Infrastructure Management: No Second Chances

Infrastructure management spans a vast gamut of issues, which

would include structured cabling, defining hardware requirements and software

applications. The CIO, however, should have a fixed path, set with clear

expectations, and link the investment in the solution to the needs of his

business.

From the technology perspective, infrastructure management

comprises major areas like networks, platforms (or servers), storage, databases,

middleware and security.

Structured cabling



A structured cabling system (SCS) comprises a set of cabling and

connectivity products that integrate the voice, data, video and various

management systems of a network, such as safety alarms, security access, energy

systems etc.

• Structured cabling should have a modular design and
  
  different unit sizes, so that all needs including design are met.

• In a cabling system, a single weak component — one not
  
  designed to operate within the system-can cause the entire network to fail
  
  in meeting performance levels.

• The structured cabling solution should be capable of
  
  supporting every protocol and to support enough bandwidth for easy adoption
  
  of newer technologies. Despite vendor claims that a particular solution will
  
  not become obsolete for the next 20 years, one needs to be careful when
  
  selecting such offerings.

• Most vendors today have basic structured cabling
  
  components. However, there are other factors that need to be evaluated on
  
  factors such as return on investment, speed and bandwidth availability,
  
  capacity to keep up with developing standards and the price to performance
  
  factor.

• While a CIO may end up buying the best of active
  
  components such as hubs, switches, routers, workstations and software, the
  
  performance would eventually upon the underlying cabling infrastructure.

• Most Indian enterprises view the cost of installation as
  
  an additional burden as compared to MNCs who treat this as a long-term
  
  benefit.

Network security



Network security is vital to minimize the risk of intrusions, both from

within and outside the network. A number of third party products provide

services that are important for protecting the business. These products help in

authentication, encryption and monitoring. A router with an access control list

(ACL) and network address translation is an organization’s first line of

defense. ACLs are router statements that limit who can access the network.

• Firewalls are the second line of defense and should be
  
  installed after the router but before the network. The job of the firewall
  
  is to isolate corporate assets from each other and from the outside world in
  
  a secure and manageable manner.

• Encryption can ensure data integrity or protect sensitive
  
  information sent over insecure lines. Such protection is important for
  
  remote access to important assets or as an extra protection when using the
  
  organization’s Intranet.

Storage



As storage management gets more complex, enterprises need to look beyond

just buying storage devices. Back-ups, security, data recovery and contingency

planning are other critical factors that need to be considered.

Affordability and RoI: A cost-benefit analysis is essential. Even when you

have decided to implement network storage, the return on investment may not

justify the costs. A comprehensive SAN could cost crores of rupees, putting it

beyond the reach of most small enterprises.

Ease of configuration and interoperability: Companies implementing network

storage often buy hardware from one company, software from another and the

components needed to connect them, from a third. This could pose serious

interoperability problems, if you don’t check the compatibility of these

solutions.

Scalability, performance and upgrade: Your requirements are expanding at an

unpredictable pace. So it is essential to build systems that are highly

scaleable and allow easy upgrades in a non-disruptive manner.

Data integrity and security: Data being a company’s most valuable asset,

any loss of critical information can cripple a company’s operations. The lack

of industry standards also heightens concern about security. All necessary

safeguards must be built into your network architecture.

Vendor Support and Services: If you do not have in-house resources to manage

your storage, vendor support becomes all the more critical. As the solution

includes a combination of hardware and software, one should look for services

that include applications support.

Network integrators



CIOs while setting up their enterprise network infrastructure, need to look

into the following issues:

• The network has to cater to all the information requirements of the
  
  organization;

• The network has to be available 24X7X365, Secure and
  
  mobile (if necessary);

• The network has to be scalable and interoperable so that
  
  any future alterations, modifications, or transformations can be undertaken;

• The network should be feature-rich and supported by
  
  Quality of Service features like rate limiting, application prioritization
  
  and server load balancing; and

• Last but not the least, the network has to be cost
  
  effective and should provide sufficient ROI to the client.

Also, network integrators provide a range of services such as

drafting an e-commerce strategy, security services, electronic data interchange,

e-payment, virtual private networks, and Internet data center solutions. While

selecting a network integrator:

• One should look for network integrators who have forged
  
  alliances with global leaders to deliver the latest technologies at
  
  competitive prices. Integrators should know all vertical segments and
  
  technologies.

• The right strategy would require assessment, a process of
  
  understanding the current infrastructure and assessing the current/long term
  
  requirements.

• A network integrator (NI) should be called in to help to
  
  choose and install the network. One should consider a NI if the network
  
  connects more than 30 stations and if there is a need to connect stations on
  
  different floors/buildings or there is a need to connect different
  
  networks/computers.

• While searching for a NI, the best bet is to talk to
  
  colleagues and friends who have a similar-sized network and have recently
  
  installed a network with a NI.

Team DQ