What is Network Infrastructure?

What is Network Infrastructure?

When we think of computer networks, our minds instantly hop to the old Cisco routers with antennas that provided us our first glimpse at wireless network connections. Although that might be how many of us first experienced what networks were, businesses demand a much more rigorous network infrastructure to perform tasks, handle data, and connect teams. But one might be wondering: What do we mean when we say network infrastructure? Network infrastructure is a collection of fundamental components that work together to run an IT network. They involve layers like hardware, software, and services that allow for the flow of data in various directions. Network infrastructure is critical for your organization’s IT infrastructure, and you need it to be stable to handle mission-critical applications, software, desktops, and business operations. The most effective infrastructures are safe, reliable, robust, and easy to scale. In this article, we define network infrastructure and evaluate some benefits of a maintained network services provider.   A managed service partner, like Summit Hosting, can provide hosting for your resource-heavy applications. These applications could be anything from Sage Cloud Hosting to SAP Business One hosting. Reach out today to see how easy cloud hosting can be and how it can fit into your network infrastructure plan! 

What are the Components of Network Infrastructure?

Networking infrastructure is the nervous system of your organization. And much like our nervous system, your networking infrastructure has several vital components for proper function. These include a host of physical devices, software packages, and services to ensure your data and information makes it end-to-end.   

• Networking hardware – Networking hardware is the physical network devices your IT department installs. These devices are routers, access points, repeaters, ethernet cables, and gateways that transmit data to various endpoints. 
• Networking software – While your networking devices are powerful tools, they can only do so much without software brains. Software is responsible for many of the network security and firewalls throughout the network. These vital components serve as cybersecurity and network management tools that increase bandwidth and stable network connectivity.  
• Network Services – The last layer of your network infrastructure provides an internet connection. Network services include IP addressing, DNS, virtual private network (VPN) termination, intrusion detection, prevention systems, management systems, network monitoring, and additional security protocols.

  Your IT infrastructure and network architecture will depend on your business needs. Local area networks (LAN) are ideal for office buildings, while a wide area network (WAN) connects many endpoints.   Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed about the number of components that make up your network infrastructure? Summit Hosting has your back. Our secure data centers deploy expert network engineers and IT experts to ensure your network services experience virtually no downtime. 

What are the Benefits of Network Infrastructure?

Solid network infrastructure carries your essential business communications and data from various departments to perform a wide range of operations. These operations could be payment processing, product purchases, inventory management, and process automation. Weak connections and poor routing can cause slow network traffic, but when you partner with a quality service provider, you can experience benefits, not drawbacks. 

Cost-effectiveness 

Investing in reliable infrastructure services will ultimately save you money in the long run. With a network service provider, network management fees will be consistent, meaning you can deploy your in-house IT experts to more pressing, business-impacting tasks. Because of the dedicated nature of a service provider, you can experience fewer network disturbances that impact bottom lines.

Greater Scalability

It’s no secret that a stable and reliable network infrastructure encourages more customer interaction. Solid network infrastructure can support higher throughput while maintaining the capability to scale with your business.  Scalability resides at the core of our services at Summit Hosting, and as your business grows, Summit Hosting grows with you. With dedicated web servers, state-of-the-art operating systems, and SSAE 18 certifications, you’ll never have to worry about expanding beyond Summit’s capability to host your mission-critical software, such as Quickbooks. Summit’s flexibility means more bandwidth at the click of a button. 

Enhanced Security

Cybersecurity is a constant battle, especially as hackers obtain new and creative ways to attack wireless networks. These attacks come in various forms, such as spam, malware, or viruses, each of which can have devastating effects on customer data and private company information. Maintained network services provide an extra layer of security from problematic cyber attacks.    In addition to cybersecurity, on-premises physical security should be a priority for any organization. Physical networking equipment is expensive and unauthorized access could spell trouble. Summit Hosting provides security both in physical form, and in cyber form with VPNs, multi-factor authentication, and EV SSL certification.      Disaster can strike anytime, but when you prepare for everything, it doesn’t have to mean a disruption in business. Summit Hosting’s nightly backups, remote disaster recovery, and 15-day standard backup retention period mean you can recover from an incident like an outage or natural disaster.

Improved Efficiency

Few things are more annoying than when the wi-fi cuts out. To improve the performance of your teams, you must create a solid network infrastructure that minimizes that disruptive downtime. By eliminating downtime, you can ensure that productivity remains high as employees have access to critical software and data to perform business functions regardless of location.    Summit Hosting works hard to eliminate downtime through extensive backup and redundant systems. Everything from servers and power to OS patching and upgrades, Summit Hosting manages everything to ensure your teams have access to everything they need to remain productive. Our 99% uptime sets the industry standard and means you never miss opportunities! 

Detailed Reporting 

Data is power, and the most effective managers know how to use data to their advantage. Managed service providers utilize detailed reporting to stay on top of performance. Utilizing detailed reporting, you can also formulate backup routines and recovery plans in the event of an outage or natural disaster.    Summit Hosting knows you rely on detailed reporting to make knowledgeable decisions about your business. We make it easy to see how your network and data are performing with plenty of resources to answer questions and concerns. Plus, our human support team is available 24/7/365 to support you when it’s most important. 

Establish Your Network Infrastructure with Summit Hosting

Your network infrastructure consists of hardware, software, and network services to provide stable and consistent connectivity. By deploying effective network infrastructures, your organization can notice benefits such as improved productivity, better security, and scalability. Investing in your network infrastructure with a managing partner can be a cost-effective method of a stable connection.    Let Summit Hosting be your infrastructure partner. Our reliable and secure data centers provide a platform for IT infrastructure that’s cost-efficient, stable, and secure. Our track record includes a 99% uptime rating, SSAE 18 server certifications, and cutting-edge server software. Between the dedicated servers, robust redundancy systems, and multi-layered security approach, you won’t have to worry about the security of your company’s data.    Give us a call today to see how affordable our hosting and infrastructure services can be for your organization!