Network Operations Center: Best Practices and Functions

NOC stands for network operation center, it is a centralized place where technicians and other administrators monitor the IT infrastructure or telecommunication network. The most important function of a network operation center is to create smoothness, availability and increase the performance of the telecommunication network. 

According to recent studies in Australia, its Market size is estimated at USD 5.49 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 7.47 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.37% during the forecast period (2023-2028).

A NOC is simply a centralized facility that monitors, manages, and maintains an organization’s network infrastructure. In this article, we will study the best practices and functions of network operating centers, keep reading with us and by the end of the post, you will be able to clear all of your doubts related to this topic. 

Functions of a Network Operations Center

NOC performs a lot of functions but here we are going to discuss some of the most important functions of a network operation center. 

Monitoring and Management:

It is the most important function a network operating system performs, it uses a lot of advanced tools to keep an eye on the whole network including devices health and performance of the network. 

NOC keeps all the processes very simple and smooth and makes the network infrastructure more reliable and stable by keeping a tight eye on every field. In the case of anomaly detection, NOC responds to save network infrastructure from potential loss. 

Alertness and quickness of the NOC team are very useful for companies as they can provide their customers and users with top-notch and uninterrupted facilities at any time of the day. 

Incident Management:

Network Operating Center while monitoring creates tickets of the incidents and then prioritizes the tickets which are more important and go for the solution according to needs. Prioritizing the incidents makes it easy for the network team to identify which incident must be solved first. 

After Identifying the incident, NOC tries to find out the root causes of every incident to finish it from the system. Once they completed the process of root cause analysis, the team went for incident resolution and documentation for future reference and improvements. 

Network Infrastructure Maintenance:

The network operation center team keeps a proactive approach to their network which keeps them stable, efficient, and smooth. It keeps on doing regular checkups and initiates updates to prevent severe problems, improve performance, and do security checkups. 

The NOC team also keeps updating their software to provide the best facilities to their IT professionals with modern technology and adhere to all security guidelines. Network Infrastructure is another greatest function that network operations perform. 

Troubleshooting and Diagnostics:

Troubleshooting is another important function that NOC can perform with ease, for those who don’t know about troubleshooting it is the process of identifying problems and resolving those problems and issues in a device. 

NOC teams use different methods and tools for identifying and resolving IT issues with ease with minimal effect on the business. They have such accurate tools that can identify complex network problems and can solve them in no time. 

Security Management:

With increasing security issues Network operation center teams also increasing their security with every second. NOC teams are always monitoring security breaches and responding to them promptly and implementing strong security to protect your sensitive and important data from hackers. 

Implementing best security practices is always important for IT teams to protect their data. I think security management is vitally important to stay safe in the IT industry which is why we included this in the best functions of the Network operation center. 

Best Practices for Network Operations Center:

Staffing and Training:

A well-qualified and trained NOC team is essential for effective network management. Investing in continuous training and certifications ensures that NOC professionals are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge to handle diverse challenges.

Documentation and Knowledge Base:

Creating and maintaining comprehensive documentation of network configurations, incidents, and solutions is vital. A centralized knowledge base allows NOC teams to access past solutions quickly, promoting efficiency and consistency in incident resolution.

Automation and Orchestration:

To handle the increasing complexity of networks, NOCs must adopt automation and orchestration. Automated workflows streamline routine tasks, reduce human errors, and improve response times, freeing up NOC professionals to focus on critical issues.

Performance Metrics and Reporting:

Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and generating regular performance reports is crucial for assessing the NOC’s effectiveness. Data-driven insights enable continuous improvement and aid in identifying areas for enhancement.

24/7 Monitoring and Support:

Networks operate round-the-clock, and so should the NOC. Implementing 24/7 monitoring and support with well-defined on-call rotations and escalation procedures ensures prompt attention to incidents, even during off-hours.

Technology and Tools for Network Operations Center:

To fulfill their functions effectively, NOCs rely on various tools and technologies, including:

Network Monitoring Tools: 

These tools provide real-time visibility into network performance, identifying potential issues before they escalate.

Incident Management and Ticketing Systems: 

Specialized software facilitates incident tracking, prioritization, and collaboration among NOC team members.

Automation and Orchestration Platforms: 

Automation tools streamline repetitive tasks, optimizing NOC operations.

Security Monitoring and Threat Detection Tools: 

Advanced security tools help detect and respond to potential security breaches swiftly.

Conclusion:

After doing all the research and studying a lot of cases with my personal experiences, I concluded that a network operating center plays a vitally important role in the success as well as failure of the IT infrastructure of an organization. 

A good NOC team provides a lot of benefits to organizations like, security management, automation, Network Infrastructure, documentation, automation, and many more. It means NOC teamwork as the backbone any of IT organization. 

Author

Veranika Kavaliova, Help Desk Manager

Veranika has 15 years of experience in IT. She started as a software test engineer and gradually became a customer support engineer responsible for the entire life cycle of issue resolution and software improvements. Since 2020, Veranika ensures the delivery of high-quality help desk and application support services at ScienceSoft.