Network management systems assist companies to deploy network infrastructure effectively, access user details rapidly, track network operation, debug problems, protect against and react to threats, and optimize responsiveness. Network management tools can help detect inefficient or inappropriate uses of network services like streaming multimedia or peer-to-peer file sharing that can burn up bandwidth, lower employee output or enable data leaks. A well crafted network management environment can also help companies to make informed capacity planning decisions by surfacing tendencies in resource demand for different times or tasks.
Cisco offers a diverse and expanding portfolio of network management platforms that support unified management for on-premises, cloud-based, or hybrid network models. With Cisco's later generation of security, switching, and wireless networking products, you can choose among Meraki, DNA Center, or CLI management platforms for network management. For instance, you can connect newer Catalyst or Meraki switches and Catalyst or Meraki Wi-Fi APs to the Meraki dashboard to monitor and manage vital components of your IT infrastructure from the cloud. Progent's Catalyst Wi-Fi access point consultants, Meraki WiFi AP consulting experts, Catalyst switches consulting experts, and Cisco Meraki switches consultants can assist your organization to design, implement and tune an up-to-date environment for network management.
Traditional Network Management Platforms from Cisco and Others
A wealth of network management tools from Cisco and third-party suppliers underscores the value and complexity of maintaining networks. Progent's seasoned network management consultants are experienced at assisting companies develop management strategies utilizing on Simple Network Management Protocol, SYSLOG services, and Cisco NetFlow to create powerful tools for tracking network bandwidth usage and network latency, monitoring key router and switch operational characteristics, and recognizing traffic patterns, applications, and devices that use network services.
Progent can assist businesses to utilize a broad range of open source and proprietary management utilities to maintain a Cisco network. Utilities used by Progent's consultants include MRTG, Cacti, Nagios, PRTG, Cisco Cisco ASDM, Cisco Network Assistant, Cisco Security Manager, OpenView, Wireshark/Ethereal, AlterPoint DeviceAuthority, Adventnet Netflow, Big Brother, Solarwinds Orion, and Necordia NetMRI.
Network management tools can help organizations to understand current network usage and intelligently plan for future capacity expansion. Network management tools can also be used to identify inefficient or inappropriate uses of system resources, such as streaming video, peer-to-peer sharing, etc. that can waste expensive or limited network bandwidth. A well designed network management plan can also help organizations to make intelligent choices on WAN and LAN enhancements after they appreciate the amount of network bandwidth actually needed at specific times.
Having an effective network management platform in operation beforehand is essential to prevent major disruptions that can be caused by DoS attacks and malicious viruses. These events can render the network unusable and without proper utilities it can be difficult, if not virtually impossible, to discover the location of the trouble.
Network Management Solutions from Cisco
Cisco has created a variety of powerful tools that should be the basis for any network management solution. Used in conjunction with the top outside vendor products, Cisco's network management offerings can improve the competitive value of network infrastructures for companies of any size by improving key areas such as resource utilization, throughput, availability, security, troubleshooting, and capacity planning. Cisco's top network management products include:
Cisco ASDM is a browser-based Java applet that lets you set up and monitor the software on security devices. Adaptive Security Device Manager is installed by the Cisco appliance, and enables you to configure, track, and manage the unit.
Cisco Monitor Manager is a management and monitoring application intended to meet the requirements of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Monitor Manager continuously tracks key appliance parameters on voice/data environments serving five to 250 users and equipped with up to 250 VoIP phones. Cisco Monitor Manager provides:
Cisco Network Assistant is a desktop-hosted management tool optimized for LANs and WLANS for expanding organizations with as many as 40 switches and routers. By using Cisco's Smartports technology, Network Assistant simplifies setup, installation, and ongoing administration and maintenance of Cisco networks. Network Assistant offers a centralized network view and allows network managers to deploy its features across switches, routers, and wireless access points.
Security Manager is a powerful but easy-to-use solution for centrally provisioning all aspects of appliance configuration and policies for firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs), and IPS. The solution efficiently handles even small networks consisting of fewer than ten devices, but also expands to manage large-scale systems composed of thousands of appliances. Scalability is enabled via intelligent policy-driven control techniques that can simplify administration. Key features of Security Manager are:
Progent can also assist you to utilize network management applications to monitor and classify system data to implement traffic shaping, which allows you to program routers to enforce different bandwidth constraints on designated classes of activity based on the priorities you assign. By buffering and queuing excess packets above your contracted rates, and by assigning priority to the most important processes, traffic shaping can prevent Internet Service Provider overage charges from spiraling out of reach and/or avoid gaps in worker productivity caused by indiscriminate policing of your network bandwidth restrictions during periods of heavy demand.
Progent's CISM, CISSP, and ISSAP security specialists can show you how to develop an end-to-end security plan that encompasses your network management processes, and Progent's remote and on-premises network specialists and Cisco CCIE and CNA qualified engineers can utilize the latest network management technology to identify and remediate trouble rapidly to keep your network productive.
To learn additional details about Progent's professional support for Cisco networking products, select a subject: