Operate phase

The operation phase of the network is when the actual users start using the network and the operations staff starts monitoring the network and services delivered on the network. It is important to have a multifaceted approach to network operations, that would include the domains of people, processes, and tools. The primary goal in the network operations phase is to maintain network and service uptime, at minimal cost. This can be done only if the organization has the right skills in the resources tasked with network operations, a structured process for the day-to-day activities so that the tasks are not dependent on individuals, but every single person carries a job in the same way as the others would. The tools aspect is essential to improve efficiencies, as mundane and routine tasks can be automated, thereby allowing the NOC resources to focus on actual problems and reducing the chances of manual error.

It is important to add at this point, that nearly 67% of the IT budget is operational and only 33% of the expense is of a capital nature. Since the operations involve a large expense, any advances in the process to improve availability or to bring down cost are of great value to an organization.

The network operations involve monitoring the vital parameters of the network to increase service availability uptime, improve service quality and mitigate outages, and monitor performance of the network devices for any potential signs that can cause an outage or security issues on the network. We will cover operations in more detail in Chapter 10, A Systematic Approach to Network Operations and Chapter 11, Basic Troubleshooting Skills and Techniques later in this book.