Network infrastructure: definition
IT systems rely on high-performance network infrastructures to enable millions of complex and varied technology platforms all over the world to communicate with each other. Network infrastructure is the heart of IT systems. Discover the definition of network infrastructure, its essential components and the importance of choosing the right type of infrastructure to meet growing connectivity and security needs.
What is network infrastructure?
Definition of network infrastructure
At all modern companies, there's a vital system at the heart of their business, one that's often invisible, but of vital importance: their network infrastructure.
But what exactly is it?
Network infrastructure refers to all the hardware and software components that enable communication and data exchange between different devices within an organization and with the outside world. It is an essential pillar of IT, supporting everything from Internet access to the operation of mission-critical applications. This infrastructure includes a circulatory system made up of various interconnected elements, such as routers, switches and cables, as well as virtualization technologies to manage resources efficiently, with resilience in line with advanced technological evolution capabilities.
The components of a network infrastructure
The components of a network infrastructure include physical elements such as servers, cabling and connected peripherals, as well as logical elements such as communication protocols and network management software.
• Servers: play a central role in storing and processing information.
• Routers and switches: for data distribution and routing purposes - respectively.
• Firewalls and security systems: ensure the security and sensitive protection of data from internal and external threats.
• Cables and wireless connections: for data transport.
What are the different types of network infrastructure?
Networks are set up to transfer data from one system to another, or to provide shared resources. Depending on the size and scope of the computer network, it is possible to differentiate 4 major types and categorize them as follows:
Local Area Network (LAN)
A LAN (Local Area Network) is a network infrastructure that connects devices in a limited geographical area, such as an office or building. It generally uses technologies based on a common, widespread standard for wired LANs called Ethernet protocol. In this type of network, data transmission is either based on copper cables or via fiber optic cables to provide a fast, reliable connection.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
The MAN(Metropolitan Area Network) is a broadband telecommunications network that connects several LANs geographically close to each other, usually within a city or conurbation. It is often used by companies to interconnect several remote sites via leased lines in the same geographical area, enabling efficient communication on a larger scale. High-performance equipment and high-performance fiber optic connections are used between two or more remote nodes to provide high data speeds, creating the impression of being in the same LAN.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
WANs (Wide Area Networks) cover vast geographical areas on the scale of a country or continent. WANs rely on telecommunications technologies to provide connectivity between remote sites, facilitating international corporate operations.
The most commonly used technologies are IP/MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), PDH(Plesiochrome Digital Hierarchy), SDH (Synchrone Digitale Hierarchy), SONET(Synchronous Optical Network), ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode, etc.).
Networks are generally owned by an organization or company, and are therefore either privately operated or leased. In addition, Internet service providers use WANs to connect corporate LANs and customers to the Internet.
Global Area Network (GAN)
The GAN (Global Area Network) is a network infrastructure that connects different WANs on a global scale. A global network like the Internet is also called a GAN. This infrastructure is used by large multinational companies to manage operations across the globe, providing seamless and efficient connectivity.
Each of these network types plays a specific and essential role, together shaping the web on which a company's digital activity is built.
By fully understanding these different types of network infrastructure, UltraEdge offers hosting solutions in its Edge data centers, enabling you to benefit from these technologies, with tailor-made support for businesses to better plan and optimize their network, as well as respond effectively to their specific needs.
In short, at UltraEdge, a company's network infrastructure is more than just a set of hardware cables and software; it is the foundation on which all digital activity relies, enabling the company to be innovative.
The key role of network infrastructure
UltraEdge considers network infrastructure to be a vital element of any modern enterprise, in line with new AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies, and sets up Edge Data centers to play a crucial role in the fast, secure transmission of your data.
Its role in internal communication
Network infrastructureplays a central role in facilitating communication and data exchange between acompany's various connected devices. It facilitates collaborative working byenabling information sharing and real-time collaboration in a secure environment,thus increasing overall productivity. A well-designed infrastructure supports collaborative working platforms and improves the efficiency of day-to-day operations -UltraEdge data centers deliver.
An impact on productivity
An efficient network infrastructure is a key pillar of business productivity. Itenables fast, secure access to data and applications, reducing latency and improving the efficiency of business processes. Furthermore, it supports the integration of new technologies, such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence, which further optimize operations.
Data security
The security of a network infrastructure is a major concern for any company. A good infrastructure must integrate high-performance security measures with secure equipment and solutions, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems,identity and access management systems, encryption protocols and backup solutions to protect sensitive information against external threats, such as phishing and DDoS attacks.
How to optimize your network infrastructure?
Assessing needs
Optimizing your network infrastructure starts with a precise assessment of your company's needs. This involves analyzing current and future requirements in terms of connectivity, data management and security. A thorough assessment helps identify the technologies and configurations needed to meet strategic objectives.
At UltraEdge, we have data centers that offer you all the latest security standards in infrastructure hosting, such as ISO 27001, HDS for hosting your healthcare data, and PCI-DSS certification for banking data, with all the network components that a modern, innovative data center should have. Our network experts can advise you on setting up a network infrastructure that best meets your company's current and future hosting needs.
Selecting hardware
Choosing the right hardware is an essential step in optimizing your network infrastructure. It's important to select high-performance routers, switches and servers tailored toyour company's specific needs. To achieve this, it's crucial to have an architecture, and the experts at UltraEdge are here to help you think about and implement the one that will most effectively meet your needs for secure hosting and scalability. The right choice of architecture in a modern data center will enable you to optimize your costs and perform with innovative hosting solutions.
Managing configuration and maintenance
UltraEdge is committed to providing you with modern, certified data centers that meet all the current standards in network infrastructure hosting, for seamless integration and operational monitoring to guarantee optimum performance. This includes the implementation of security policies, continuous network monitoring with solutions tailored to your needs, and controlled infrastructure maintenance cycles.
A well-maintained infrastructure minimizes downtime and improves outage resilience.
Network infrastructure security
Common threats
Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote working, the world's network infrastructures have been hit hard by ultra-sophisticated cyberattacks, massive ransomware proliferation... the likes of which no one has ever seen before.
To prevent tomorrow's threats today, every company needs to measure the financial and operational consequences of security breaches.
Security should never be an optional consideration in network management, which is why UltraEdge enables you to take a proactive approach,offering advice and solutions to meet your critical secure hosting needs as early as the design stage of your project.
Network infrastructure technology is constantly evolving, and recent innovations promise to drastically transform the performance and security of corporate networks.
Network infrastructures are exposed to numerous threats from hackers, such as malware, phishing attacks, unauthorized intrusions and more. Understanding these threats is a major challenge for UltraEdge in developing and proposing effective security strategies for its Data Centers, including Cyber Defense strategies with associated security levels.
Best security practices
Cyber risks are constantly evolving. Be prepared.
Among the elements to consider for the network installation security:
- Setting up an SOC;
- Modernizing and securing your network infrastructure deployments;
- Regular security audits of your installations;
- Implementation of robust security policies for your hosted infrastructures;
- Training and awareness-raising for your staff;
Implementing a solid cybersecurity strategy takes time, so we at UltraEdge can help you adopt best practices for securing your network infrastructures in our datacenters.
Monitoring and protection tools
Monitoring and protection tools are vital for securing network infrastructure. They enable security incidents to be detected and dealt quickly, ensuring the ongoing protection of critical data and systems.
Looking to the future, it is important to adopt integrated tools that enable better monitoring of network installations. Several trends are now emerging:
- Software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV),which will provide networks with greater agility, scalability and, even better, flexibility.
- Intrinsic security: this solution integrates the security aspect directly into the network infrastructure, rather than adding it as an external layer.
- EdgeComputing: a well-known trend at UltraEgde with Edge Data centers. This trend allows customers to process data at the edge of the network, close to the data source.
UltraEdge'smodern data centers offer secure, segmented environments with MMRs (Meet MeRooms), enabling customers at each Edge site to access or interconnect with the networks of major Local Area Network Operators (LANs), international operators and IP service providers in general.
UltraEdge's Cross-Connect and Cloud-Connect services enable you to make these MMR interconnections in total security.
Network infrastructure is fundamental to the smooth running of any business. Companies can optimize their infrastructure to improve productivity, ensure datasecurity, and support future growth. Investing in a solid network infrastructure means investing in the future of a smarter, faster and more secure enterprise.