Today’s businesses rely on Internet and Web-based programs so heavily that when such resources go down or are for some reason unavailable, processes literally stop within the company. For this reason, having enough bandwidth on-hand to support the growing requirements of the enterprise is more important than ever. It is vital for network administrators to understand bandwidth needs and plan accordingly.
However, determining how much bandwidth is needed can be a real challenge. Administrators don’t want to find that they are paying for unused capacity, or worse, that employees are struggling with slow resources because the current bandwidth level is not enough to support daily requirements. There are a few steps and techniques organizations can leverage to ensure that they don’t have too much or too little, but just the right amount of network bandwidth.
Questions to consider
TechTarget pointed out that there are a number of questions to ask about individual and company-wide utilization of bandwidth. Once these queries have been answered, the organization can move forward with a better idea of current usage and where to go from there.
For example, when thinking about present and future use of network bandwidth, supervisors should ask department heads how many users are drawing from the network, as well as how many staff members they plan to add or eliminate in the coming months. The source also suggested examining the locations of these staff members and whether or not they will need remote access to the network.
Decision makers should think about the applications and devices being used to consume bandwidth as well. TechTarget suggested seeking details about applications’ primary functionalities and how often these programs are accessed. Administrators should also look into the types of devices being used, if they support remote access and any other connected gadgets or accessories.
Calculating bandwidth needs
Taking into account the number of users on the network as well as the applications and devices they leverage can help the organization determine their current bandwidth usage level. Furthermore, considering future possibilities will help groups plan for growth down the road and prevent them from having to increase their bandwidth multiple times, AppNeta stated.
However, one of the best ways to determine if the company needs to increase bandwidth is to simply ask the users. Administrators should take the time to talk with employees about their end user experiences with the network bandwidth. Are programs loading slowly or not performing as they should? Are VoIP calls or videoconferences patchy or of low quality? These signs can point to a need for increased bandwidth.
When this type of situation occurs, enterprises can contact Ecessa to ensure that they make the most of their bandwidth resources.