A NOC (Network Operations Center) is a place that continuously monitors the status and performance of a network. As the first line of defence against network disruptions and failures, it plays a crucial role for businesses. But what exactly does this concept mean? What challenges does the NOC address? And above all, what are the benefits for the organizations that use it? Here are some answers.
NOC: definition and objectives
Specifically dedicated to network control, a Network Operations Center acts as a centralized hub managed by IT teams. More concretely, a NOC supervises an organization's infrastructure and connectivity equipment, covering cabling, servers, wireless systems, firewalls, network peripherals, and now even applications.
The creation and hosting of an NOC can be carried out in-house - by setting up a dedicated space - or outsourced to a company specializing in network monitoring and management. Nevertheless, whatever the approach adopted, NOC members are entrusted with the same missions and face the same challenges.
A NOC has a dual objective: to maintain network performance at a high level, while ensuring continuous availability. With this in mind, the Network Operations Center may be called upon to perform various tasks, such as :
- Monitor the network to detect incidents requiring rapid intervention;
- Manage servers and devices, including updates, software installation and troubleshooting;
- Respond quickly to incidents: communication problems, security alerts, etc. ;
- Ensure network security, by analyzing potential threats and deploying tools to counter them.
NOC vs SOC: different roles
Although a NOC (Network Operations Center) and a SOC (Security Operations Center) share a common objective - to solve IT-related problems - their roles and missions differ:
- An NOC focuses on network performance and availability. Its technicians deal with routine incidents inherent in regular system operation.
- In contrast , an SOC is entirely dedicated to corporate security: its teams are responsible for detecting cyber threats and reacting in the event of an attack.
These two departments are therefore essential to the smooth running of a company. In fact, the SOC and NOC teams are required to work together to resolve crises or large-scale problems.
