Network management systems (NMS) are critical tools that allow IT teams to configure, monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot their organization’s network infrastructure As networks grow larger and more complex, having robust NMS capabilities becomes increasingly vital.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unpack everything you need to know about network management systems including
- What is a network management system and what does it do?
- Key benefits and capabilities of NMS platforms
- Different deployment models: on-prem vs cloud
- Evolution of NMS – trends and new developments
- How NMS enables hybrid work and distributed IT
Whether you’re new to network management or a seasoned IT pro. read on to gain a complete understanding of this foundational network operations technology!
What Exactly is a Network Management System?
A network management system refers to the software tools and applications used by IT teams to configure, monitor, analyze, and troubleshoot the various devices across their network infrastructure.
NMS platforms collect data from all the connected network components like routers, switches, firewalls, servers, access points and more. They give network administrators centralized control and visibility over the entire network.
The key capabilities provided by network management systems include:
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Device monitoring – Collecting performance data like uptime, traffic flow, bandwidth utilization etc. This enables IT teams to monitor the health of all network components.
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Device configuration – Remotely configuring devices across the network through central policies and templates. This automates device provisioning.
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Troubleshooting – Identifying, diagnosing and resolving network faults through alerts, logging and visualization. This accelerates issue remediation.
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Performance analysis – Tracking metrics and trends to optimize network health, utilization and efficiency.
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Security management – Managing security devices, monitoring threats and vulnerabilities. Critical for network protection.
Without effective NMS platforms, IT teams would struggle to manage the sheer complexity of modern network environments spanning multiple locations and devices.
Key Benefits of Network Management Systems
There are several key benefits that NMS solutions provide for IT teams:
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Improved efficiency – Automating repetitive tasks like config backups, firmware updates, monitoring thresholds etc. frees up staff to focus on high-value projects.
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Operational agility – Rapid provisioning, streamlined change control and comprehensive monitoring enables IT to respond faster to business needs.
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Enhanced visibility – Holistic, real-time visibility across the distributed network environment enables quicker fault isolation and performance optimization.
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Reduced costs – Automating manual processes reduces operational costs. NMS also allows cost optimization through utilization analysis.
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Stronger security – Robust network monitoring, threat detection and automated compliance policy enforcement strengthens overall security posture.
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Better planning – Data-driven capacity planning and predictive analytics enables more strategic network investments aligned to future needs.
By leveraging NMS platforms, IT teams gain efficiency, agility, insight and control over even the most dispersed and complex network environments.
On-Premises vs Cloud-Based Deployment Models
Network management systems can be deployed using two main architectural models:
On-Premises NMS
In this model, the NMS software is installed on dedicated servers on-premises and accessed through a local client. Key features of on-prem NMS deployment:
- Provides greater customization and control for large campuses
- Can handle large data volumes from network telemetry
- All data remains within the organization for security
- Requires purchase of perpetual licenses and internal deployment
Cloud-Based NMS
Here the NMS software is hosted on the vendor’s cloud platform and accessed through web and mobile apps. Benefits of cloud-based NMS include:
- Faster deployment with no hardware requirements
- Flexible consumption via subscription model
- Accessible from anywhere with web interface
- Simpler to scale up coverage as the network grows
- Advanced analytics powered by cloud data lakes
Cloud networks management is gaining popularity among modern enterprises due to its agility and operational simplicity. But on-prem still suits organizations with intensive data requirements or regulatory restrictions.
Evolution of Network Management Systems
Network management platforms have evolved significantly from early proprietary tools to today’s advanced cloud-based platforms:
First Generation – Simple SNMP-based tools focused on monitoring with limited centralized control.
Second Generation – Broader network functionality monitoring and configuration through open standards like NetFlow.
Third Generation – Unified monitoring across wired, wireless, WAN and security devices via central dashboards.
Fourth Generation – Cloud-based platforms with advanced analytics, automation and self-healing capabilities leveraging AI.
Key drivers of this NMS evolution include exponential growth in network complexity, demands for IT agility, sophisticated cyberthreats, and proliferation of disparate network domains like cloud, SASE and IoT.
Advanced automation, analytics and assurance capabilities empower modern NMS platforms to provide intelligent, proactive management required in today’s dynamic network environments.
NMS Enables the Hybrid Workplace
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid shift to hybrid work environments with a mix of office and remote workers. NMS platforms have become even more crucial in this new reality.
Key ways network management systems enable the hybrid workplace:
- Unified visibility across office and home networks to identify performance issues.
- Automated provisioning of remote office subnets and VPN profiles.
- Proactive monitoring of SaaS application performance for remote users.
- Real-time analytics to optimize network capacity and traffic flows.
- Automated security policy enforcement across distributed branch sites.
- Rapid troubleshooting for remote users through historical logging.
Without advanced NMS capabilities, IT teams would drown managing endless tickets and firefights across fragmented hybrid network domains.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key takeaways on network management systems:
- NMS platforms provide centralized visibility, monitoring and control across entire network environments.
- Key benefits include improved efficiency, agility, security and cost savings for IT teams.
- Both on-premises and cloud-based deployment options are widely used.
- NMS capabilities have rapidly advanced to meet growing complexity and hybrid work trends.
- Intelligent analytics, automation and assurance in modern NMS enable proactive network management.
By implementing robust network management systems, enterprises can empower IT teams to work smarter, resolve issues faster and continually optimize network operations.
Frequency of entities:
network management system: 23
NMS: 21
network: 24
IT teams: 5
devices: 4
monitor: 6
configure: 3
troubleshoot: 3
software: 3
applications: 3
performance: 4
data: 4
visibility: 5
management: 9
deployment: 3
on-premises: 3
cloud-based: 3
analytics: 3
automation: 3
assurance: 2
capabilities: 4
environments: 3
complexity: 2
trends: 2
remote: 3
unified: 2
distributed: 2
fragments: 1
tickets: 1
firefights: 1
domains: 2
proactive: 2
reality: 1
subnets: 1
profiles: 1
capacity: 1
traffic: 1
historical: 1
logging: 1
drown: 1
key takeaways: 1
How does Network Management work?
Network management encompasses the following aspects.
Network administration
Network administration covers the addition and inventorying of network resources such as servers, routers, switches, hubs, cables and computers. It also involves setting up the network software, operating systems and management tools used to run the entire network. Administration covers software updates and performance monitoring too.
Network operations
Network operations ensures the network works as expected. That includes monitoring network activity, identifying problems and remediating issues. Identifying and addressing problems should preferably occur proactively and not reactively even though both are components of network operation.
Network maintenance
Network maintenance addresses fixes, upgrades and repairs to network resources including switches, routers, transmission cables, servers and workstations. It consists of remedial and proactive activities handled by network administrators such as replacing switches and routers, updating access controls and improving device configurations. When a new patch is available, it is applied as soon as possible.
Network provisioning
Network provisioning is the configuration of network resources in order to support a wide range of services such as voice functions or additional users. It involves allocating and configuring resources in line with organization’s required services or needs. The network administrator deploys resources to meet the evolving needs of the organization.
For instance, a project may have many project team members logging in remotely thus increasing the need for broadband. If a team requires file transfer or additional storage, the onus falls on the network administrator to avail these.
Network security
Network security is the detection and prevention of network security breaches. That involves maintaining activity logs on routers and switches. If a violation is detected, the logs and other network management resources should provide a means of identifying the offender. There should be a process of alerting and escalating suspicious activity.
The network security role covers the installation and maintenance of network protection software, tracking endpoint devices, monitoring network behavior and identifying unusual IP addresses.
Network automation
Automating the network is an important capability built to reduce cost and improve responsiveness to known issues. As an example, rather than using manual effort to update hundreds or thousands of network device configurations, network automation software can deploy changes and report on configuration status automatically.
What are the challenges of Network Management?
Complexity
Network infrastructure is complex, even in small and medium-sized businesses. The number and diversity of network devices have made oversight more difficult. Thousands of devices, operating systems and applications have to work together. The struggle to maintain control over this sprawling ecosystem has been compounded by the adoption of cloud computing and new networking technologies such as software-defined networking (SDN).
Security threats
The number, variety and sophistication of network security threats has grown rapidly. As a network grows, new vulnerabilities and potential points of failure are introduced.
User expectations
Users have grown accustomed to fast speeds. Advances in hardware and network bandwidth, even at home, means that users expect consistently high network performance and availability. There’s low tolerance for downtime.
Cost
The management of network infrastructure comes at a cost. While automated tools have made the process easier than ever, there’s both the cost of technology and cost of labor to contend with. This cost can be compounded when multiple instances of network management software need to be deployed due to lack of scalability to support modern enterprise networks with 10s of thousands of devices.
What is network management?
What is a network management system?
A network management system, or NMS, is an application or set of applications that lets network engineers manage a network’s independent components inside a bigger network management framework and performs several key functions.
What is network management?
Network management refers to two related concepts. First is the process of configuring, monitoring, and managing the performance of a network. Second is the platform that IT and NetOps teams use to complete these ongoing tasks.
What is a network management system (NMS)?
An NMS identifies, configures, monitors, updates and troubleshoots network devices — both wired and wireless — in an enterprise network. A system management control application then displays the performance data collected from each network component, and enables network engineers to make changes as needed.
What is network administration?
Network administration covers the addition and inventorying of network resources such as servers, routers, switches, hubs, cables and computers. It also involves setting up the network software, operating systems and management tools used to run the entire network. Administration covers software updates and performance monitoring too.
