One of the most common questions IT providers get is about one of the first steps of onboarding a new client, the network assessment. After the initial consultation, the network assessment is critical if your business is considering partnering with a managed service partner(MSP). This is because a network assessment helps both you and the MSP understand your network better.
A network assessment allows your managed service provider to access your network and IT infrastructure. But what exactly is a network assessment, and why is it required to work with many managed service providers? To help you better understand, we will go through exactly what that network assessment entails and why it is necessary.
What is a Network Assessment?
MSP network assessment tools give you and your MSP a comprehensive analysis of your network infrastructure, security, and IT processes.
Some of the elements that a network assessment involves are looking into the network devices running on your network, assessing the network’s performance, looking into upgrades, reviewing network architecture, and assessing security.
Make sure to select a qualified managed service provider to do your network assesment. You'll need them to thoroughly analyze your infrastructure to create accurate, tailored solutions using their industry knowledge.
Get Thorough Network Assessments Reports
MSPs that don’t take the appropriate time and resources to look into your network can easily overlook important details. leading to a solution that will not resolve the problem in the long run.
When you notice an issue with your health, it’s crucial to find a doctor who uses the highest quality tools to get to the bottom of where your problem is stemming from.
After this, they should thoroughly evaluate their findings to determine the most effective solution to keep you safe from the issue recurring in the future.
You would not want a doctor to quickly give you a diagnosis without first analyzing all the possibilities. Your MSP is the doctor of your IT, which is why it is so essential that the network assessment is executed with patience, intricacy, and expertise.
Having the highest quality IT team and tools to do the assessment will ensure that nothing gets overlooked. Your managed service provider can take all the information gained from the network assessment and begin creating a personalized solution for your business environment.
What Are Some Details Network Assessments Find?
Conducting a network assessment gives you a 360-degree view of your network infrastructure. It allows your IT provider to isolate network security vulnerabilities that could compromise company success. Some details evaluated include:
- Performance inefficiencies
- Network speed issues
- Network crashes
- Security issues and blind spots
- Flaws in your network that could lead to a breach
- Sensitive information that isn’t secure enough
- Too many users with admin access
- Network infrastructure design issues
- Network monitoring
- Embedded security
- Server and Storage status
- Get rid of unnecessary data taking up storage
Advanced network assessment software and tools will also help your MSP in:
- Identifying company process for password expiration. Passwords that remain unchanged are at a higher risk of being compromised.
- Finding lingering user accounts that have not been deactivated or appropriately removed could be a potential security risk.
- Discovering operating systems active in your environment that may be beyond support and a potential security risk.
- Determining critical asset age and warranty status, along with proper software patches in place.
The assessment brings about a C-level conversation to lay out an infrastructure budget and plans for the next 3-5 years. Getting paid assessments is an essential method to ensure your company data does not get into the wrong hands.
Why do I need to get a network assessment?
These evaluations are crucial, as they can give you detailed reporting to identify opportunities for improvement.
Organizations often have no idea what is taking place on all their networks. This lack of awareness is risky since you are blind to any inefficiencies or growing security threats. This is especially important for highly regulated industries bound to federal and state laws requiring comprehensive plans for personal, identifiable information.
You can also gain the required information to optimize efficiency in your business operations. Once these issues are resolved, you can begin working on IT enhancements. Enhancing your environment might look like onboarding new equipment or tools to prepare your business for the future.
Having a proactive approach helps you get ahead of any vulnerabilities before they wreak havoc on your network.
Once you thoroughly assess your network, most of the information will be hard to interpret unless you are an expert. For this reason, it's wise to have an MSP in your corner to translate the findings and make sure you're using the best tools and processes for your network infrastructure.
How Does an MSP Perform a Network Assessment?
Your managed IT provider should begin with a confidentiality agreement signed by both parties to ensure that none of your sensitive data is at risk of being stolen or released. Then, an IT technician will be sent to your company to install an intel device that will be plugged into your core network switch.
By using a network mapping tool, an MSP can identify and map out your entire environment. They will also use a tool to scan devices, obtain serial numbers, and look into the warranty on your devices.
This information will allow them to see what devices might be outdated and need to be replaced. Having equipment out of warranty can play a large part in network inefficiencies, so it is a critical step in enhancing your IT infrastructure.
This process will also assess your physical equipment. A technician will arrive onsite to view and take photos of your servers. Taking pictures helps the managed service provider visually document the environment, what the server looks like, and how it's configured. From this, they can see what improvements could be made to clean up your IT environment.
Every element of the process will ensure that you can receive a detailed assessment of what your network looks like, allow the provider to inform you of what must be changed, and begin implementing new software and equipment.
Are you interested in receiving a network assessment?
Network assessments such as Usherwood's Odyssey Discovery process are critical for both you and your chosen MSP. It allows your provider to understand your IT infrastructure at a personalized level to properly support your business and maintain security and efficiency.
This evaluation will also become the roadmap for how your IT environment will need to be supported. With this, you can begin designing your new network while also creating your goals for your network in the future.
No two network assessments look the same, so make sure to partner with a team equipped to evaluate and come up with customized solutions for you. Your MSP should be able to generate reports to diagnose your network health and set you up for long-term success.
To learn more about getting a network assessment, click the button below to speak to a managed IT expert.
