On-boarding skilled IT professionals to handle all your IT infrastructure in-house is incredibly costly. It demands prospecting, recruiting, training, and retaining skilled professionals. And if you want top-notch results, you will need to engage subject matter experts at a substantially higher pay grade.

Managed Services, on the other hand, offer a viable alternative to all this hassle of in-house IT management. By outsourcing IT functions, organizations can optimize resource allocation and potentially reduce costs.

Managed network services (MNS), a key component of these offerings, focus specifically on network management, maintenance, and optimization. These specialized solutions are particularly important, as they address the complexities and demands of managing a Cloud environment.

The Challenges of Cloud Networking

The Cloud promises endless scalability and flexibility. However, it also introduces some complexities initially, that can strain traditional network management approaches. The rapid provisioning of countless Cloud Hosted Virtual Desktops / Virtual Machines (VMs), and Cloud Hosted Virtual Servers creates an intricate and complex network that demands specialized attention. So, there is a good reason why businesses must conduct detailed groundwork to avoid any unwelcome surprises.

The key network related challenges include:

Security and Compliance

Protecting sensitive data and adhering to regulations becomes increasingly difficult, mainly due to the distributed locations from where Cloud resources are accessed.

Limited Visibility and Control

Monitoring and managing network performance is often complicated by the dynamic and physically dispersed nature of Cloud environments. The scale of the cloud environment also varies, as per evolving business needs.

Inefficient Resource Utilization

Efficiently allocating resources across multiple cloud platforms is essential to avoid over-spending or over-provisioning, and performance issues. This entails striking a delicate balance between costs and performance.

Addressing these Cloud Computing limitations can be challenging at times. This is where the Managed Network Services (MNS) of ATSG come in to save the day. Our solutions are designed to effectively manage networks across Cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments. By leveraging our expertise, organizations can overcome the challenges outlined above, and achieve optimal network performance as well as efficiency.

Managed Network Services – A Comprehensive Solution

Simply put, Managed Network Services involve outsourcing the operation, monitoring, and maintenance of an organization’s network infrastructure to a specialized managed service provider (MSP).

These services encompass a wide range of network functions, from LAN management to WAN optimization, Wi-Fi solutions, and network security. Going beyond the transactional “vendor-client” relationship, MSPs actually forge a partnership with businesses, working collaboratively to drive mutual success.

The Advantages of Managed Network Services – MNS

Managed network services bring a wealth of benefits to the table. For small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), with limited IT resources, MNS offers the necessary expertise to manage complex networking challenges, without the overheads of hiring and retaining in-house specialists.

Larger enterprises benefit from MSPs to bolster the capabilities of their IT teams, focusing internal resources on strategic initiatives. This partnership also ensures optimal network performance, the significance of which cannot be overstated.

Regardless of size, businesses can leverage managed network services for a proactive, scalable, secure, and cost-effective approach to network management. Plus, you get better visibility and control about what is going on within your network, helping you make informed decisions, and get the most out of your technology.

Managed Network Services for Different Industries

Managed network services are not simply a one-size-fits-all solution. They can be customized to meet the specific needs of different industries. For example, sensitive patient data and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are extremely important in healthcare. And MNS helps hospitals and other healthcare institutions keep that sensitive information safe and private, while also ensuring that services like telehealth run smoothly.

Additionally, in the retail sector, where customers dislike websites with slower response times and out-of-stock items, managed network services can help stores keep their shelves well-stocked, their websites blazing fast, and their customers happy.

Choosing the Right Managed Network Service Provider

The key to finding the right MNS provider lies in understanding what to look for, and asking the right questions. Businesses need to consider the following factors, when choosing an MNS provider:

1. Expertise

Evaluate the MNS provider’s experience and expertise in managing networks within your industry, or organizations of your scale.

2. Support

Ensure they offer 24/7 support via multiple channels, and have a robust incident response plan in place.

3. Scalability

Check if their MNS solutions can scale with your organization’s growth and evolving needs, so you can expand with peace of mind.

4. Service Level Agreements – SLAs

Closely examine the terms and conditions outlined in the SLA, to ensure the provider meets your service expectations, and all this is well documented.

Unleash the Power of ATSG Managed Network Services

ATSG’s Managed Network Services (MNS), powered by our ATSG OPTX™ Network Management Platform, deliver comprehensive solutions for Cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments. We leverage the power of AI and advanced analytics to give you un-matched insights and control over your network.

The core capabilities of our network management platform include:

• AIOps – Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations

  The AI-driven analytics of our OPTX™ Platform give you real-time visibility into network performance, its security posture, and regulatory compliance status. These insights prove valuable in optimizing network performance.

• BIM – Business Impact Monitoring

  We are not just talking about simple monitoring here. This is about aligning your network performance with your strategic business goals. ATSG OPTX™ ensures resources are allocated effectively for optimal performance, where they truly matter.

• RCA – Root Cause Analysis

  When network issues arise, ATSG OPTX™ is right there, with its ability to pin-point the underlying cause with un-matched precision. This ensures timely identification and remediation of network issues.

 

ATSG was also recognized as a Leader in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Managed Network Services (MNS). When it comes to effective network management, we stand as your strategic ally, dedicated to not just improving your network, but completely transforming it.

Conclusion

Managed Network Services (MNS) play a critical role in optimizing your IT infrastructure, particularly in the case of Cloud Computing environments. The network management capabilities of ATSG can turn an enterprise network from a “chaotic mess”, into a key enabler for organizational agility and efficiency.

In the flexible and scalable world of Cloud Computing, managed network services serve as the remedy for security breaches, limited visibility, and sub-optimal resource utilization. Not to mention, they eliminate the need for businesses to hire and retain in-house IT experts, saving time, effort, and money.

ATSG is passionate about crafting network management solutions that truly work for your business. Our team of skilled and certified professionals is dedicated to building and maintaining networks that are not only efficient, but also highly secure.

Contact ATSG to learn more about how we can elevate and transform your network.