Outdated Computer Networks Create Competitive Obstacles to Business Success.

ITSPA Experts Say Updating Company Networks Imperative for Keeping Pace, Building Advantage

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Most small and medium-sized businesses have outgrown their existing networks, which can place them at a competitive disadvantage, according to experts from the Information Technology Solution Providers Alliance (ITSPA). Unfortunately, it's easy for small and medium-sized businesses to let their network infrastructure become out-of-date, since many companies invested years ago in the minimum requirements for data networks - sufficient for employees to store and retrieve files, send and receive e-mail, access the Web and share printers.

Today, as companies turn to these same networks for video, voice and other data-intensive applications, their older underlying network infrastructures are not sufficient. And as they consider engaging external consultants to provide remote network monitoring, backup and disaster recovery services, the need for more capable IT infrastructure is paramount.

While most networks consist of the following components, they are deployed in many different ways to meet specific organizational needs:

* A Local Area Network (LAN) connecting PCs, file servers and printers within a single office location using wired or wireless connectivity and varying levels of security.

* Network operating system (NOS) software (such as Windows NT or Windows 2000 Server) that controls the network, its messages and traffic.

* A Wide Area Network (WAN) or high-speed computer network connecting a LAN to the Internet and other networks outside the office. A WAN often covers a broad geographic area, even worldwide, and runs on telephone lines leased from Internet or telephony service providers. A WAN provides access to remote applications used across a company for critical business functions such as accounting and time reporting systems.

"Even with the emergence of many provider-hosted applications like Salesforce.com, a company's network is still a critical component. In many cases, these older networks are the largest performance inhibitors when running modern applications, both hosted and local," said Ron Temske, director of IP communications for Logicalis, an ITSPA member company. "Additionally, more companies - particularly those with more than 100 employees - are beginning to deploy advanced services on the network including voice, video and real-time transactions. These services require a modern network with advanced application and service support."

Temske recommends businesses of any size focus on four primary factors when evaluating their networks:

1. Bandwidth and speed: With the wealth of information sources available to today's knowledge workers, there's little tolerance for slow performance. In addition, speed and bandwidth are required to support time sensitive applications such as voice and video.

2. Application and service support: The network needs to support essential applications and services, including voice, video, file acceleration and data replication

3. Fault tolerance: As the applications and services mentioned above are pushed to the network, the need for a fault tolerant environment increases. Organizations expect their voice and data networks to run 24x7 without little or no interruption in service.

4. Support for industry standards: Purchase hardware and software certified to be interoperable with other products and avoid investing in proprietary, non-standard technology.

Updating Infrastructure, Boosting Productivity

There are a few tell-tale signs that a network infrastructure needs updating. In addition to age, the most common reasons for replacement are slow speed and lack of support for current services and applications. Older networking infrastructure simply doesn't offer the support for today's advanced applications and performance requirements. In addition, many times the increased support costs for aging equipment can justify the purchase of new, especially when greatly reduced maintenance fees are taken into consideration.

"For most medium-sized businesses, it's really just a financial and productivity decision," said Temske. "The primary decision points are price vs. the ROI anticipated from reduced maintenance fees, and the frequently greater return observed through enhanced user productivity, greater interaction and collaboration. Fortunately, we've seen many customers generate a complete ROI on their new network in twelve to eighteen months - many times in less than six months."

Temske sees lack of professional support as the main cause of not updating infrastructure. Many small and medium-sized businesses are concerned whether they'll have the capability in-house to support the new network - particularly when they deploy voice, wireless, collaboration and other mission-critical and network-intensive applications on that network. The best solution is to utilize an outside consultant - or solution provider - to provide the day-to-day administration and support for those systems.

ITSPA can help businesses find local service providers who understand all of the factors contributing to their networks' success. Contact ITSPA at [e-mail] to locate a qualified solution provider in a specific geographic area with this expertise.

About ITSPA (www.itspa.net)

Headquartered in Portland, Ore., the Information Technology Solution Providers Alliance (ITSPA) is a national, nonprofit organization serving as an objective resource for businesses hoping to take advantage of the benefits of new technology. ITSPA is dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses adopt technology and grow by using local solution providers to solve business challenges.