Many small and mid-sized businesses struggle with growing device complexity, rising security risks, and a lack of in-house IT expertise to keep up. A single hour of downtime costs more than $300,000 for over 90% of mid-size and large enterprises, according to ITIC's 2024 Hourly Cost of Downtime Report.
This article breaks down what network management actually is, how it connects to server management, its core functions, and how to choose the right approach for your organization.
Key Takeaways
- Network management keeps infrastructure reliable by monitoring, configuring, securing, and maintaining servers and networks
- FCAPS — Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance, Security — is the five-function framework most teams use
- Managing servers and networks together reduces blind spots and unplanned downtime
- Run it in-house, with cloud tools, or through a managed services provider (MSP) based on your resources and risk tolerance
What Is Network Management?
Network management is the combination of tools, processes, and skills used to operate, monitor, secure, and maintain network infrastructure: routers, switches, servers, cables, and the protocols connecting them.
Cisco defines it as the processes and platforms IT teams use to configure, monitor, and optimize network performance, according to Cisco's network management overview.
The goal is straightforward: keep the network available, secure, and capable of handling expected traffic without buckling under load.
Administration vs. Management
These terms get used interchangeably, but they're not the same thing:
- Network administration refers to the day-to-day tasks: installing software, applying patches, running backups, and monitoring for issues
- Network management is the broader strategic process that governs how those tasks fit into overall business goals
That hands-on scope matches NIST’s glossary, which describes a network administrator as the person responsible for network security, application installation, upgrades, monitoring, storage, and routine backups.
The Role of a Network Management System (NMS)
A network management system (NMS) is software (sometimes paired with hardware) that collects data from switches, routers, access points, and client devices. It gives administrators a dashboard-style view of network health and the ability to control device operation directly.
Two protocols make this data collection possible:
- SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol): primarily polls devices for status information, with limited automated alerts (RFC 1157)
- Streaming telemetry: a newer approach where devices push data automatically to collectors instead of waiting to be polled (RFC 9232)
What Is the Relationship Between Server and Network Management?
Servers are critical nodes on the network, hosting the applications, data, and services your business depends on. That makes server management inseparable from network management.
Typical server management tasks include:
- Patching and software updates
- Backup and recovery
- Resource allocation (CPU, storage, memory)
- Uptime monitoring
- Access control and permissions
Network management tools extend visibility into server health right alongside routers and switches. Platforms like ManageEngine OpManager, for example, monitor servers, virtual machines, and storage devices in the same dashboard as network hardware.
Why does this matter for the bottom line? Downtime is expensive. ITIC's research shows more than 90% of mid-sized and large enterprises report hourly downtime costs exceeding $300,000, and 41% report costs between $1 million and $5 million or more.
Combining server and network management under a single strategy or provider closes the blind spots that appear when these systems are managed separately. Matrix MSP's approach reflects this: its managed IT services deliver 24/7 monitoring across computers, servers, and network devices as a single package, rather than treating them as disconnected services.
The 5 Core Functions of Network Management (FCAPS)
The FCAPS model, from ISO network management standards, organizes network and server management into five functions. Decades later, it is still the industry’s shared reference framework.
Fault management — Identifies, isolates, and resolves problems before they escalate into outages. This includes detecting abnormal operation across network devices and servers.
Configuration management — Tracks and standardizes device settings across the network, including server configurations, to prevent drift and inconsistency.
Accounting management — Monitors resource usage and allocates costs across users or departments so teams can track consumption and chargeback.
Performance management — Measures metrics like latency, packet loss, and bandwidth utilization, then uses that data for capacity planning.
Security management — Enforces access controls, monitors for threats, and maintains compliance, including firewall policy and access-log review.
Used together, the five functions give IT teams a full loop for keeping infrastructure stable, efficient, and secure.
What Are the Main Types of Network Management?
Businesses choose from three approaches, each with different tradeoffs:
| Type | Best For | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| On-premises | Large campus networks, data-sovereignty needs | Higher setup and maintenance costs |
| Cloud-based | Growing or distributed businesses | Requires reliable internet access |
| NaaS | Businesses avoiding upfront capital investment | Ongoing subscription cost |
On-premises management keeps infrastructure and data physically onsite, which suits organizations with strict data-sovereignty requirements. Remote administration typically requires a VPN.
Cloud-based management offers centralized monitoring and simplified remote provisioning, a natural fit for businesses with multiple locations or hybrid work setups.
Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) is a subscription model where businesses consume network infrastructure without owning or maintaining it. Cisco describes NaaS as covering hardware, software, licenses, and lifecycle services through a single operating expense.
The market is expanding fast. IDC forecasts a 34.5% compound annual growth rate for NaaS between 2021 and 2026, according to Cisco's NaaS overview.
Key Components and Tools for Network Management
A functioning network relies on several interconnected pieces:
- Routers and switches
- Servers
- Firewalls
- Access points
- End-user devices (laptops, desktops, mobile devices)
Network device management means configuring, updating, and monitoring this hardware to keep everything compatible and online. Skip a firmware update on one switch, and you've created a security gap or a performance bottleneck.
Common Monitoring Tool Categories
- SNMP-based tools — PRTG and SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor check device status and alert engineers to faults
- RMM platforms — N-sight and similar platforms monitor endpoints, servers, and networks before issues escalate
- Observability solutions — Datadog and SolarWinds Observability correlate application, infrastructure, and network data across cloud and on-premises environments
Matrix MSP combines these categories into one managed offering. Strategic relationships with Cisco, VMware, Microsoft, Dell, HP, NetApp, and other vendors support heterogeneous environments instead of locking clients into a single ecosystem.
Its 24/7 monitoring covers computers, servers, and network devices together. That matters for businesses without the internal resources to stitch separate monitoring tools together themselves.
Why Network Management Matters for Your Business
Solid network management delivers three concrete benefits:
- Fewer surprise outages, with faster recovery when issues do occur
- Continuous monitoring that catches threats before they spread
- Performance data that supports smarter growth decisions
Proactive management also changes how your IT team spends its time. Instead of constantly firefighting, staff can focus on strategic projects that move the business forward.
For organizations without the budget or headcount to build a full internal IT department, outsourcing to a vendor-neutral MSP is a practical alternative.
Matrix MSP's flat-rate model bundles 24/7 monitoring, help desk support, patching, backup, and vendor coordination into a fixed-price contract with no hidden labor costs. The company reports 99.99% uptime for clients under its business continuity support. Its engineers hold vendor and industry certifications across multiple operating systems and server platforms.
Outsourced management also supports compliance work. Matrix MSP's security services address PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX, and FFIEC requirements, which matter for healthcare organizations, financial businesses, and law firms under regulatory scrutiny.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does IT network management do?
It monitors, configures, secures, and maintains network infrastructure — routers, switches, servers, and connected devices — to keep business operations running without interruption.
What does an IT network administrator do?
Administrators handle daily tasks: configuring devices, monitoring performance, troubleshooting connectivity issues, enforcing security policies, and running backups.
What is a network management system (NMS)?
An NMS is software, sometimes paired with hardware, that gives administrators a dashboard view of network health, device status, and performance data across the infrastructure.
What is NaaS used for?
Network-as-a-Service provides on-demand, subscription-based network infrastructure and management, letting businesses avoid heavy upfront capital investment in hardware.
What are the key components of a network?
Routers, switches, servers, firewalls, access points, and end-user devices make up the core building blocks of most business networks.
What are the top network monitoring tools for IT network management?
Common categories include SNMP-based tools like PRTG and SolarWinds, RMM platforms such as N-sight, and cloud observability solutions like Datadog for tracking network health.
