What is Network Operations Centre (NOC) & What Is It Used For?

Understanding NOC and Why It’s So Important

One of the key services that MSPs can provide to SMEs is NOC (Network Operations Centre) services. NOC services are a proactive and preventive approach to IT management that focuses on both monitoring and managing IT systems across multiple customers and sites. NOC services can help SMEs improve their business performance and security by reducing downtime, enhancing network efficiency and deploying patches and updates faster. They can also complement the reactive IT support services that MSPs offer, such as help desk and on-site support, by drastically minimising the issues that require human intervention.

What is NOC?

NOC stands for Network Operations Centre, which is a centralised location where a team of IT experts monitor and manage IT systems for multiple customers and sites. NOC services are a type of IT management service that MSPs can offer to their customers, especially SMEs, who want to outsource their IT support and maintenance. It’s like having a dedicated team of IT professionals working around the clock to keep your business running smoothly.

What does NOC do?

Monitoring: NOC teams keep a watchful eye on your entire IT network, from servers and routers to PCs and laptops. They use advanced tools to detect potential issues before they become major problems.

Management: Once a potential issue is identified by the systems, the NOC team takes action to resolve it where necessary. This might involve anything from restarting a server to deploying a security patch if there aren’t rules setup to automate this process.

Proactive Maintenance: NOC goes beyond simply reacting to problems. They proactively identify and address potential issues, ensuring your systems run optimally.

A NOC team will have a variety of rules and alerts set up to identify any potential issues as early as possible and, in some cases, even allow their own RMM (remote monitoring and management) software to carry out early remediation work automatically. For example, if the event of disk space running low, some basic housekeeping tasks (set up by the NOC team as part of the automation process) may be carried out automatically to improve the situation without any human intervention.

Those services meant an issue was addressed before anyone even realised it was an issue. Now imagine having the same systems and processes for issues that will really cause a headache to your business, or worse, a security vulnerability.

Why Your SME Needs NOC Services

You might be wondering why your business needs NOC. Here’s three:

Reduced downtime: By monitoring and managing IT systems proactively and preventively, NOC services can reduce the frequency and severity of IT issues that can cause downtime. Downtime can have a significant impact on business performance, as it can disrupt operations, reduce productivity, damage reputation and result in lost revenue. According to a study by ITIC, a single hour of downtime costs over £300,000, for 91% of SMEs and over £1 million for larger enterprises.

Enhanced network efficiency: By optimising the performance and functionality of IT systems, NOC services can enhance the network efficiency and speed. This can improve the user experience, increase the quality of service and support business growth and innovation. According to a report by IDC, network downtime can reduce an organisation’s productivity by 40%, and network latency can reduce it by 23%.

Faster patching and updating: By deploying patches and updates faster and more efficiently, NOC services can improve the security and compliance of IT systems. Patches and updates are essential to fix bugs, vulnerabilities and compatibility issues that can compromise the security and functionality of IT systems. However, patching and updating can be a time-consuming and complex task, especially for SMEs that have limited IT resources and expertise. According to a report by Ponemon Institute, 57% of data breaches are attributed to poor patch management.

Conclusion

By harnessing the power of a NOC, your SME can transform its IT operations. Imagine a future where your business operates seamlessly, protected from cyber threats and with more time to focus on other value-adding tasks. A NOC is more than just an IT solution; it’s a strategic investment in your business’s success.

Ready to learn more about how a NOC can revolutionise your operations? Download our full whitepaper below to uncover the full potential of NOC services for your SME.