What Is Network Design? Best Practices for Business

What is Network Design?

Network design is the process of carefully planning and arranging the hardware, software, and connections that make up your network infrastructure. It is crucial to ensure the success of your day-to-day operations. Poor network design can lead to slowdowns, security breaches, and operational disruptions.

Conversely, a well-crafted network can streamline workflows, enhance security, and future-proof your business by seamlessly integrating emerging technologies.

Steps to Create an Efficient Network Design

Inventory of Network Assets

Start by creating a comprehensive inventory of your network assets, including:

Endpoints: Computers, laptops, tablets, servers, etc.
Users: Employees, contractors, guests
Devices: Routers, switches, servers Local Area Networks (LANs)
Security Tools: Firewalls, intrusion detection systems

Visualizing and Diagramming the Network

Use network design software to create detailed diagrams that outline your network’s structure. This visual representation helps in planning and troubleshooting effectively.

Redesigning an Existing Network

When redesigning an existing network, it’s essential to keep the current infrastructure operational to avoid downtime and revenue loss. By identifying existing network patterns, you can create new hierarchies and topologies that enhance flexibility, security, and reliability without disrupting current operations.

How to Design a Network: Key Considerations

Identify Business Needs and Requirements

Understand the specific needs of your business to ensure the network design aligns with your goals. Not every business has the same size, technologies, or requirements. Understanding your specific organizational needs will allow you to come up with a solution that meets your operational needs while reducing overall costs and enhancing security.

Analyze Your Existing IT Infrastructure

Assess the state of your existing hardware and software to identify areas for improvement. Outdated hardware and software can significantly hinder your IT networks’ productivity and security. Carefully examining your network components allows you to uncover key areas of improvement while allowing you to reutilize previously used hardware, software, and tools to reduce your costs.

Create a Network Diagram

Develop a detailed diagram that visually represents your network’s layout and components. Having a comprehensive network diagram allows for a complete overview of all connections and devices within your network.Creating a comprehensive network diagram allows your IT team to efficiently manage, understand, and troubleshoot your network if needed.

Design an IP Addressing Scheme

An IP addressing scheme is a plan that aligns how IP addresses will align within your network. Planning and implementing an IP addressing scheme correctly will ensure your devices can communicate effectively with each other while simultaneously supporting your network’s scalability and efficiency.

Maintain Proactive Network Support and Maintenance

Ensure your network is supported by a proactive maintenance strategy, including regular scheduled updates and troubleshooting.

Test your Network

Conduct thorough testing and simulations to identify weaknesses and ensure the network is reliable and secure.

Implement Proactive Monitoring

Utilize network monitoring tools to detect and address issues before they escalate. BTI services such as Remote Monitoring & Management as a Service (RMMaaS) and GlobalView Support are designed to ease the burden of network monitoring and management while you focus on business. If you would like to know more about RMM as a Service, click here!

Best Practices in Network Design

Keep It Simple

Simplicity in network design makes it easier to manage. Reducing the amount of hardware, software, and protocols required will enhance security and reliability.

Scalability

Design your network to accommodate future growth and emerging technologies. Technology is advancing at unprecedented rates, failing to create a future-proof network will result in operational complexities sooner rather than later.

Redundancy

Incorporate backup systems and data mirroring across multiple locations to mitigate the impact of failures, disasters, or cyber attacks. For example, maintaining data centers in different regions ensures continuous access to services, safeguarding sensitive data and minimizing downtime.

Integrated Security

A robust network design starts with security. Implement a layered defense strategy including:

Access Controls: Use strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and role-based permissions to restrict network access.
Firewalls: Act as a barrier between trusted and untrusted networks, filtering traffic based on defined rules.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): Monitor traffic for suspicious activity and block potential threats.
Secure Data Handling: Use encryption, data loss prevention, and regular backups to protect sensitive information.

Modular Design for Simplified Management

Design your network in modular sections—core, distribution, and access layers—to reduce complexity and simplify troubleshooting. This approach makes it easier to isolate issues and implement upgrades with minimal disruption.

Performance Optimization

Ensure optimal network performance by configuring equipment and using high-quality hardware. Optimize router and switch settings to prevent bottlenecks, minimize latency, and ensure smooth data flow.

Consistent Policies

Did you know that 95% of data breaches are caused by human error? Standardizing network and security policies across your organization enhances efficiency and compliance. For instance, enforcing consistent password requirements strengthens security and reduces administrative overhead.

Comprehensive Documentation

Maintain up-to-date network diagrams, inventories, and operational procedures. This documentation streamlines troubleshooting and maintenance, providing a real-time snapshot of your network’s status.

Continuous Monitoring

Implement continuous monitoring to identify and address potential issues before they escalate. Services like BTI’s RMM as a Service and GlobalView Support can streamline your monitoring process while enabling you to concentrate on business profitable tasks while we proactively monitor your network 24/7/365

Security Measures in Network Design

Even if you have the best network design on the planet, everything goes down the drain without effective security measures. To ensure that your network is always protected you should implement:

Firewalls and Access Controls

Set up robust firewalls and access controls to protect your network from unauthorized access and threats.

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems

Deploy IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems) to monitor and respond to suspicious activities, safeguarding your network from intrusions.

Secure Protocols and Data Encryption

Utilize secure protocols (HTTPS, SSL/TLS, SSH, IPsec) and encrypt sensitive data to ensure confidentiality and integrity during transmission and storage.

Employee Education and Regular Audits

Train users on network security best practices and conduct regular audits to ensure compliance with security policies.

Network Monitoring and Analysis

Effective network monitoring is crucial for early detection of issues. Use advanced monitoring tools to keep track of network performance and security, ensuring a proactive approach to network management.

Advanced Network Design Technologies

Network design is constantly evolving. Some of the future trends of network design include:

Network Virtualization and SDN

Network Virtualization: Create virtual networks on top of physical infrastructure, improving resource usage and security. Key components include VLANs, VRFs, VPNs, and NFV.Software-Defined Networking (SDN): Separate the control plane from the data plane to simplify network management. SDNs centralized control improves efficiency, flexibility, and supports virtualization and cloud computing.

Quality of Service (QoS) and Traffic Prioritization

Implement QoS to prioritize critical traffic and guarantee service levels for applications. Use technologies like traffic shaping, policing, and packet marking to manage bandwidth effectively and prevent congestion.

Conclusion: Keys to a Successful Network Design

A well-designed network is essential for business success. By following best practices, maintaining proactive monitoring, and integrating advanced technologies, you can build a network that is secure, scalable, and efficient. Invest time in planning and continuous improvement to ensure your network meets current and future business needs.

Here at BTI, we have 35+ years of experience helping our clients create the perfect network design plan for your specific business needs. Are you ready to take your network to the next level?

Contact BTI today to schedule your FREE business assessment and experience world class network design.