What are the Common Reasons for Network Downtime
Have you ever been in a situation where you are working hard and productive, and the network went down?
Network downtime can cause many headaches for any business, so it’s high time to invest in a network monitoring system. Even a short downtime can cost you thousands of dollars in lost revenue. Even if your network is operational 99% of the time, it will still experience approximately three and a half days of downtime per year, which can result in millions of dollars in lost revenue. If your business experiences network downtime, contact IT Support Escanaba for assistance.
What is Network Downtime?
Network downtime is a term used to describe when part or all of a network is inaccessible due to the failure of hardware, software, or some combination of the two. This can involve an internal loss or a connection to an external network.
Network downtime can cause more than just lost revenue, including the following:
- Productivity is lost.
- The files are lost.
- The brand’s reputation has been damaged.
- The employees were anxious; and
- IT staff is under much pressure to get systems up and running.
It can take 20 minutes to get your network back online after a power outage.
Top 6 Reasons For Network Outages
The following is a list of some of the most common causes of network downtime.
- Human Errors
Many factors can cause downtime, but the main culprit is always human error. A lack of training, improper planning, and an inefficient network design are reasons for downtime. The key to avoiding downtime is recognizing what causes it and implementing preventative measures to prevent it. In addition, the network infrastructure should be well-planned and adequately maintained to ensure your network remains up and running. Misconfigured devices, applications, and technologies, outdated technology, and improper planning can cause systems downtime.
The IT team should have a plan of attack for addressing problems. A problem in one part of the network can spread to other factors, so it is essential to address these problems quickly. The team must address the root cause of the problem and implement a plan that allows for rapid resolution. The team should have the correct staff and resources to tackle the problem.
- An understaffed IT department
If your IT staff is spread too thin, and you need to monitor the network around the clock or manage upgrades, perform other necessary tasks. As a result, your network is vulnerable to human error and is prone to network downtime.
It’s possible to hire more people if you’re able to. Contracting with a network operations center for 24×7 network monitoring is another solution.
- Server O/S Bugs
Servers are full of bugs and vulnerabilities, so they must be monitored and patched. In addition, it’s essential to keep the operating system (O/S) up to date and to install patches promptly.
An application needs to be adequately tested to be corrupted or rendered unusable, which could bring the entire network to a halt. A NOC can help with server maintenance by managing and fixing bugs caused by O/S.
- Natural disasters
Networks are often vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes, fire, tornadoes, and floods. However, they are not vulnerable to cyberattacks. Natural disasters can occur anytime and anywhere, but natural disasters cause only five percent of network downtime.
You can protect yourself from data loss and downtime caused by natural disasters by ensuring your business is offsite and operating in the cloud. Do this to protect your data from threats and ensure that your data is always available.
- Outdated Equipment or Applications
It’s time to upgrade your network infrastructure, but you need a way to ensure everything is working correctly. You also must ensure that the transition from old hardware to new hardware goes smoothly. The network keeps the business running smoothly, so tend to antiquated equipment and devices with urgent needs. With our expert technicians’ help, we can ensure that your IT infrastructure is up-to-date and ready for the future.
- Misconfiguration
There can be long periods of downtime caused by incorrect device configuration. Misconfiguration is one of the biggest reasons for companies to experience downtime. Having network downtime is very detrimental for any organization, regardless of size. It’s because of configuration errors and upgrades to software and hardware. The best way to prevent downtime is to have a plan and a team that knows how to respond when things go wrong. IT Consulting Green Bay can help you save time and money by giving you troubleshooting solutions.
Post courtesy: DS Tech, Comprehensive Tech Support Solutions.
