Business growth is something that comes hand-in-hand with greater technological demands. No matter which direction you choose to grow your enterprise, and whether you choose to do so by expanding your workforce or by opening branches in new locations, there’s a need to scale your operations to sustainably support these changes.
One key upgrade that any modern business will need to make in light of imminent growth is to its computer network. Scalable network infrastructure is what will ensure that your organisation can stay on the same page in real time, remain capable of quickly responding to internal and external changes even if they occur at a more rapid pace, and avoid the stresses that generally come with a network overhaul.
To be able to expand or contract as needed by your organisation, a network must be designed with scalability in mind, and not with scalability as a mere afterthought. In a nutshell, a scalable network is one that can efficiently respond to the changing needs of your business without compromising its performance or security.
In practice, this means that your network should be able to support additional users, increased data traffic, and new technologies without requiring a complete redesign. Additionally, if your network is scalable, it should be able to seamlessly accommodate new hardware and software that will enable your business to keep abreast—if not stay ahead—of the technological advancements required of you and your contemporaries in your business’s home industry.
It’s important to think long-term when designing a scalable network. While your primary concern at the moment is finding a network that sufficiently meets your organisation’s present needs, you also need to consider what your business might look like in five or ten years. Then, ask your network services provider if your current network choice can still support your projected trajectory for your organisation.
If you have the opportunity, invest in scalable infrastructure as early as now. On top of saving you time and money in the future, your investment will also help your business avoid unnecessary growing pains when they might be even more burdensome to deal with. The sooner your network can handle increased data loads, new applications, and additional security measures, the longer you can depend on it to be truly future-proof.
Here’s a quick look at how investing in a scalable network will benefit your business and allow it to adapt to growth with minimal disruption:
One of the most effective ways to ensure scalability for your business is to incorporate more cloud-based solutions in your systems and processes. Cloud computing, which is now becoming the norm for many modern industries (especially those that are highly technical and that deal with high volumes of transactions), will allow businesses like yours to scale your network resources up or down with minimal effort. The cloud approach is also best suited to handle changing levels of demand in terms of storage, bandwidth, or the use of virtual machines—which your business’s leaders are sure to be thinking about down the line.
The cloud provides flexible options that can be adjusted based on demand. Additionally, cloud services are as cost-effective as they are scalable, as you only pay for the resources you use. Knowing just how demanding things could get for your business, it’s worth investing in network infrastructure and designing a network that can accommodate cloud solutions to scale.
Adoption of a modular network infrastructure means designing your network in a way that allows for easy upgrades and expansions. This is another key prong of a network that’s considered scalable.
To demonstrate how it works, let’s take a look at a network that’s equipped with modular switches and routers. These components ensure that new connections and functionalities can be added to your network without requiring a big overhaul of the system. In this way, the use of modular design reduces downtime and makes it easier to adopt new technologies as they become available to your organisation.
Virtualisation refers to the creation and use of virtual representations of physical machines, and it’s yet another concept you can use in order to design your network for optimum scalability.
Upon virtualising your servers, storage, and networking components, you’ll position your business to handle its resource allocation more efficiently and minimise its physical hardware limitations. This will make it easier to manage workloads, improve efficiency and accessibility on a business-wide scale, and scale up your operations without needing to invest heavily in additional infrastructure.
As your business grows, so will security threats to your network. Remember that a scalable network should also have built-in security measures such as secure access controls and intrusion detection systems that will expand as your organisation does.
Firewalls, for instance, can be adjusted as the number of users in the network increases. Measures like these will help preserve the integrity and reliability of your systems and information as your business grows.
Well-designed scalable networks will work not only as technical advantages, but financial ones as well. Instead of making frequent costly upgrades or system overhauls, you’ll be able to expand your network in a controlled and cost-efficient manner. You also have the option to subscribe to pay-as-you-go models, which are often used by companies that offer cloud computing and virtualisation services. These will allow you to avoid unnecessary business expenses while ensuring access to resources needed for growth.
Your investment in a scalable network is essential if you’re aiming to grow your organisation unencumbered from the constraints of outdated infrastructure. Adjustments for cloud-based solutions, modular designs, virtualisation, and top-of-the-line security measures will also allow your network to support future expansion while maintaining its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. For scalable network solutions that will serve as strategic investments in your New Zealand company’s long-term success, contact us today.
