Today’s business network services are completely different than those of the past, when computers were used in closed networks and there was a much smaller amount of data being collected. Business IT has expanded tremendously in today's world, as has the amount of data generated by companies as they use available applications and IT tools.
This continuous expansion that many companies experience points out one very important thing that a business must have in terms of IT network solutions to avoid future problems: being scalable. Scalability is a critical need that should be addressed by network services from the beginning to allow for the continued adaptation of current network solutions.
What Is A Scalable Network?
A scalable network is one that can grow with the company and still be able to serve company needs. Creating an expandable network is a relatively simple concept; however, actually doing so requires proper planning. To plan network services to be scalable, a company must evaluate how they currently use their business IT and estimate how they are likely to use it in the future.
Scalability includes more than just network capacity. It also includes IT network solutions such as hardware and applications, data security, and the increased demand that both hardware and software are likely to see with company growth. Therefore, the most scalable network must accommodate growth in all of these areas in the most efficient and least expensive way.
Why Scalability Is So Important
Although many business owners think that their network can increase as their business grows, this is not necessarily the case. Without planning for scalability, costs go up while efficiency and productivity go down, resulting in reduced profitability. The days of containing all data to single servers and in-house network services are quickly disappearing with growing amounts of data being collected every day.
Therefore, it is essential to plan for scalability to avoid unnecessary costs and keep business IT flowing smoothly. To avoid the unnecessary costs associated with having to continually replace hardware and switch applications as well as the interruptions needed to migrate to new networks, scalability should be considered from the beginning.
Planning Scalable Networks
The basics of all scalable IT network solutions involve building a network that can be expanded in all important ways without having to go back to the beginning and start over again. This means devising a plan for increasing server capacity and load handling; however, there are many other network services that must be considered as well. Scalability in terms of using hardware that can be easily integrated with other hardware is essential, as is using applications that will integrate.
Where network scalability is concerned, some equipment and applications may cost more initially; however, if they are scalable and can be easily integrated into an ever-expanding network, such compatibility will help a company save money. Today’s networks should also offer administrative scalability and the ability to function from multiple locations as well as in the cloud.
Network scalability is an easy concept to understand, although it can be a complex one to implement. Any business that requires efficient and scalable IT network solutions should seek the assistance of experienced network services for help. Professional network services that understand company needs can help design IT network solutions that are scalable in all necessary ways and give them the crucial ability to painlessly and efficiently expand. Scalable networks are those that will serve a business for many years to come, even as the company expands and their network demands expand with them!
