Today, automation has shifted from being a luxury to an absolute necessity, especially within the realm of networks. This shift is driven by the rapid evolution of network technologies, compliance standards, and evolving business needs, placing an increasingly daunting burden on network administrators to manage these tasks manually.
IT admins always held a crucial role in ensuring a network’s agility and scalability, to meet the demands of end users who require high availability and reliability, which manual methods cannot consistently provide.
For instance, imagine a network administrator tasked with updating passwords in an environment with a thousand devices. Manually executing this task would require the administrator to log into each device individually and modify the credentials, a time-consuming endeavor. This process could potentially span over two to three days, consuming valuable time and resources.
Automation proves to be indispensable in this scenario, completing the given task in a matter of minutes. The time saved can significantly contribute to enhancing the scalability of your environment.
Now, the question arises: How can organizations swiftly implement automation for network tasks without incurring exorbitant costs? The answer is straightforward. All that’s needed is an affordable network automation tool, that includes the essential functionalities demanded by the industry.
There is a plethora of network automation software options available, however they may be tailored to specific industries and potentially exclude others. With ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager as your network automation software, you gain access to all the industry-standard functionalities at a reasonable price, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes and across various industries.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the market size for network automation is expected to grow from USD 21.10 billion in 2023 to USD 50.82 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 19.22% during the forecast period (2023-2028).
What you gain with network automation software
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Minimizes the time dedicated to repetitive tasks and eradicates human error.
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Applies comprehensive authority over network configurations.
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Monitors, initiates, or reverses alterations made to your network.
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Ensures your organization maintains compliance through a streamlined automation process.
- Strengthens security measures and augments network dependability.
Must-have features for network automation software
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Automatically safeguards crucial network configurations for swift retrieval during network disasters.
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Monitors all configuration alterations in real time, eliminating the need for manual tracking.
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Schedules recurring tasks during non-office hours to prevent disruptions.
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Furnishes automation templates to implement configurations simultaneously or altering passwords on a thousand devices.
- Ensures device security through automated compliance checks and generates compliance reports at regular intervals.
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Effortlessly oversees firmware and addresses associated vulnerabilities.
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Delivers comprehensive reports with detailed insights.
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Allows for customization to align with your organization’s specific needs.
- Offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface for seamless operation.
Possessing 50-60% of these essential requirements could significantly improve your network’s resilience against disasters. However, envision having all 100% of these essential features. This could have an even more profound impact, liberating network administrators from their burdens and eliminating the manual errors that often lead to costly and time-sensitive network disasters.
How can you attain the full suite of essential requirements? It’s straightforward. Download and harness Network Configuration Manager as your network automation software.
Now, let’s delve deeper into the core automation functionalities of the software.
Network Configuration Manager: Your user-friendly network automation software
ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager is versatile network configuration and change management (NCCM) software with multi-vendor support. It was meticulously crafted to automate and oversee the complete life cycle of device configuration management, effectively eliminating human errors and the possibility of network disasters.
In the event of an unavoidable network disaster, this software guarantees rapid disaster recovery within minutes, preventing any financial losses or damage to your organization’s reputation.
Core automation functionalities of this software
Some of the crucial automation functionalities of the software include:
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Automated configuration backup
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Real-time change tracking and alerts
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Automated script templates (Configlets)
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Compliance management
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Firmware vulnerability management
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Scheduling of critical tasks
- Comprehensive network reporting
Automated configuration backup
Backups play a crucial role in swiftly restoring the network during unforeseen downtime. However, in a large manual network setup, there’s a risk of backups not being consistently performed due to human error or oversight, potentially leading to disastrous consequences. With automated backups provided by Network Configuration Manager, administrators can rest assured, as the system autonomously conducts backups at regular intervals, mitigating this risk entirely. Automated backup works only when change detection is enabled for the required devices.
Here is an explanation of how automated backups function in Network Configuration Manager.
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When an admin, operator, or user logs in or out of a network device, the device generates a syslog message.
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These syslog messages are transmitted to the integrated syslog server within Network Configuration Manager, which actively monitors for logout messages.
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Upon receiving a logout message, Network Configuration Manager initiates a configuration backup for that specific network device. This precaution is taken because whenever someone logs out, there is a potential for them to have made alterations to the device’s configuration file.
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The newly backed-up configuration file is then compared with the most recent version stored in Network Configuration Manager. It is thoroughly inspected for any new modifications.
- If any changes are identified, the backed-up configuration file undergoes encryption and is securely stored in Network Configuration Manager’s database. If no changes are found, the backed-up file is promptly discarded.
Real-time change tracking and alerts
In a manual configuration setting, it’s imperative to meticulously review any alterations before implementing them in production. Unfortunately, administrators might inadvertently miss certain configurations, or operators may make changes without proper authorization, resulting in incidents. With Network Configuration Manager, administrators receive immediate notifications whenever a modification is made to any network devices.
Various notification channels are supported, including:
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Email
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SNMP traps
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Syslogs
- Tickets
Additionally, there is a rollback feature available. Any changes made to specific critical devices will automatically be reverted to a previous or baseline version, depending on the chosen setting.
Configlets: Automated script templates
Administrators often find themselves burdened with manual tasks, particularly those that are routine and repetitive, such as password updates or enabling/disabling SNMP v3. While these tasks are crucial, they can be time-consuming and hinder scalability.
Network Configuration Manager’s Configlets offer a solution. Administrators can employ templates for various critical tasks, accomplishing them in a matter of minutes. This functionality can be utilized for tasks like updating firmware, enhancing security measures, ensuring compliance, and more.
Compliance management
Ensuring compliance is a critical aspect of network management, but it can be a challenge when handled manually. Administrators may inadvertently overlook policy violations on devices, potentially resulting in significant fines and damage to the organization’s reputation. Non-compliance can also open the door to security vulnerabilities.
With Network Configuration Manager, effectively oversee compliance across multiple devices for key regulations like PCI, SOX, and HIPAA. Additionally, use the Cisco IOS policy, specifically designed for ensuring compliance with Cisco devices. The platform also allows the creation of custom policies.
Firmware vulnerability management
Firmware has become a prime target for malicious attacks aiming to gain unauthorized access to devices and exploit them. In manual environments, administrators often become aware of a firmware attack after it has occurred, leaving the network vulnerable.
Network Configuration Manager takes proactive measures by automatically retrieving data from NIST daily, keeping you informed about vulnerable data. It provides a comprehensive list of susceptible devices, complete with their CVE IDs, base scores, severity levels, and links to patches for swift resolution. With this capability, administrators can get ahead of potential firmware disasters, ensuring a secure and smoothly operating environment.
Scheduling of critical tasks
Certain tasks don’t necessitate immediate execution and should be performed at specified intervals. In manual network setups, administrators are tasked with remembering and executing these tasks at the designated times, which they may inadvertently overlook, potentially resulting in risks.
Network Configuration Manager offers the ability to schedule critical tasks for your preferred date and time. It provides a range of scheduling options, including daily, weekly, monthly, or just a one-time occurrence.
Supported scheduled tasks encompass:
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Configuration backup
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Report generation
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Compliance check
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Configlets
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Device discovery
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Sync configuration
- PCI review
Comprehensive network reporting
Having comprehensive reports is essential for maintaining visibility over all the operations within your network environment. In a manual setting, administrators are required to individually monitor each task and its progress, an impossible feat given the complexity of today’s network infrastructure.
With Network Configuration Manager, you receive immediate reports for a wide array of executed tasks, ensuring you are well-informed about the ongoing activities in your environment. Additionally, you have the option to schedule these reports, have them sent to you via email, and export them in various formats. This way, even if administrators are out of the office, they can still stay updated on the network’s status.
Report types supported include
Therefore, with its diverse range of network automation capabilities, Network Configuration Manager empowers you to attain greater scalability and establish a resilient network environment designed to cater to both small and large-scale infrastructures. It features a user-friendly interface, reducing the learning curve for network administrators.
Eager to experience the benefits of this network automation software?
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