Top 5 benefits of a network intelligence solution

Do you know exactly what’s going on in your network, or is it all a bit of a mystery?

If you’re in the dark, it could be costing you more than you think. Without visibility into your network, you can’t stop downtime before it starts. With downtime costing an average of £7000 per minute (1) that’s a high price to pay.

Additionally, as a company subject to the NIS2 directive, a network intelligence solution provides critical information to ensure compliance.

Investing in a network intelligence solution is a no-brainer; here are five key reasons why.

1) Improved security with network intelligence solutions

The NIS2 directive is a requirement for companies providing essential or important services to the EU, whether they’re based in the EU or not. This directive aims to strengthen the security of supply chains, network, and information systems. Non-compliance can result in heavy fines (2).

By implementing a network intelligence solution, you gain visibility over your entire network, allowing you to quickly spot anomalies and respond to security threats. This helps safeguard your data and systems.

Consistent access and segmentation control policies can be applied across all asset types—users, devices, applications—making it more difficult for bad actors to access your network. In fact, leading network intelligence solutions providers, like Wavenet, offer extended firewall lifespans, ensuring your network remains protected and compliant into the future.

2. Enhanced traffic management with network intelligence tools

A side effect of increased security is reduced downtime—if your network isn’t under attack or recovering from one, it can keep running smoothly. However, cyber-attacks aren’t the only cause of downtime. Lack of visibility limits your ability to identify and remedy bottlenecks or traffic management issues.

A network intelligence solution enhances visibility into application paths, allowing for the creation of clear flows that account for network interdependencies. This applies to cloud environments, too; a fully automated cloud networking solution enables infrastructure deployment across single and multi-cloud environments, giving you better insights into possible bottlenecks.

Once you identify where these bottlenecks are, you can address them, improving traffic flow across your entire network—whether cloud, on-premises, or hybrid.

3. Reduced downtime and operational costs

We know how downtime can be reduced, but why is that important?

From 2020-2023, almost two-thirds (3) of businesses experienced at least one outage, with each episode of unplanned downtime lasting an average of four hours. With each minute costing an average of £7,000, these costs can quickly accumulate.

By enhancing network security and improving traffic management through a network intelligence solution, you increase your chances of achieving the gold standard of 99.999% uptime (4), where downtime is limited to planned events like updates and essential maintenance.

Reduced unplanned downtime not only saves money but also protects your company’s reputation, maintaining customer trust and preventing potential legal actions.

4. Lower costs with enhanced network insights

Greater insight into your network can significantly reduce operational costs. A network intelligence solution goes beyond merely preventing unplanned costs; it enhances your understanding of all expenditures, simplifying management.

By adopting a modern, cloud-optimised network intelligence solution instead of upgrading outdated systems, you facilitate quicker adoption of public cloud services, leading to faster and cost-effective time-to-market strategies. You will also incur lower network support costs due to higher levels of packet visibility, minimising the need for extensive monitoring of complex hybrid networks.

5. Greater automation for evolving network needs

A network intelligent solution allows adaptation to evolving network infrastructures, meeting customer and end user needs before they lead to dissatisfaction. For instance, intent-based network automation speeds up the detection of incidents, with notifications sent to alert your support teams when anomalies are detected.

Automation capabilities extend into continual auditing and compliance reporting, ensuring that you are always up to date with industry regulations, including the NIS2 directive.

The end result: improved customer satisfaction

While the benefits listed here focus on technical details and business impact on your business, they directly affect customer experience. With a network intelligence solution, your business will be less susceptible to cyber-attacks, meaning your customers’ data will be less at risk.

Enhanced visibility across your network contributes to smoother operations, minimising downtime and its impact on your customers.

Ultimately, a well-functioning business and happy customers. Happy customers are loyal customers, which leads to better service, resulting in happier, loyal customers who are more likely to stay with you long-term.

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To find out more about how a network intelligence solution can help your business thrive, get in touch with our team today. We’re happy to discuss tailored solutions that can suit your business needs.