The spread of the new coronavirus has caused companies to analyze their networks to ensure they can handle the increased traffic and support a remote workforce.
But how do companies know if they are really prepared? What services they need to sustain a productive remote workforce? Where are the network's potential stress points? It's a complex picture because many parts are interrelated.
Analyze the services needed and traffic estimates
The first step in any change to IT systems is always to carry out a requirements analysis. First, companies need to understand which services are needed.
Remote employees will need systems to replace face-to-face interaction in an office. Unified communications (UC) encompasses a combination of interpersonal communication functions, such as voice calls, voicemail, video conferencing, screen sharing and instant messaging, for teams and individuals.
Remote employees will also need access to business applications and document storage repositories. Companies that have adopted cloud services may be in a better position than companies that have not yet migrated to the cloud.
It can be a challenge for IT teams understand the requirements of a massive new deployment tailored to a remote workforce.
They will have to make estimates based on UC usage estimates, employee counts and the network demands of normal business functions. In addition, they will need UC licenses for employees, estimates of bandwidth needed per employee and the peak bandwidth of all employees.
Even a rudimentary understanding of the current network traffic volume can provide a basis for estimates. An easy way to estimate is to determine the volume in each of the various traffic classes:
- Voice calls
- Interactive video in real time, such as videoconferencing
- Streaming video - for example, watching training videos
- Interactive business applications
- Mass data applications such as e-mail and file transfer
- Unnecessary traffic, such as streaming music and other entertainment.
Some of the traffic estimates won't have much basis, and the teams will have to guess and revise after gaining more experience.
Network stress points
Once teams have network traffic estimates, they can start to see how a remote workforce can overload the network. Below are 6 factors that IT teams should monitor for potential network stress.
1. Traffic routing
Supporting a larger number of remote employees will drastically change network traffic flows. Teams may need to implement routing changes to optimize network performance. They may also need to monitor network traffic paths to ensure that traffic passes through the appropriate network security systems.
A lesser-known problem is DNS resolution, which directs a remote worker to a distant service instead of a local one.
2. Internet access
Remote employees will connect to the organization via the Internet, creating additional stress on Internet access links and network equipment such as routers, switches, firewalls and VPN concentrators.
Ideally, teams should configure Internet-facing routers to provide active-active service, in which each router carries incoming and outgoing traffic. Don't forget to check the capacity of Internet-facing firewalls.
Network monitoring systems should be configured to keep a close eye on these critical systems for possible overload conditions.
3. VPN concentrator capacity
The number of remote VPNs will increase significantly, putting more pressure on VPN concentrators at the edge of the corporate network.
It may not be feasible to purchase and install physical VPN concentrators. Instead, consider using virtual devices that can be quickly installed on available hardware platforms. Cloud-based infrastructures are ideal for this type of operation.
4. Limitations of videoconferencing and voice
During the traffic estimation process for voice and video, try to estimate the number of conference calls and compare it with the organization's limitations for multipoint control units.
Teams may need to investigate alternatives, such as migrating conference traffic to a cloud provider in order to reduce corporate internet link requirements. Many providers have announced free licenses for a few months in response to the coronavirus.
5. Local networks of remote workers
The quality of the network at a remote worker's location makes a big difference to overall performance. Firstly, consumer Wi-Fi routers and switches probably don't meet corporate standards. It's common to find Wi-Fi routers that are many years old, using old 802.11b connectivity with speeds of up to 1 Mbps .
Poor wireless coverage or interference on a home network can be a major factor. Interference can come from nearby Wi-Fi routers, such as in an apartment building or condominium, or it can come from other devices, such as microwave ovens and baby monitors, which operate in the 2.4 GHz bands.
Competition for bandwidth can also come from other members of the family, especially if one of them likes video streaming applications.
Finally, older Wi-Fi devices can suffer from bufferbloatThis is a condition in which large internal packet buffers confuse network congestion avoidance protocols, resulting in significant packet loss and delays.
6. Network security
Organizations that don't use secure remote working technology run the risk of malware. It's tempting to do whatever it takes to get employees online, but it is advisable to keep network security tight because criminals will try to take advantage of security loopholes.
Teams will want to continue to have intrusion detection and intrusion protection systems to protect against malware and cyberattacks.
Start planning now
Supporting a large remote workforce includes many factors that often interact with each other.
Making everything work well together involves detailed planning and making the right decisions when compensation should be made.
Vendors, network testing companies and trusted advisors can help create options that work for your organization.
Conversys can help your company reduce the risks and impacts of this global crisis. Contact our experts now and find out about Aruba Networks' security, network management and connectivity solutions. We are on hand to help you overcome this challenge.
About Conversys
Conversys IT Solutions is a provider of Information and Communication Technology services and solutions operating throughout Brazil.
With a highly qualified technical and commercial team and a network of partners that includes the main global technology manufacturers, Conversys IT Solutions is able to deliver customized IT and Telecom Infrastructure solutions to clients.
We invest in our employees and partners and strive for a long-lasting relationship with our clients, because we believe that this is how we gain the skills and knowledge we need to innovate and generate value for the businesses in which we operate.
