Network management Mist AI

Overloaded network team? 3 signs that it's time for support

Michel Adelaar
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Michel Adelaar , Solution lead , Nomios Netherlands

6 min. read
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Juniper Networks

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IT teams are often under pressure. According to research by IDC, no less than 85.8% of organisations worldwide are struggling with a shortage of qualified IT personnel. This staff shortage, combined with the increasing complexity of modern networks, is creating a workload that continues to grow.

The consequences are obvious: reduced efficiency, more downtime and high stress levels. In fact, IDC predicts that by 2026, this situation could lead to global delays and quality issues costing as much as $5.5 billion.

But it doesn't have to come to that. By recognising the right signals in time and using smart technology, you can prevent your team from getting stuck. This not only allows you to maintain control over your network, but also increases the efficiency and job satisfaction of your IT team. In addition, you prevent the team from getting stuck in reactive mode. Without the right support, the team cannot effectively contribute to achieving business objectives such as cost reduction and the rollout of new applications.

In this blog, we discuss three important signs that indicate it is time for support, and what you can do about it.

Signal 1: Increasing network failures

You know how it goes: a network failure is quickly resolved with a temporary fix because there is simply no time for a more thorough approach. The result? The same problems keep coming back, often in a more disruptive form. This pattern is a clear sign that your team is overloaded.

If your network team is constantly putting out fires, there is no time left for structural solutions. It's like patching a tyre without removing the sharp object – you know you'll soon be back on the road with the same flat tyre.

This is where smart technology can help. Research by Forbes shows that AI-driven network management will play a major role in preventing outages and reducing workload by 2024. Modern solutions such as Juniper Mist use AI to proactively detect and address network issues. The system continuously monitors your network and can automatically resolve common issues before users are affected. This not only reduces the number of outages, but also gives your team the space to focus on more important matters.

In addition, Juniper Mist provides highly detailed insight into how end users experience the performance of commonly used tools such as Teams or Zoom. Problems can be identified more quickly and resolved proactively. For example, Marvis Mini's simulate user connections based on artificial transactions to validate network configurations and detect potential bottlenecks before they impact the end-user experience.

Signal 2: Delays in resolving issues

When a network issue arises, resolving it can take a significant amount of time. Your team must first identify the cause, then test various possible solutions, and finally resolve the issue. With an understaffed team, this can quickly lead to other important tasks being left unattended.

Manually searching for the cause of network issues is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Your team spends valuable hours analysing log files and testing different scenarios, while the pressure to resolve the issue continues to mount.

This process can take hours or even days, especially if your team is already overloaded. What's more, there is always the risk that a clue will be overlooked, causing the problem to resurface later.

This is where AI-driven analytics can make a world of difference. Juniper Mist uses advanced algorithms to immediately identify the root cause of problems. Based on the virtual network assistant, Marvis, you can also actively ask which users may be experiencing a problem. The system continuously collects and analyses network data, enabling it to identify where the problem lies and how it can be resolved within minutes. In the event of an incident, Juniper Mist automatically generates a Dynamic Packet Capture, eliminating the need to send an engineer to the site with a sniffer. This allows the problem to be analysed more quickly.

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Signal 3: Lack of time for innovation

Does this sound familiar? Your team has great ideas for new projects and improvements, but simply cannot get around to implementing them. Daily operational tasks consume all available time. This is more than frustrating – it hinders the growth and development of your organisation.

In the fast-paced world of IT, standing still means falling behind. New technologies, security challenges and user demands require continuous adjustments and improvements to your network. But if your team is stuck in a cycle of routine tasks and troubleshooting, there is no room for strategic innovation.

The consequences are far-reaching. While competitors innovate with new technologies such as SD-WAN, cloud security and IoT solutions, your organisation lags behind due to a lack of implementation capacity. This creates a technological gap and has further consequences.

Security risks increase because systems are not updated or replaced in a timely manner. Outdated network equipment and software are often more vulnerable to cyber attacks because they no longer meet the latest security standards. In addition, they often lack security features that are standard in modern systems.

Your organisation is also becoming less attractive as an employer for ambitious IT talent. The best professionals want to work with the latest technologies and continue to develop. If they see that the organisation is lagging behind in terms of technology, they are more likely to choose an employer that does innovate.

Finally, inefficient processes lead to higher operational costs. Manual tasks that could have been automated, outdated systems that require more maintenance, and the lack of modern monitoring tools all create unnecessary expenses that directly impact your bottom line.

By automating daily network tasks, you create breathing space for your team. With an AI-driven solution such as Juniper Mist, smart systems take over routine monitoring and problem-solving. This not only gives your experts the space to focus on what really matters: innovation and improving your network infrastructure. It also allows them to delve deeper into how users actually experience connectivity and meet their service level expectations. This means that not only is technical performance optimised, but the end-user experience is continuously improved.

Technology as your team's ally

The modern network team needs more than just extra manpower. The solution lies in smart technology, such as Juniper Mist, which reduces the workload and takes overall efficiency to the next level. This creates the much-needed space for teams to focus on what really matters: innovations that drive the organisation forward.

In daily practice, we quickly see the positive effects of this transformation. The AI system takes over repetitive tasks such as network monitoring and routine maintenance, saving teams time and ensuring consistent execution of these basic tasks. In addition, it significantly speeds up problem solving – where teams used to spend hours tracking down problems, the system now provides not only a diagnosis but also concrete solutions within minutes.

This technological support has a profound effect on the working environment. Team members experience less work pressure and can focus on their core tasks without interruption, leading to a noticeable increase in job satisfaction and a significant reduction in stress. The capacity freed up is put to good use for strategic initiatives, whether it's improving security, implementing new technologies or optimising business processes.

Ultimately, end users reap the benefits. Through continuous monitoring and rapid intervention, potential problems are often resolved before they become noticeable. The result is a more stable, productive working environment where both the IT team and users can perform at their best.

Would you like to experience for yourself how AI can support your network team? Discover the possibilities of Juniper Mist.

Outsourcing network management as a strategic choice

If you don't have enough people available within your own organisation, you can also outsource the management of your network. By letting Nomios do this, you not only have first-line support, but also direct access to experts via second-line and third-line support. This ensures that your network is optimally managed and your team can focus on core business tasks. With Nomios' managed network services, you have access to specialised knowledge and proactive management, ensuring that your network not only remains stable, but is also ready for future innovations and growth.

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