A Network Operations Center (NOC) houses the equipment and personnel needed to monitor networks from a centralized location, with the overall goal of maintaining smooth and uninterrupted network operations. NOC technicians are responsible for monitoring networks 24/7 to ensure 100% uptime and prevent disruptions to business productivity and profitability. They troubleshoot any issues across the network using standard procedures. Elements of an effective NOC include vendor ticket management, incident management, monitoring policies, root cause analysis, documentation, reporting, and escalation procedures for complex issues.