Network consultants are playing an increasingly central role in the IT department. But are you aware of the range of tasks they can take on?

There is a shortage of skilled network engineers, system administrators and other technical specialists in Norway. At the same time, the security landscape is changing rapidly, and new ways of working, including the widespread shift to hybrid working, bring new demands on network infrastructure. This is one of the reasons why demand for network consultants has grown rapidly in recent years.

Put simply, network consultants make sure the network is reliable, secure and up to date, and in doing so help strengthen an organisation’s productivity. But what does this mean in practice? Here are five areas where network consultants can help the IT department:

• Network design and strategic advice
• Network implementation
• Network optimisation and maintenance
• Training and courses
• Health checks and improvement opportunities for networks and infrastructure

Network design and strategic advice

Network consultants can help the IT department design networks that meet specific needs and requirements. This can include planning network infrastructure, selecting network components and configuring network services. At nLogic, we take a proactive approach to network design and are happy to help our customers develop a long term strategy. We believe in the importance of developing an architecture that makes it easier to integrate new technology, and that is flexible enough to support growth and changes in the organisation’s needs.

Network implementation

A network consultant helps you implement tailored, future oriented network solutions. This includes configuring network components such as routers, switches, firewalls and wireless access points, and then testing the network to make sure everything works as it should. In this phase, network consultants can also provide guidance and help implement automation, such as automatic configuration and automated backups.

Optimisation and maintenance

A network consultant evaluates the performance of your network and identifies areas for improvement, such as increased bandwidth, more efficient data transfer and better security. The consultant can, for example, make sure the network is scalable, set up firewall rules that protect against cyber attacks, and implement automated monitoring of network issues and/or automated routine maintenance. Taken together, this leads to better performance, greater stability, less downtime – and therefore significant cost savings for the organisation.

Education and training

Network consultants can provide education and training for the IT department, so that the organisation has the knowledge it needs to manage and maintain the network as efficiently as possible. This can be training in network architecture or certification training that better prepares employees for certification exams. At nLogic, we offer a range of courses and seminars (link) aimed at people who work with networks, and we have a training lab where you can get hands on training linked to the courses.

Health checks and improvement opportunities for networks and infrastructure

Our consultants can deliver health checks of networks and infrastructure as a service, to make sure the customer’s network is managed and maintained correctly, and that any faults and improvements are identified so they can be fixed straight away or prioritised later.

It is the depth of expertise that sets nLogic’s network consultants apart. We are certified as a HPE Elite Plus Partner, a mark of quality awarded to companies with the highest level of knowledge of HPE’s solutions and products. Our network consultants also cover technologies such as Nokia, Palo Alto Networks and Cisco, to name a few, and through 15 years of working with both small and large organisations, we have developed best practice for secure, automated and scalable network solutions.

Would you like to read more about how our network consultants can support your organisation? See our consulting services here.