Modernize the Network
- Business units, functions, and processes are inextricably intertwined with less and less tolerance for downtime.
- Business demands change rapidly but the refresh horizon for infrastructure remains 5-7 years.
- The number of endpoint devices the network is expected to support is growing geometrically but historic capacity planning grew linearly.
- The business is unable to clearly define requirements, paralyzing planning.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Build for your needs. Don’t fall into the trap of assuming what works for your neighbor, your peer, or your competitor will work for you.
- Deliver on what your business knows it needs as well as what it doesn’t yet know it needs. Business leaders have business vision, but this vision won’t directly demand the required network capabilities to enable the business. This is where you come in.
- Modern technologies are hampered by vintage processes. New technologies demand new ways of accomplishing old tasks.
Impact and Result
- Use a systematic approach to document all stakeholder needs and rely on the network technical staff to translate those needs into design constraints, use cases, features, and management practices.
- Spend only on those emerging technologies that deliver features offering direct benefits to specific business goals and IT needs.
- Solidify the business case for your network modernization project by demonstrating and quantifying the hard dollar value it provides to the business.
Modernize the Network Research & Tools
Start here – read the Executive Brief
Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should modernize the enterprise network, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.Besides the small introduction, subscribers and consulting clients within this management domain have access to:
- Modernize the Network – Phases 1-3
1. Assess the network
Identify and prioritize stakeholder and IT/networking concerns.
- Modernize the Network – Phase 1: Assess the Network
- Network Modernization Workbook
2. Envision the network of the future
Learn about emerging technologies and identify essential features of a modernized network solution.
- Modernize the Network – Phase 2: Envision Your Future Network
- Network Modernization Technology Assessment Tool
3. Communicate and execute the plan
Compose a presentation for stakeholders and prepare the RFP for vendors.
- Modernize the Network – Phase 3: Communicate and Execute the Plan
- Network Modernization Roadmap
- Network Modernization Executive Presentation Template
- Network Modernization RFP Template
Workshop: Modernize the Network
Workshops offer an easy way to accelerate your project. If you are unable to do the project yourself, and a Guided Implementation isn't enough, we offer low-cost delivery of our project workshops. We take you through every phase of your project and ensure that you have a roadmap in place to complete your project successfully.
1 Assess the Network
The Purpose
Understand current stakeholder and IT needs pertaining to the network.
Key Benefits Achieved
Prioritized lists of stakeholder and IT needs.
Activities
1.1 Assess and prioritize stakeholder concerns.
1.2 Assess and prioritize design considerations.
1.3 Assess and prioritize use cases.
1.4 Assess and prioritize network infrastructure concerns.
1.5 Assess and prioritize care and control concerns.
Outputs
Current State Register
2 Analyze Emerging Technologies and Identify Features
The Purpose
Analyze emerging technologies to determine whether or not to include them in the network modernization.
Identify and shortlist networking features that will be part of the network modernization.
Key Benefits Achieved
An understanding of what emerging technologies are suitable for including in your network modernization.
A prioritized list of features, aligned with business needs, that your modernized network must or should have.
Activities
2.1 Analyze emerging technologies.
2.2 Identify features to support drivers, practices, and pain points.
Outputs
Emerging technology assessment
Prioritize lists of modernized network features
3 Plan for Future Capacity
The Purpose
Estimate future port, bandwidth, and latency requirements for all sites on the network.
Key Benefits Achieved
Planning for capacity ensures the network is capable of delivering until the next refresh cycle and beyond.
Activities
3.1 Estimate port, bandwidth, and latency requirements.
3.2 Group sites according to capacity requirements.
3.3 Create standardized capacity plans for each group.
Outputs
A summary of capacity requirements for each site in the network
4 Communicate and Execute the Plan
The Purpose
Create a presentation to pitch the project to executives.
Compose key elements of RFP.
Key Benefits Achieved
Communication to executives, summarizing the elements of the modernization project that business decision makers will want to know, in order to gain approval.
Communication to vendors detailing the network solution requirements so that proposed solutions are aligned to business and IT needs.
Activities
4.1 Build the executive presentation.
4.2 Compose the scope of work.
4.3 Compose technical requirements.
Outputs
Executive Presentation
Request for Proposal/Quotation