What Is a Network Operations Center (NOC)?

A Network Operations Center (NOC) is a centralized location where IT network engineering and operations teams supervise, monitor, and maintain enterprise networks. It is a must have for many organizations who are consumers of traditional network architectures that are made up of multiple generations of products and services to support their enterprise IT infrastructure.

NOCs are generally responsible for ensuring an organization’s network runs smoothly, and they handle tasks such as managing network traffic, troubleshooting network issues, performing software updates, and preventing potential cyber-attacks.

The ultimate goal of a NOC is to maintain high network availability, resulting in smooth operations. The monitoring is often done 24/7 and can be done on-site or remotely.

Here at Nile, we share responsibility for guaranteed performance across the wired and wireless access network rollouts for our customers – and radically simplify their NOC activities in the process. Many if not all maintenance functions are offloaded to automated workflows within the Nile network. Nile’s own production engineering team provides 24/7 proactive monitoring of service quality once a Nile network is in place thanks to virtual and physical sensors installed in customer’s environment, discovering deviations against baseline performance metrics before such issues translate to network outages and/or negatively impact user experience.

How does a NOC work?

Within a traditional NOC, various network monitoring, management, and troubleshooting activities are carried out. Here are some common activities:

Network monitoring

One of the primary roles of a NOC is to constantly monitor the network’s performance. This includes tracking the uptime and downtime of services, analyzing network traffic, and ensuring connectivity across all network components. Traditionally, technicians use advanced software tools to monitor network systems in real-time visually and quickly identify potential issues.

Incident response

When a problem is detected, NOC staff are responsible for responding promptly. This can involve directly resolving the issue or escalating it to a specialized team if necessary. This process includes triage, investigation, documentation, and incident resolution. In other words, traditional network infrastructures require reactive support and maintenance, and rely on “response times” as the metric to define a service level objective, instead of being proactive.

Communication management

NOC technicians coordinate with various stakeholders, including internal IT staff, external service providers, and sometimes directly with customers. They have traditionally been responsible for keeping all relevant parties informed about the status of network issues, planned upgrades, and routine maintenance.

System maintenance and upgrades

NOCs oversee software updates, patch installations, and hardware upgrades across legacy network infrastructures. This also includes management of routine system maintenance to prevent avoidable issues in the future.

Security management

While network security is often associated more with a Security Operations Center (SOC), NOCs also play a role in maintaining a secure network. This can include overseeing firewalls, detecting and mitigating DDoS attacks, and monitoring traffic for unusual activity. With a legacy network infrastructure, these activities are again reactive and manual in nature.

Performance reporting

NOC teams regularly generate and review reports on network performance. These reports help identify trends, forecast future requirements and plan upgrades.

Backup and disaster recovery

NOCs play a key role in an organization’s disaster recovery plan. They handle data backups and server redundancy and ensure that a contingency plan is in place to restore network operations as quickly as possible in the event of a disaster or significant outage.

Benefits of having a NOC

A NOC offers several benefits for modern organizations that are adopting digital IT solutions across their real-estate and to improve the productivity of their end users.

As part of next-generation enterprise network rollouts, there is tremendous potential in eliminating complexity out of the network operations with software automation and end to end orchestration – similar to the agile development and operations model put forward by the players in cloud computing.

Constant monitoring

NOCs provide 24/7 network surveillance, identifying and addressing issues before they escalate and negatively impact organization operations.

Improved efficiency

With their specialized focus on network infrastructure, NOCs can address and resolve issues swiftly, thereby minimizing downtime.

Technical expertise

Technicians at NOCs possess specialized knowledge in network management, ensuring a heightened level of expertise when tackling network challenges.

Scalability

NOCs can quickly scale their operations to support the growth of an organization, making it easier for companies to manage expanding network demands.

Disaster recovery

In the event of a network failure, NOCs can orchestrate manual tasks across the traditional network infrastructure to restore services as quickly as possible. They often have comprehensive backup and disaster recovery plans in place.

Reporting and analytics

NOCs often provide detailed reports and analytics on network performance, which can facilitate informed decision-making.

Increased productivity and satisfaction

The minimized downtime, improved network performance, and swift resolution of issues contribute to an improved user experience for internal staff and customers.

For a Nile wired and wireless network, all these benefits are an essential part of its technology stack integrated with lifecycle management operations. Via software automation, these capabilities and more are either radically simplified or completely automated.

What’s the difference between NOC, SOC, and help desk?

Network Operation Center, Security Operations Center (SOC), and IT Help Desk serve different but equally important roles in information technology management.

Here are the key differences:

Network Operations Center (NOC)

This centralized location monitors and manages the performance and quality of network coverage, capacity and availability across an organization. The main focus of a NOC is to ensure network uptime, monitor traffic, troubleshoot and maintain the network, and manage the organization’s servers, databases, and networks for performance issues and outages. The overall goal of a NOC is to maintain optimal network operation.

Security Operations Center (SOC)

SOC primarily focuses on security management for an organization. It deals with monitoring, analyzing, and responding to cybersecurity incidents using a combination of technology and well-defined processes and procedures. It is responsible for detecting, investigating, and mitigating security threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring the company’s data and sensitive information are protected from cyber-attacks.

Help Desk

A Help Desk handles end-user issues. This may include responding to hardware and software problems, user error, or any other concerns that users have day-to-day. It is primarily reactive, responding to immediate questions and challenges that users face, and it’s typically measured on speed and customer service. It provides a single point of contact for users to get assistance and provide immediate support for incident resolution.

In summary, NOCs handle the operations side to keep networks running efficiently, SOCs handle the security side to protect networks from threats, and Help Desks support users to resolve their technical issues.

How to design a NOC
Designing a NOC next to the deployment of traditional network infrastructures involves several factors, including technical and practical requirements and specialized personnel. Here’s a general step-by-step for creating a NOC:

1. Planning

   Before anything else, you need to clearly understand the goals and objectives that the NOC aims to achieve. This includes determining acceptable service levels, the technology used, staff working hours, and types of services provided by the NOC.

2. Space selection

   A NOC should be a dedicated space with ample area for monitoring equipment, consoles, and workstations. It must also be soundproofed from external noise and should have good ventilation and cooling systems to keep the hardware at optimal temperatures.

3. Infrastructure

   Setting up the proper infrastructure involves two major elements: network connectivity and power supply. Ensure reliable high-speed network connectivity and a backup power source to keep the NOC running 24/7.

4. Technology and equipment

   Essential technology includes multi-screen monitors and servers. A large display for a central dashboard giving an overview of everything happening in the network can be beneficial. Efficient computers, telephones, backup servers, and routers are also essential.

5. Software selection

   Crucial software required for a NOC includes network monitoring tools, security software, a ticketing system, a service desk, and a reporting tool. This helps the team manage the automated tasks, track errors, and handle ticket issues.

6. Security measures

   Strong access control mechanisms, data privacy policies and least privilege access to operational tools are vital for any NOC implementation. Implementing physical and digital security systems, such as access control entries, firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection and prevention systems, is necessary.

7. Ergonomic design

   Considering the staff will likely spend long hours in the NOC, ensuring ergonomic design for seating, desks, and screen placement is important. Good lighting and noise minimization are also worth considering for the team’s comfort and productivity.

8. Hiring and training staff

   The right team is essential to operating an efficient NOC. This involves hiring experienced professionals, providing them with extensive training, and ensuring they are familiar with the NOC’s software, hardware, and operations protocol.

9. Establishing processes and protocols

   Clearly defined procedures for handling different types of incidents, escalation protocols, and task assignment processes are crucial. This ensures efficiency and effectiveness in managing network incidents and problem-solving.

Designing a NOC requires planning, expertise, and resources. To reduce the amount of operational burden and upfront capital investments, many enterprise and educational organizations partner with Nile. This enables them to free up time and resources for other vital initiatives across the IT organization, in addition to their help desk and customer service team.

NOC challenges

Scalability

As organizations grow, their network needs change. Managing increasing complexity across a traditional network made up of multiple generations of hardware and software products can be a significant challenge for network operations.

Cybersecurity

The multitude and diversity of today’s network architectures, deployment models and wide ranging set of configuration best practices amplify the risk of cyber threats. Ensuring a secure network system demands persistent efforts, constant vigilance, and timely system updates.

Network performance

Ensuring consistent network performance is challenging, particularly when dealing with high-volume data transmission and diverse, geographically dispersed users. Network uptime, and latency are critical factors that must be constantly monitored and optimized. In a traditional network infrastructure implementation, that means lots of manual workflows to keep track of system logs, performance dashboards and more. Even with AI summarized notifications with recommendations towards making system level improvements, the burden of having to make such changes across the network infrastructure can become too burdensome to keep up for many IT organizations with limited resources.

Cost efficiency

Balancing network capacity and performance with the costs of maintenance, upgrades, and personnel can be a significant challenge, especially for organizations with limited budgets.

Technology integration

Incorporating and managing new technologies (e.g., digital workplaces) can introduce network integrity, security, and performance challenges.

Outdated infrastructure

Legacy systems and outdated technologies may result in non-operational network equipment, causing inefficient operation, security vulnerabilities, and failover concerns.

Skills shortage

The demand for skilled IT professionals often surpasses the supply. This can lead to understaffed NOCs struggling to manage the increasing complexity of network infrastructure.

Compliance

With regulations like the GDPR and CCPA, maintaining compliance while operating an efficient network can pose a challenge, necessitating robust data handling and security procedures.

Remote work

The increasing trend of remote working necessitates a scalable and secure virtual network, creating new challenges around access, security, and performance.

Real-time network monitoring

Continual monitoring for speedy detection and resolution of network issues is a complex task, requiring sophisticated tools and skilled professionals.

High expectations for reliability and performance

Today, users increasingly expect high-speed, reliable connectivity, putting additional pressure on network operations to limit downtime and maintain performance.

Nile’s next-generation wired and wireless access network comes bundled with service level guarantees on coverage, capacity and availability performance on a per building basis. In other words, service level objectives are not optional in a Nile network, they are an essential part of the technology stack, how it is designed, deployed and maintained – in partnership with Nile’s production engineering and customer service teams.

NOC best practices

1. Prioritize strong infrastructure

   Ensure that the organization employs a robust infrastructure. Opt for high-quality equipment and regularly maintain and update them. This investment plays a critical role in minimizing network downtimes and disruptions.

2. Implement anti-malware solutions

   A secure network is paramount. Therefore, adopting top-tier anti-malware tools is essential. These tools not only detect potential threats but also prevent them from penetrating the network.

3. Establish clear communication protocols

   Effective communication within the NOC team is crucial. Organizations should have established protocols for escalations and knowledge sharing. This ensures that the entire team remains in sync and can act swiftly during emergencies.

4. Regular training and skill upgrades

   Networks are constantly evolving. As such, organizations must prioritize continuous learning for their NOC teams. Regular training sessions keep the team updated with the latest network technologies and security measures.

5. Maintain detailed documentation

   Detailed records of the network’s configurations, past issues, and resolutions are invaluable. Organizations should insist on meticulous documentation, which can be instrumental for troubleshooting and network optimization.

Building a NOC vs. Outsourcing to an MSP

Network Operation Centers ensure an organization’s networks run smoothly and securely. Organizations typically face the decision of building their own NOC or outsourcing it to a third-party managed service provider (MSP). Both options come with their own set of advantages and challenges.

Building a network operations center (NOC)

Pros:

• Customized control: In-house management allows organizations to tailor their infrastructure, tools, and processes to suit unique needs.
• Internal knowledge preservation: An internal team can encapsulate the organization’s culture, priorities, and specific operational requirements.

Challenges:

• Significant capital expenditure: Establishing a NOC requires a hefty upfront investment in infrastructure, software, and personnel.
• Continuous resource investment: The demand for ongoing staff training, infrastructure maintenance, and technology upgrades can strain organizational resources.
• Reduced scalability: In-house setups often lack the agility to quickly scale operations up or down based on demand fluctuations.
• Difficulty keeping pace with trends: The rapidly evolving tech landscape means in-house NOCs often struggle to stay updated with the latest trends, potentially leaving them behind their outsourced counterparts.

Outsourcing to a managed service provider (MSP)

Pros:

• Cost efficiency: Leveraging MSPs allows organizations to enjoy state-of-the-art network management without the high initial costs.
• Access to expertise: Managed service providers bring to the table specialized knowledge, ensuring organizations benefit from the latest in technology cycles.
• Scalability: The beauty of outsourcing lies in its scalability. Organizations can effortlessly adjust their services based on current needs.
• Focus on core operations: Outsourcing allows organizations to redirect their focus and resources towards their primary operations, leaving network complexities to the experts.

Challenges:

• Control dilution: Entrusting external entities with network operations might feel like relinquishing a degree of control.
  Change requests: Moves, adds and changes across the network could require a change request with a pre-determined response time from the MSP. This might cause disruptions and additional wait times as new digitization initiatives come into effect or new sites / buildings are being rolled out.
• Potential data privacy hesitations: There might be concerns regarding data security when relying on external providers, though many top-tier providers prioritize stringent security measures.
• Considering the above, while an in-house NOC has its merits, managed service providers also provide a compelling case for outsourcing, offering organizations an efficient, scalable, and expert-driven approach to an organization’s networking needs.

Putting your NOC on auto-pilot

Here at Nile, we are aiming to make the best of both worlds a possible third option. Enterprise organizations can radically simplify and accordingly scale their network operations by relying on Nile’s next-generation wired and wireless access network powered by continuous automation and optimization. And managed service providers can provide the necessary controls back to the enterprise IT departments as they are trying to onboard new users, devices, applications and sites effectively without disrupting their own service level objectives.

If you’re tired of wrestling with network complexities, ballooning costs, and manual configurations, Nile Access Service is offering a strong alternative next to the status quo and traditional enterprise network infrastructures. We’ve redefined network connectivity, security and operations to be genuinely hands-off with modern cloud software and AI automation, ensuring your IT team can focus on strategic initiatives rather than mundane, time-consuming tasks.

Through intelligent automation, continuous monitoring, and guaranteed service levels, administrators can rest easy knowing their network is secure, scalable, and always online.

Get in touch and let’s automate your network operations with the Nile Access Service.