A network assessment lets you fully understand your IT infrastructure, uncovering hidden vulnerabilities and threats. It also illuminates ways to optimize systems and cut costs.
Once you’ve reviewed your assessment report, prioritize the recommendations and develop an action plan. It may involve upgrading hardware or software, reconfiguring your network, and changing security settings.
Table of Contents
Purpose
What is the purpose of a network assessment? An effective network assessment will identify vulnerabilities and provide detailed information about the extent of their impact. It enables network administrators to prioritize vulnerability remediation efforts based on the amount of data at risk and the severity of the effects if left unaddressed. Network assessments can help identify vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit. Organizations can reduce their risk of data breaches and other security incidents by addressing these vulnerabilities. It can help identify performance bottlenecks slowing down network traffic. By addressing these bottlenecks, organizations can improve the performance of their applications and overall network responsiveness. Network assessments can help identify areas where organizations can save money on their network infrastructure. For example, network assessments can identify underutilized resources that can be decommissioned or opportunities to consolidate network equipment. Network assessments can help organizations comply with industry regulations and standards. For example, network assessments can identify compliance gaps related to network security or data privacy.
Inefficiencies
A network assessment provides information about how a business IT infrastructure is operating. This data can reveal areas where optimization would greatly improve performance and eliminate inefficiencies. Taking advantage of this data can help companies save money on network hardware and software upgrades, maintenance, and operational costs.
In addition, a network assessment can help identify issues that must be addressed for regulatory compliance. For example, suppose an evaluation reveals that the company is not encrypting sensitive data or has no policies for handling confidential information. In that case, it is important to implement these changes to avoid penalties and fines from regulatory authorities.
Another area where a network assessment can be helpful is identifying security vulnerabilities. For example, if a company has inefficient procedures for managing user accounts or passwords, cybercriminals could exploit these weaknesses and gain access to critical information. A network assessment can help a business develop a roadmap to address these vulnerabilities, reducing the risk of a cyber attack.
Network assessments also provide valuable data that can be used to predict capacity requirements and forecast future network growth. In addition, they can help a business plan for network upgrades and expansions. By reviewing current network capacity and usage, a business can anticipate needs and plan accordingly to ensure that it can support its operations and meet its customers’ expectations.
Dealing with Sensitive and Confidential Information
A comprehensive network assessment gives organizations a snapshot of their current IT infrastructure. It includes a picture of all the devices in the network, the software deployed, and the physical and logical topology of the network. IT professionals can identify and address potential security vulnerabilities before they become problematic.
The assessment can also uncover issues that impact data privacy. For example, an employee unknowingly shares a file over email or a USB drive with someone outside the company, which could expose the organization to a cyberattack. This attack is difficult to detect but can cause serious financial and reputational damage. A network assessment can help identify and prioritize recommendations to improve data security.
Once the results of a network assessment have been reviewed, IT professionals can create an action plan. It can include implementing new security protocols and policies, training employees on best practices, and regularly monitoring the network for potential threats.
Many businesses dismiss network assessments as a way for managed IT providers to make a sales pitch. Still, this process can save organizations thousands of dollars and prevent costly data breaches. If you haven’t conducted a network assessment recently, now is the time to do so. If you have already done an assessment, it’s important to perform follow-up assessments regularly.
Training Employees
Understanding your IT infrastructure is an important first step to understanding your organization’s technology landscape. It allows you to plan for network upgrades and expansions while ensuring that current IT systems meet your organization’s data protection needs and comply with regulatory standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, or GDPR.
As a business owner, you have plenty on your plate. Performing a network assessment can be a headache-free way to get a handle on your IT environment so that you have one less thing to worry about.
When you work with a qualified managed IT services provider, they will perform a network assessment for you and provide a report that lets you know what is working well in your IT infrastructure and where there is room for improvement. You can use the information from the account to address any potential risks to your IT system, allowing you to prevent data breaches and other security threats that can cost your company money and possibly even lead to legal complications.
