The Complexities of the Modern Network
Twenty years ago, outsourcing your network infrastructure management was rarely necessary. Back then, the needs were simple: a good cabling contractor and someone who understood your network operating system. With limited options and device types, the infrastructure was much simpler.
Fun fact: The first network operating system was Novell NetWare, released in 1983 – the same year that 123mds started trading.
Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape is virtually unrecognisable. While physical cabling is still an option, a host of new connectivity solutions exist. Connectivity itself is a whole new ball game. The array of devices connected to the network has grown exponentially, and security is a monumental topic that deserves its own dedicated blog post.
The Cloud and the Hybrid Workforce
Today, most organisations, regardless of their size or industry, are either entirely cloud-based or heavily rely on cloud services for many of their operational needs.
Furthermore, the lines between personal and company devices have blurred, with staff frequently using their own devices for work (BYOD – Bring Your Own Device). This, combined with the permanent shift to hybrid working (employees splitting time between home and the office), poses immense challenges for IT departments.
To manage this complex environment, various steps must be taken to ensure:
- the network can flawlessly support the wide variety of connected devices.
- the network is not misused for excessive personal activities.
- systems are constantly protected from sophisticated threats like viruses and ransomware.
- the integrity and confidentiality of company intellectual property (IP) remain intact.
Defining Network and Infrastructure Monitoring
What Exactly is Network Infrastructure?
Network infrastructure refers to the essential hardware, software, and services that enable your organisation to communicate both internally and externally with other organisations and the internet.
| Component | Examples |
| Hardware | Switches, routers, repeaters, hubs, bridges, gateways, and modems18. |
| Software | Operating systems, monitoring, and management tools19. |
| Services | Networking protocols such as TCP/IP20. |
Many modern organisations extend their internal network by integrating third-party services from Managed Service Providers (MSPs) or by building a hybrid network infrastructure that merges on-premises infrastructure with cloud services.
What is infrastructure monitoring?
IT infrastructure monitoring provides crucial insights to drive smart decisions for an optimised solution. It is a proactive process designed to prevent costly and unproductive downtime.
Monitoring achieves this by:
- collecting and processing network data.
- visualising this data into a meaningful and easy-to-understand network blueprint.
- identifying and preventing possible security threats (though a comprehensive security plan is a separate service).
- providing data that informs decisions about both the past performance and future needs of the network.
Insourcing vs. Outsourcing: The Ongoing Debate
The debate between insourcing and outsourcing IT infrastructure management is a raging and ongoing one. We won’t solve it here, but there are numerous compelling reasons to outsource, whether you choose to do so entirely or simply to complement your existing in-house IT team.
If you’re interested, a great explanation of the differences between in and outsourcing can be found here.
The Benefits of Outsourcing Network Infrastructure Management
Organisations that provide managed network services possess the specialised infrastructure and high-level expertise needed to support quicker implementations and upgrades. This allows your enterprise to focus on its primary business goals instead of being bogged down by maintaining a complicated, inflexible network.
High-performance network availability is non-negotiable today, and Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can deliver it efficiently and affordably.
Why Outsource Your IT?
Outsourcing frees your company to focus on its core product or service while the outsourcing partner efficiently handles essential, day-to-day IT tasks, such as:
- Providing technical support
- Managing servers and networks
- Maintaining security systems
Key Benefits of Outsourced Network Management
1. Reduced (or at least controlled) operating costs –
Outsourcing lowers the cost of IT services by reducing expenses for hardware, software, and labour associated with hiring new full-time employees. Furthermore, proactive maintenance from an expert team prevents major, expensive issues before they arise.
2. Increased efficiency & expert access –
Outsourcing companies are specialists in their field, allowing them to provide more efficient services than internal teams can typically match. They have access to advanced tools and resources that enhance their effectiveness.
3. Improved productivity –
By offloading network worries, your internal staff and leadership can spend less time troubleshooting and more time concentrating on other vital business tasks.
4. Better real-time support –
You gain access to a dedicated team of experts who can handle any device or computer problem in real-time. This team can also proactively recommend ways to boost company-wide efficiency and productivity.
5. Proactive maintenance –
Continuous network monitoring enables the outsourcing team to foresee potential issues and perform necessary maintenance before minor problems escalate into costly major issues.
6. Resilience to power interruptions –
With increasingly unstable power grids, an IT expert can advise on and implement backup power solutions tailored to your location, industry, and budget, ensuring stress-free resilience during load-shedding or outages.
The “Softer” Benefits
Beyond cost and efficiency, outsourcing offers subtler advantages that are often overlooked:
- Confidentiality – Outsourcing means your peers or internal staff members will not have access to sensitive information, such as emails or internal surveys, which can reduce staff intimidation and ensure higher data privacy.
- Scalability – For short-term projects that demand a temporary burst of resources, an outsourced team can be scaled up quickly. You simply pay the additional fees for the project’s duration and easily scale back down when the project is complete, without the worry of permanent staff changes.
- Shared costs of premium tools – Paying for premium software licenses can be very expensive. By leveraging an outsourced company’s larger (shared) user licenses, your costs are reduced, and you often benefit from better support options that come with enterprise-level tools.
With so many benefits to outsourcing your network infrastructure management—from saving costs and increasing productivity to gaining total peace of mind—it’s time to act.
We would be happy to start with a free assessment of your existing infrastructure.
Send us an email to sales(at)123mds.co.za
