What is a Network Operations Center?

What is a Network Operations Center?

A network operations center NOC is a centralized location where a company and their staff can provide supervision 24 hours a day to help monitor and manage a company's services, databases, external services, firewalls, and network. So basically, a NOC is the basis of a company's nervous system. In the matter of security, a NOC is often the first line of defense against any attacks or disruptions a company or enterprise might experience with their telecommunication networks.

There are several benefits to having a NOC at a company, but it is essential to know what they are capable of and what it takes to use them properly. Some businesses might not need a NOC, but larger companies and enterprises find that they make communications run a lot smoother internally and externally. The following are a few things that are beneficial with using a NOC:

1. Back up data stored on network devices.

A lot of networks are used to hold and store data, but what happens if that data is corrupted or something happens to the network device that stores the data? With a NOC, companies can sleep safely at night because one of its functions actually backups the data that is on the network to make sure that it is accessible and safe if something disastrous happens.

2. Patch management.

The software is continually being updated and changed from providers, and it can be challenging to keep a network up-to-date without assistance. Patch management features on NOCs will allow a company to keep all of their devices and software updated with the latest patches, without having to go through them individually.

3. Install, update and troubleshoot software on any device connected to the network.

A NOC makes updating, troubleshooting, and installing software on systems connected to the network a breeze. Companies are continually upgrading their hardware, but without a NOC, they have to manually troubleshoot, install, and update all of their company's information onto each piece of hardware. However, with a NOC, they can set up appropriate settings to find issues within a network, update existing software, or install new software on old machines, or install all software on new equipment.