Perception, not technology, in security and compliance seen as resistive to true partnership in managing network systems. Both analysts and corporate IT managers see automation as the solution.

BaseLine’s Top 10 IT Trends in the Making cites the looming challenge of security and compliance to broker new relationships in network systems management as a trendsetter. “Companies must get over the idea that security and compliance systems are simply “insurance” against problems, and that they don’t improve the business in any measurable way,” laments Viacom VP, Anthony Noble.

As for risk and security compliance issues like intrusion detection to authentication to patch management to security analytics, a number of organizations are electing to automate such processes is on the rise. Automating as in self-encrypting hard drives, two-factor authentication, and security suites that provide central control panels are prime examples. David Ferris, principal analyst at San Francisco-based Ferris Research, agrees, seeing continued movement by savvy IT managers... to automate and embed these processes across the entire value chain, including on mobile devices.

Best-in-Class Network Systems Management features:

• Offers device management with SNMP data (Simple Network Management Protocol), a standard protocol designed to transmit performance data.
• Offers an asset management tool for auditing software licenses and versions.
• Provides a protocol analyzer for application performance.

Top Considerations before Buying Network Systems Management:

Provide solution for a capability to transform previously incompatible silos of information into a single, interconnected enterprise. For example, in a retail environment integrate head office production, with individual store offices, and then POS information and processes, all further integrated with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and accounting applications that all work to provide an end-to-end retail and financial management solution for managing, say, a multi-store network.

Key Providers:

1. Net Optics, Inc. offers Indigo Pro as a network management appliance tailored for centralized management of large numbers of Net Optics monitoring access devices. Indigo Pro is a family of network management appliances that includes Indigo Collector Pro and Indigo Manager Pro. They are management solutions (using a single management console) that provide element management, dashboard, and graphics, as well as collection and visualization of traffic statistics that are emitted from other Net Optics devices throughout the network. The company also offers data monitoring switches; Net Optics Director Xstream, a filtering technology, which enables organizations to select the traffic of interest for a tool based on protocols, IP addresses, ports, and VLANs; and monitoring access solutions for telecom and data center networks that allow customers to maintain the performance and security of applications and services.

2. 3Com Corporation sells networking hardware and software, including LAN-level infrastructure gear (switches, routers, gateways), Internet telephony systems, network intrusion prevention systems, and wireless networking equipment for enterprises, as well as maintenance and support services, for enterprises and public sector. 3Com has three global brands—H3C, 3Com, and TippingPoint—that offer high-performance networking and security solutions to enterprises large and small. In May of 2009, 3Com reorganized its three working groups into two primary businesses: Networking Business and TippingPoint Security Business. No longer active in the consumer and tele-communications carrier markets, 3Com is now focused primarily on enterprise customers. Half of the company's customer base is in China. 3Com was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2010.

3. Founded in 2005, Axence Software, Inc. develops network management solutions. The company offers Axence nVision 4.5 network management solution. The nVision Network module monitors mail servers and Web addresses, TCP/IP and Windows services, application status and operation, and switches and routers (port mapping and network traffic). Constant processes of monitoring and alerts in case of potential threat prevent outages and significantly reduce the duration of a breakdown. Permanent control of environmental parameters protects operational processes and IT premises from the consequences of threats like overheating, humidity, fire, flooding, etc., which can result in device destruction and data loss. Proactive network monitoring, apart from eliminating emergency situations, also facilitates IT infrastructure management and development. The nVision Users module monitors and reports the activity of users working on Windows machines: the actual activity (work) time, application usage, visited web pages and network transfer.

4. Coradiant, Inc. founded in 1997 and formerly known as Networkshop, Inc. (changing its name in 2000), provides network and Website monitoring equipment to manage, optimize, and troubleshoot Web applications. It offers an appliance that passively taps and collects Web traffic data, and provides reports via Google's Web-analytics software, which is integrated with the appliance; and Coradiant TrueSight Edge for Akamai, a custom-built software-based product that provides performance visibility into Web applications on a monthly subscription model. Coradiant's customer base consists of predominantly software-as-a-service, e-commerce, entertainment, finance, insurance, healthcare, and education industries.

Network Systems Management
Definition: Network Systems Management refers to the activities, methods, procedures and tools that pertain to the operation, administration and provisioning of networked systems. A common way of characterizing network management functions is FCAPS – Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security.