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Your Fix for Network Decentralization
Schools, stores, hospitals, churches, and similar organizations that operate across multiple locations often face challenges due to decentralization. Each location has its own unique networking needs, yet despite these differences, it’s crucial for these organizations to maintain a consistent and streamlined process. This consistency ensures the entire operation is logistically viable and cost-effective. Thankfully, cloud management has enabled the standardization of certain wireless IT operations, such as software deployment, across multiple sites. However, a significant gap remained: the ability to manage both wired and wireless hardware and software in a unified manner. The missing piece has been the integration of all these elements within a single workstation, viewed through a single pane of glass.
Unified cloud management also enables centralized access control, allowing organizations to implement role-based access control (RBAC) and security policies for secure and consistent governance across all locations.
“Many decentralized organizations with locations spread apart geographically are feeling the effects of soon-to-be-outdated networking equipment and tedious manual processes,” said Anthony Nabower of Prime Secured. “These organizations may be facing the challenge of limited IT resources to begin with and may have limited budgets.”
Investing in unified cloud management delivers business value by aligning IT operations with organizational goals and improving overall efficiency.
Having unified network operations or cloud management technology solves these problems and takes us into a new era of network management. We are going to introduce the benefits of this technology to you in this article, highlighting the role of Aruba Central in revolutionizing network management. But first, let’s examine the problems it answers.
Common Challenges Faced by Network Managers in Decentralized Organizations
As technology increasingly moves to the cloud, IT personnel face key challenges in managing both old systems and new cloud capabilities efficiently and cost-effectively. Multi-location organizations must send IT personnel to each location to address the unique technology needs of that site. Then they have to do it all over again for every site in the network. Even individual sites, such as schools, often have multiple access points in one location. This presents a number of interconnected issues and potentially creates a perfect storm for network failures:
Limited resources. Each location in a dispersed network requires individualized hardware, software, service and other considerations to operate effectively. It can be a challenge to fit all needs into limited schedules and budgets. Inefficient resource allocation can lead to operational bottlenecks and reduced performance.
Demanding travel. Technicians must physically travel to each location in a decentralized organization. This costs time and money and can result in burnout.
Rising costs. In addition to the costs of traveling to multiple locations, network personnel must somehow stretch budgets to accommodate troubleshooting and updating of aging systems, including replacement of hardware and integration with new platforms.
Time challenges. As technology changes, network requirements expand and systems age, it becomes more and more difficult to schedule all the work that’s needed.
Multiple logins. The need to log into multiple wiring closets, switches, access points and applications creates a demanding, time-consuming, complex environment for IT service. Relying on multiple tools for different tasks increases complexity and the risk of errors.
Potential for error. Multiple configurations, ports, APs and switches in different locations — not to mention personnel burnout — present many opportunities for human error, which amounts to more time and cost.
Thankfully, technology continues to change and overcome these challenges. Some organizations are making the switch a little at a time. Others see the benefit and eventual cost savings of making a wholesale change as an investment into their future. Effective resource management is essential for overcoming these challenges in decentralized organizations.
Networking’s Inevitable Move to the Cloud
New unified systems for cloud management are making it possible to manage systems faster, more effectively, and more cost-effectively than ever before. Nabower states this change in technology amounts to a revolution for organizations with multiple locations, and he encourages decision-makers to seriously consider moving completely to the cloud. “It’s going to happen eventually anyway. The key now is to make sure your investment today takes advantage of cloud compatibility.” Aligning technology investments with a long-term cloud strategy ensures that organizations are prepared for future growth and evolving infrastructure needs.
As soon as cloud management technology became available, Prime carefully vetted providers and made a commitment to work with a pioneer in world of networking management: HPE Aruba Networking, a company Gartner has placed as an industry leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant.
Aruba’s cloud management platform is called “Aruba Central.” According to the company’s website, the platform offers “easy to use deployment tools in a single pane of glass … a three-step onboarding wizard, zero touch provisioning, a mobile app, [and] intuitive dashboard and reporting capabilities [to] help manage distributed environments of all sizes.” Aruba Central features an intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate and manage complex cloud operations efficiently.
Aruba Central also supports lifecycle management by automating the provisioning, maintenance, and decommissioning of network resources, ensuring efficient operation and cost control.
How Unified Networking Platforms Solve Decentralized Networking Challenges
When it comes to day-to-day operation, a unified networking platform directly answers the problems listed above with both inherent qualities of the system and targeted features to provide substantial value for an organization.
Combined access to equipment and applications. A unified networking platform simplifies network management by providing access to all hardware and software in wireless, wired and SD-WAN environments. Everything can be controlled and managed from a single location. Unified platforms can also manage resources across hybrid cloud environments and multiple platforms, streamlining administration for complex infrastructures.
Improved visibility. With cloud management on a unified platform, you can see everything at the same time in a single pane of glass. This allows IT personnel much more flexibility and makes it easier to understand what’s going on across the network. Visibility extends across both private and public clouds, regardless of the public cloud provider, ensuring comprehensive oversight.
Deeper analytics. Data such as bandwidth and traffic in different locations can be combined and compared in many ways to help company leaders see trends over time.
Remote access. A cloud-based networking management platform can administer IT systems from anywhere if you have Internet access and a browser. Travel is no longer required to manage every little issue or installation!
Enhanced security. Cloud-based applications allow two-factor authentication, which provides a higher level of security for access than consoles that are limited to what you can do with a desktop or laptop. The platform allows flexibility in the way you secure your network. The system itself does not retain any files or personally identifiable material. Additionally, the platform helps mitigate security threats across diverse cloud environments.
Consistency. Management from a central cloud-based platform allows consistent application of processes and programs to all remote sites. For example, IT personnel can be assured that all updates are completed correctly, and all ports are in the right VLAN, which reduces troubleshooting and downtime for the network.
Automation. As programs and processes are moved to the cloud, it becomes possible to increase automation. “Automated software updates are a no-brainer,” said Nabower. “But the system also can handle more complex automations, such as pushing out API commands.” DevOps tools are integrated to streamline operations and simplify management, further enhancing efficiency.
Reduced staffing. Less travel, remote access, combined processes and other features of cloud management can lead to a potentially substantial reduction in personnel. “I’ve seen organizations go from two network administrators to one,” commented Nabower.
Cost savings. All of the above very obviously results in a reduction of day-to-day IT costs. Cost optimization strategies, such as leveraging AWS Reserved Instances, can further reduce expenses and improve financial efficiency.
Scalability. As needs change and the organization grows, it’s much easier to add or subtract from a cloud-based system than it is to physically add or remove hardware and software from multiple locations. “You can scale up or down as needed, and you only pay for what you use,” Nabower added. Cloud storage solutions and flexible service models support dynamic growth and adaptability.
Prime Secured specializes in deployment of the Aruba Central cloud management platform. Our integration engineers are highly trained and certified through Aruba. “We can help you not only deploy this exciting solution but create policies and tools for you to manage it masterfully,” said Nabower. Prime also offers monthly managed services packages and flexible financing options for customers who are ready to make the switch. Our solutions support comprehensive infrastructure management and empower engineering teams to innovate efficiently.
Cloud Management Tools and Automation: Powering Simplicity and Scale
As organizations expand their use of cloud infrastructure, the complexity of managing cloud environments grows exponentially. Cloud management tools and automation have become essential for businesses looking to simplify operations, scale efficiently, and maintain control over their cloud resources. With the rise of multi cloud environments and hybrid cloud infrastructure, companies are increasingly relying on cloud management solutions to unify their approach across multiple cloud platforms and providers.
Public cloud providers like Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and AWS offer a wide array of cloud management tools designed to help organizations manage resources, optimize cloud costs, and ensure security and compliance. These tools provide a centralized management interface, allowing IT teams to oversee cloud services, virtual machines, and data management across both public and private cloud environments. This unified approach is especially valuable in hybrid cloud setups, where seamless integration between on-premises data centers and cloud platforms is critical for business continuity and disaster recovery.
Automation is a key driver of operational efficiency in cloud computing. With automation tools available on platforms like Google Cloud Platform, businesses can automate routine tasks such as provisioning resources, managing operating systems, and deploying web apps. Automated provisioning and continuous integration streamline complex workflows, reduce the risk of human error, and free up platform teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than manual maintenance. Self service access empowers cloud users to manage resources independently, further accelerating innovation and responsiveness.
Managing multiple clouds and tools can present a steep learning curve, especially for organizations new to cloud computing. Cloud management platforms address this challenge by offering intuitive interfaces, reporting capabilities, and access controls that simplify the management of multi cloud infrastructure. Features like cost anomaly detection and compliance management help businesses monitor cloud costs, identify idle resources, and enforce business rules for security and regulatory requirements.
By leveraging cloud management tools and automation, organizations can achieve cost efficiency, optimal performance, and high availability across their cloud environments. These solutions enable businesses to scale up or down as needed, avoid vendor lock in, and take advantage of the latest innovations from multiple cloud providers. Whether managing a single cloud setup or a complex hybrid cloud environment, cloud management solutions provide the flexibility and control needed to support evolving business needs.
Cloud Management is Technology of the Future Available Today
In the end, the biggest draw of a unified cloud management networking platform is ease of use. With this simplifying technology available, there’s no reason to continue dealing with painful gaps in service, burdensome trips to multiple locations, inconsistency, errors and security breaches.
If your network suffers from limited resources, bandwidth issues, personnel crunches and rising costs just to keep your old distributed system going, it might be time to invest in your future. Ask us how your organization can start down a path to improved efficiency, fewer mistakes, greater flexibility and deeper insight using a unified cloud management platform.
For more information about Aruba Central or any of your networking or integration needs, call Prime Secured at 402-289-4126 or visit us at www.primesecured.com.
