List three major responsibilities of Network Managers and state why each is essential to the overall health of an organization’s IT infrastructure.

Three major responsibilities of Network Managers are:

First responsibility is Network Planning and Design:

• Network Managers are responsible for planning and designing the organization’s IT infrastructure. They should ensure that the network architecture is scalable, secure, and able to meet the organization’s current and future needs. According to Roush, proper network planning and design are essential to ensure the efficient and effective use of the organization’s IT resources, which can reduce downtime and increase productivity.

The second responsibility is Network Security:

• Network Managers must ensure that the organizations IT infrastructure is secure and protected from unauthorized access, viruses, and other cyber threats. Further, they should implement security measures such as firewalls, encryption and access controls to protect the network and data. I believe A secure network is essential to protect sensitive information and prevent data breaches, that can be costly and damaging to an organization’s reputation.

The number this is Network Monitoring and Maintenance:

• Network Managers are responsible for monitoring the network for issues and proactively identifying and resolving problems. They must perform regular maintenance activities such as software updates, backups, and hardware repairs to ensure the network is running at optimal performance (PCS, n.d.). Proper network monitoring and maintenance are essential to minimize downtime and ensure the network is available when needed.

Overall, the Network Manager’s role is essential in ensuring the organization’s IT infrastructure is secure, reliable, and able to support the organization’s goals and objectives. Proper planning, security, monitoring, and maintenance of the network are critical to the overall health and success of an organization’s IT infrastructure.

Select two network management tools.  Explain what each does and state why they are important to the overall health of an organization’s IT infrastructure.

Two network management tools that are commonly used are:

1. Network Monitoring Software: Network monitoring software is used to monitor the performance and availability of a network. It provides real-time information about network health, including metrics such as network latency bandwidth usage, and packet loss. Also, it is important to the overall health of an organization’s IT infrastructure because it allows network managers to identify and resolve issues before they become major problems. We see that with real-time monitoring, network managers can detect performance issues and respond quickly to minimize the impact on end-users.

2. Network Configuration Management Software: Network configuration management software is used to automate the process of configuring network devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls. In the process, it provides a centralized repository for network configuration data and allows network managers to manage changes to network devices in a controlled and consistent manner (Top 10 Network Management and Monitoring Tools in 2022 – Spiceworks, 2022). So, I believe Network configuration management software are important to the overall health of an organization’s IT infrastructure because it helps ensure that network devices are configured correctly and consistently. Further, this reduces the risk of configuration errors that can lead to network downtime or security breaches.

Overall, both network monitoring software and network configuration management software are important tools for network managers to maintain the health and security of an organization’s IT infrastructure. Network monitoring software provides real-time insights into network performance, while network configuration management software helps ensure that network devices are configured correctly and consistently. Together, these tools allows network managers to proactively manage the network, identify and resolve issues quickly, and maintain a stable and secure network environment.

References

Roush, J. (n.d.). The IT Infrastructure Manager: Roles & Responsibilities. BMC Blogs. https://www.bmc.com/blogs/infrastructure-manager-roles-responsibilities/

PCS. (n.d.). Infrastructure, Network, and Server Management. https://www.helpmepcs.com/server-network-management

Top 10 Network Management and Monitoring Tools in 2022 – Spiceworks. (2022). Spiceworks. https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/networking/articles/best-network-monitoring-tools/