Logical Network Designs

Once you've finished the layout design for your practice's network, you're ready to decide on its logical design. The logical design, in other words, is the intangible function and infrastructure of the network.

Below you'll find tips on making your network flexible and efficient, contributing to smooth operations:

Flexibility

When organizing a design, group by function as well as geography. This sort of design allows for better flexibility for the functionality and management of the network. That is, if your business has multiple locations, is can be beneficial to form a logical unit called 'front desk.' From 'front desk,' you could then also create a logical unit for every location and place each user account into an appropriate unit.

The first benefit is that you can apply network policies to the logical units. For example, perhaps all 'front desk' accounts are set for their screens to lock up after ten minutes without activity. To apply, simply add this feature to the 'front desk' unit on the network.

The second benefit lets you to group by function, then geography, allowing you to delegate necessary admin functions across the network. Going back to the front desk, for example - each area could be delegated to a supervisor with the privilege of changing passwords. In this way the entire front desk set could be delegated to a single clinic administrator, eliminating the problem of a staff member who is unable to perform the job functions because they need an unavailable Internet technology person to help them sign in and out.

Basic Network Service

When you've produced a working draft of the network organization, it's the time to choose which services you'll add. For a smooth-functioning office environment, the most needed are Internet access, email, and file storage.

Network file storage is an excellent tool for an organization to have, allowing them to map network drives for individual users, and requiring them to save the data to the network instead of local machines. This protects and backs-up the data. By storing the data on a single server, you will have the ability to perform a centralized nightly backup, and control access to info. Additionally, this will let your users get to the info they want from any machine across the network, even from home.

It can be preferable to setup every user account with a series of network drives with a narrow access scope. This lets the user easily share documents across departments, be it an employee manual, new policy, or vacation scheduling. The department drive can also be set to share info only with users in that specific department, allowing fluid department collaboration.

Each individual user account has its own home directory which is only accessible by that individual user. This creates a safe area for confidential documentation which should not be accessed by others, also backed up on a nightly schedule.

Internet and email

This is an excellent service to include on the network. However, when setting up email, be sure to run good anti-virus software on the mail server, to scan all outgoing and incoming messages. Email is the top method of spreading viruses, and if the mail server is configured properly at the outset you have most effectively reduced your risk. Microsoft Exchange or another mail server solution are excellent ways to introduce email as well as online calendars.

Internet access is a must to properly communicate between multiple locations. Additionally, most software companies ask that you keep a broadband connection in order to send you updates and support. Although pricing and support for broadband service varies by area, the need for proper security is constant. No matter what kind of connection you establish, be sure your assets are kept behind a firewall, a security device that stays between the network and the world outside it. It can be a good idea for someone to perform an outside scan and look for weaknesses in your firewall every now and then.

The majority of vendors have product versions for both corporate and consumer customers; the corporate version are built for network-based deployment and have additional tools for you to centrally manage your anti-virus product and strategy.