Top 5 Biggest Network Management Mistakes – and how to avoid them. Yama Habibzai

In the News….August 3, 2009 - Paypal goes down – payment services are lost for over 6 hours!Cause: – a "back-end router" complicated by a change that took placeAugust 9, 2009 - Cisco’s web site goes downCause: A “human error”September 1, 2009 - Gmail goes down worldwideCause: A change by an admin intended to improve traffic flowOver 50% of all large businesses are unprotected against network outagesNetwork World Survey Sept 2009Half of all data center are planning cuts. Nearly 12% expect more disruptions due to less people checking things. Source: The Association for Computer Operations Management (AFCOM) Survey

August 3, 2009 - Paypal goes down – payment services are lost for over 6 hours!

August 9, 2009 - Cisco’s web site goes down

September 1, 2009 - Gmail goes down worldwide

Over 50% of all large businesses are unprotected against network outages

Half of all data center are planning cuts. Nearly 12% expect more disruptions due to less people checking things.

What Is the Problem?

Mistake 1Not Managing Change

Internal Change is Biggest WorryFrom where do you anticipate the greatest threat to network availability?“With 64% of our respondents’ votes, internal change continues to be network administrators’ greatest worry. While the vast majority of these changes are inadvertent, and probably trying to help the network, in the end they can end up hurting or crippling network performance.”Netcordia survey of more than 450 network engineers

What is the #1 Cause of Network problems?People MakingChangesThey ThinkAre ImprovingNetwork Performance

Mistake 2Not Understanding the Impact of Change

Change Management ProcessRequest a changeReview changeMake change/close ticketReceive approvalSchedule ticketBut what is missing from this process?

Change Management ProcessRequest a changeSuccessful?Review changeApprovalWithin policy?Schedule ticketImpact neighbors? Change/ close ticketGood change?

Performance and Change Are SeparatePerformance TeamTrack up/down statusMonitor response timeMeasure usage and utilizationVerify service level agreementsChange TeamManage network devicesImplement changes and configurationsMaintain consistency and standardsManage ticket system

Track up/down status

Monitor response time

Measure usage and utilization

Verify service level agreements

Manage network devices

Implement changes and configurations

Maintain consistency and standards

Manage ticket system

Need a Single View Into Change & Performance

Mistake 3Manual Network Management / Lack of Automation

Manual Change ProcessesDealing with network changeManual processCustom programs, freeware, spreadsheetsBuild scriptsHuman error is biggest challenge with changeError touch to device adds new riskScripts grow over time, owners move onToday’s world – cannot waste time

Dealing with network change

Manual process

Custom programs, freeware, spreadsheets

Build scripts

Human error is biggest challenge with change

Error touch to device adds new risk

Scripts grow over time, owners move on

Today’s world – cannot waste time

Did you know?3.6% of annual revenue is lost due to network problems. Source: Infonetics ResearchChange management tools deployment save $16M+ annually. Source: EMANumber #1 cause of network problems? People: 60-80% of the time. Source: Gartner, IDC, EMA, ForresterPercentage of network problems associated with configuration issues? 60+%. source: EMA

3.6% of annual revenue is lost due to network problems. Source: Infonetics Research

Change management tools deployment save $16M+ annually. Source: EMA

Number #1 cause of network problems? People: 60-80% of the time. Source: Gartner, IDC, EMA, Forrester

Percentage of network problems associated with configuration issues? 60+%. source: EMA

Mistake 4Access Permissions

Too Much Device AccessMost organizations have one password for devicesEither have full admin rights or noneLimits control to make changes on devicesMany organizations rely on processes or fear to reduce risk Major exposure for compliance requirements

Most organizations have one password for devices

Either have full admin rights or none

Limits control to make changes on devices

Many organizations rely on processes or fear to reduce risk

Major exposure for compliance requirements

Mistake 5Manual Policy Management

Manual Policy ManagementPolicies are handled manuallyLittle understanding of impact of change on policiesCreating new policies is hard. Deploying policies and managing policies across various devices even harderStaff turnover makes policy management a nightmare

Policies are handled manually

Little understanding of impact of change on policies

Creating new policies is hard. Deploying policies and managing policies across various devices even harder

Staff turnover makes policy management a nightmare

Don’t Fall Into the Same Traps as OthersManage Change – Take control of #1 cause of network outagesUnderstand impact of changeUse automation to achieve goalsControl accessAutomate policy management

Manage Change – Take control of #1 cause of network outages

Understand impact of change

Use automation to achieve goals

Control access

Automate policy management

About NetcordiaIn –Depth Data CollectionConfig | SNMP | Syslog | VoIPBuilt-inIntelligence and DiscoveryAutomatedCorrectiveActionsAuditNCCMAnalysis into Impact of ChangeAnalyzeAutomateBuilt-in ComplianceReportsSingle View into Policy Violations

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