade the network to meet the demands placed on it .
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