How Network Configuration Can Keep Your Network Safe

Networks are an essential part of every business.

Businesses of all sizes are aggressively deploying new technologies to enhance and streamline how they operate. From multi-site remote connectivity to redundant locations, the ability to work together at a distance is becoming a crucial component of operating in a global economy. 

Business networks providing this connectivity play a key role in enabling this functionality. 

As organizations continue to make capital investments in technology and leverage it for their business needs, one critical question never seems to get asked often enough: how can we maintain our networking infrastructure better? 

Network configuration is critical in ensuring that your network infrastructure is working correctly and stays secure.

Configuring a network is essential in making it a valuable asset to an organization. For many small businesses and even home users, configuring a local area network (LAN) is something that simply never happens. In some cases, this lack of configuration can be out of ignorance of the networking process. 

In other cases, the absence of network configuration can be on purpose. Whatever the reason for skipping configuration, choosing to neglect this step means giving up on one of the most beneficial tools you can have in your organization.

Network configuration is an important component in network management. Configuring network devices provides a business with increased server levels of security, email stability, privacy, and faster download speeds. 

Switch or router configuration, virtual proxy network (VPN) and firewall setup, host configuration, and network topology are all examples of network configuration essentials that can be configured using REST application programming interfaces (APIs).

Big companies frequently require a network configuration that allows numerous sites to communicate as a single extensive network. One popular way to this arrangement is to utilize various types of hardware and software to build a primary network at the company headquarters and then allow distant sites to join this leading network through a wireless or wired internet connection.

With this setup, remote sites can function entirely independently while still transmitting and receiving data from the primary network on an as-needed basis.

Think of network configuration as a way to automate your network device management process. Instead of manually configuring an entire network, you can choose from different packages or bundles of settings. 

This process saves time and increases the security of cyber-physical systems such as retail point of sale (POS) and other electronic devices that connect to the internet.

How to manage network configurations

Network configuration is critical to the effectiveness of an organization. The network design and setup will have significant implications for its performance. Its structure, such as how large or small it is, will determine how the business uses its available resources and how quickly it can react to changes in demand upon them.

Enterprises have complex network connections that can be overwhelming and hard to manage. Users are attached to the corporate network and need access to applications like email and employee portal. At the same time, users logging into desktops on-premise also need access to applications in different data centers or private clouds.

Each business unit probably has a LAN, each project team within it has its VLAN, and each computer has its IP address – all of which need to be configured.

Businesses have several options for configuring their network, the most popular of which include using a managed service or outsourcing their IT infrastructure. For small businesses that do not want to invest in an in-house IT department, outsourcing is commonly the chosen method. It allows them to focus on other parts of their business while someone else takes care of their network. 

However, all companies should keep in mind that outsourcing their IT infrastructure management means they are also outsourcing the security of their business.

How can you verify network configurations?

Network engineers can examine their network setup and configure the network interface using the config commands ipconfig (for Windows OS) and ifconfig (for Linux and Mac OS) in a command-line environment.

Users can also verify and set up the network configuration via a software interface using a network configuration manager or APIs, making it easier to configure and monitor the infrastructure.

What is network configuration management?

Network configuration management is the continual act of supervising the installation and maintenance of all network devices and the software and hardware that runs on them. It includes device detection, monitoring of device configuration and status, and inventory management.

Network configuration management is a new discipline that has grown out of network operations in the last 20 years. It encompasses infrastructure configuration management, site provisioning, quality and change management, automation engineering, hybrid IT solutions, and more.

It's one of the core IT support tasks. It seeks to ensure that network settings are configured correctly, quickly, and efficiently. As a discipline, it's concerned with defining the rules for what, where, why, how, when, and who will do the configuration. 

A network configuration manager will be responsible for building and maintaining an accurate and current picture of all the equipment, software, and services within a network.

Why is network configuration management critical?

Networks are always in a continuous state of change. 

Network engineers can configure network devices that house various network services, such as DNS servers and DHCP servers, at any moment. Changes to live firmware can have a disastrous impact on the network's dependability and the services it provides. 

Network configurations are susceptible to human maintenance errors. Changes that are misapplied can lead to network outages, service unavailability, security breaches, and other disruptive problems. The network landscape that hosts your applications and services is liable to break down when you least expect it.

Network configuration management helps to provide businesses control over network modifications. It makes the task of maintaining medium to large networks more manageable. It saves time and decreases problems on the infrastructure caused by misconfigured network devices.

Even if your network modifications produce errors, network configuration management helps you address mistakes more quickly. 

The network configuration management database is at the heart of this approach. When anything goes wrong with the network and has to be repaired, changed, or upgraded, the network administrator will consult the database to determine the best course of action.

The database includes the IP address and location of each hardware device and information about applications, versions, updates, configuration files, and default settings.

Network configuration management systems

A network configuration management system is a software tool that lets you manage the connections between your network’s devices. It keeps track of changes to your network infrastructure and helps with routing the traffic that runs through them. 

Network configuration management tools are helpful for network administrators as they can monitor network links, access configuration files (such as IP configurations), reboot network devices, and provide user authentication for infrastructure security.

These solutions can aid in network change management by centralizing and monitoring changes throughout the network for audit purposes. It helps save time for network engineers by focusing on higher-level IT requirements rather than low-level specifics.

There are three types of network configuration management tools: scripting systems, vendor-specific, and intent-based networking configuration management. 

Scripting systems

Network teams with DevOps or NetOps expertise can utilize open-source, model-based scripting tools such as Ansible, Chef, or Puppet, which allow professionals to develop scripts that specify network design. Model-based scripting allows for the flexible design of large-scale networks. It also enables network admins to view infrastructure as code (IaC). 

But to get the most benefits, network engineers must understand programming using scripting languages like Python.

Vendor-specific tools

This category includes vendor solutions tools such as SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager and ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager, and third-party vendor-independent tools, which are usually a part of larger network management suites. These technologies, aimed at conventional networking teams without DevOps experience, may contain capabilities like auditing or approval procedures.

Although network configuration management tools are robust and straightforward for novices, it isn't easy to expand their capabilities to incorporate logic in the same way that model-based scripting does.

When using vendor specific tools, another important thing to consider is vendor lock-in. Vendor lock-in makes customers completely dependent on the vendor and there is a large switching cost if the customer would like to change to another service provider. In this case, when the entire network is managed by a particular vendor, the customer cannot use another service without facing substantial fines.

Intent-based networking configuration management

Intent-based networking (IBN), sometimes known as policy or declarative networking, is an advancement in networking systems. IBN is an automation process that improves network operations and uptime by combining high levels of intelligence, analytics, and orchestration.

Commercial IBN solutions for configuration management include Cisco's Application Centric Infrastructure and Digital Network Architecture systems, among others. 

The control and configuration of network changes is simply one aspect of these technologies. They allow network engineers to describe high-level configuration goals, such as purpose or policy. The system then decides how to configure the network devices to meet those objectives.

Automated network configuration management

Most business networks consist of switches that effectively help in routing traffic according to the policies set by the network administrator. These device policies are stored in configuration files and loaded into each switch; they instruct the devices in routing, which is very similar to how software instructs a computer on how to act.

Because each switch must be set appropriately, complexity develops because a single error might generate difficulties or vulnerabilities that can impact performance or security. These errors can be challenging to see, and they may not be discoverable until after future updates or audits. Furthermore, each switch communicates with its neighbors and adjusts its behavior in response to traffic circumstances.

This makes troubleshooting more complicated, and it may magnify the consequences of a mistake over a whole network. A network engineer's responsibilities include managing configuration changes to guarantee that the proper configuration versions are reliably preserved and restored. The operation is time-consuming and error-prone, and mastering it necessitates a high level of expertise and dedication.

This is also applicable when upgrading firmware, adding netmasks (or subnet masks), or updating transmission control protocol/internet protocols (TCP/IP) (such as ipv4 and ipv6). Such actions can hinder a company's agility and flexibility in changing its networks because they rely on a pool of qualified individuals to design and perform the required reconfiguration.

When dealing with facilities far away from an organization's headquarters, manual configuration management becomes even more of a challenge because the same trained people are generally required on-site to repair or install equipment to avoid costly mistakes and downtime. Sending  IT staff to a remote site is time-consuming and expensive, but it's preferable to the danger of an inexperienced individual attempting to make the modifications.

Fortunately, solutions that interact with network devices help alleviate these problems by automating frequent and repetitive operations. Network automation is a concept that's beyond the configuration management of infrastructure. It's about making things more efficient by automating actions and tasks across the network using software.

The administrator often configures network automation tools to back up network device configurations at regular intervals, saving time and reducing the chance of using an erroneous version. Some technologies allow for configuration comparisons to swiftly audit changes. Configuration change management is frequently required for extensive networks.

The ability to rapidly install or replace network devices and configure them is a precious capability. This feature, known as zero-touch provisioning, eliminates the requirement for experienced employees on-site, saving time and money.

Common configuration management difficulties may be solved using network automation solutions. The risk of errors is decreased by automating the daily activities of configuration management and simplifying the deployment of new or replacement configurations.

Network administrators utilize network configuration automations to achieve the following:

• Make individual, bespoke upgrades or distribute bulk updates to network devices
• Stay updated for illegal configuration modifications or security flaws in network devices
• Custom settings to limit configuration permissions
• Save device configuration files to roll back changes if needed
• Compliance control setups

Best practices for network configuration management

Networks face tremendous challenges while evolving with a business as the network is the single most significant asset of an enterprise. A complex set of technologies makes up a typical enterprise IT network, which brings enormous advantages and some challenges. 

There are two distinct types of challenges: one related to technology and the other related to human behavior. To alleviate these challenges, organizations need to implement a sound network management structure that's flexible enough to respond quickly to changes in the infrastructure, and at the same time, provide coherent policy control.

A solid understanding of best practices for network configuration management is essential when building and managing an IT network.

Create standard device configurations

For each network device (such as a router, LAN switch, WAN switch), it's a good practice to develop and maintain standardized network settings throughout the organization. Incorrect network settings are the source of many network issues. There have been several instances where even the slightest network setup error has resulted in a severe outage.

It's critical to stress on configuration management to resolve network configuration difficulties. Network configuration management assists IT teams in ensuring that all alterations made to network devices do not conflict with a previously established set of configuration rules.

Configuration management is frequently employed as a backup plan for configurations. This safeguard protects working setups while allowing for substantial configuration changes, which might take a long time. Unauthorized network configuration modifications frequently result in serious information security breaches.

Standardized network configurations enable network engineers to detect and track configuration changes and identify who is making them.

Maintain all network configurations

Maintaining current operational configurations for all devices and a fixed number of previously running versions greatly aids during troubleshooting. Keeping settings the same also gives network administrators a fair comparison to the setups they’re working on.

Keep a record of changes

For auditing purposes, network teams should keep an account of when and who performed configuration changes. Additionally, it's a good idea to save backup versions of any network modifications. It's simple to go back and identify where critical bugs are and restore earlier network settings by storing backups and a log of all changes.

After network engineers have established the most critical network systems, they should consider creating a change control procedure compatible with their network infrastructure. Network teams frequently rely on change control procedure templates that do not match their architecture or use a method that's too simple for their network's requirements. 

Administrators should keep a log of all modifications made to configuration items, when they were made, and who created them for each firmware on the infrastructure.

Automate repetitive tasks

IT teams should automate scheduled activities of current network configuration backups, file backups, and password change management for a single device or across clusters of devices to decrease mistakes and save resources.

When automating processes, it's critical to test the deployment thoroughly, especially when making large-scale modifications. Network engineers can automate repetitive activities, monitor network configuration updates across network elements, and maintain compliance and standards for uninterrupted IT flows by using automation.

Challenges of network configuration management

Network configuration management is one of the vital elements of network performance management. The network configurations can be used for various purposes that aim to improve network performance and security and support a higher level of ROI and profitability.

However, there are various challenges of network configuration management, which need more attention and effort.

Number of network elements

Irrespective of the industry, practically all employees work on devices that the IT department maintains. In addition, administration of the vast number of servers running anything from mission-critical applications to development and test environments is crucial. 

These systems link to a network architecture that consists of numerous components spread across offices, branches, and other business operations locations. Without automated help, network teams will find it impossible to maintain a correct configuration on all of these devices.

Maintaining security compliance

Many organizations must follow industry or government standards, such as the payment card industry data security standard (PCI DSS) for the retail industry and the health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA) for the healthcare industry.

Unauthorized modifications with configuration files can result in the network no longer complying with regulations or legislation that might apply to the business.

Complex infrastructure architecture

Networks are similar to road systems in that they are intended to transfer data as effectively and reliably as feasible while accounting for the fact that capacity needs may fluctuate. The network design evolves as the volume of traffic grows. IT teams add more network elements to maintain data movement as effectively as possible. 

Manual configuration management becomes increasingly difficult when devices demand consistent settings yet are geographically and logically distributed.

Benefits of network configuration management

Today's network environment isn't static anymore as the increasing sophistication of world-class technologies such as mobility, cloud, and virtualization has increased overall operations and management complexity.

Network configuration management is essential when it comes to the overall success of an IT infrastructure. It's all about setting up, upgrading, testing, and effectively implementing the network environment. Network configuration management solution helps automate complex processes and streamline operational efficiency significantly. 

Here are some significant benefits you can avail of by integrating network configuration management in your business processes.

Reduce errors

There's a drastic decrease in the frequency of outages caused by configuration mistakes when using network configuration management software. This is because human errors in implementation or documentation frequently cause these issues. Network configuration management tools detect changes, audits settings, and streamlines activities, all while automatically recording any changes performed with the software.

Rollback changes easily

If change is continuous, then the network will undoubtedly fail at some point. When this occurs, the only thing that'll get it back up and running without causing business disruption is comprehensive visibility and effective change management processes supported by the appropriate tools.

Typically, network configuration information is gathered and stored in a database so that network engineers can easily trace changes. This enables device configurations to be identified and tracked. Network configuration management tools allow network modifications to be recorded and quickly rolled back in crises or network failure due to operational changes.

Streamline change management

In a network with several engineers, it's critical to avoid any unapproved changes that might lead to adverse effects. Because of this, network teams must restrict access to essential configuration files in such an environment.

Network configuration management helps streamline change management to track and monitor individuals and their actions on the infrastructure. It's a good idea to maintain the track of your users to identify configuration modifications quickly.

Keep networks in a state of nirvana

Having a firm grip on your network's setup and patching is essential no matter what size network you run. 

Managing the configurations of linked devices is also a critical step in information security. Businesses can automate tasks of keeping network devices and software patched and up-to-date by adopting good network configuration practices. 

Want greater visibility into your networks? Use network management tools to monitor and control your networking infrastructure to address service needs and business objectives.