A network operations center is the heartbeat of an organization. It is the central location where all network activity is monitored and controlled. Additionally, its design must take into account the specific needs of the organization it will be supporting. The ideal configuration will vary depending on the size of the organization and the type of networks being managed.
A network operations center (NOC) also helps maintain your company’s business by identifying and repairing any network issues. In other words, it’s where your IT department manages, monitors, and maintains IT infrastructure, along with your company’s network.
Because of the vital work performed in NOCs, it’s often important to use specialized furniture, along with custom NOC solutions. Fortunately, this is exactly what Saraval Industries can provide. We are proud to be your full-service technical furniture dealership and offer a variety of options, including brand-new and used office furniture.
Here, we discuss some of the key considerations when designing a network operation center, along with the most frequently asked questions about NOCs. We will also take a look at some furniture options that can help make yours more streamlined and effective.
Whether your business needs to build a NOC or simply refurnish one, Saraval Industries can help.
What is a Network Operations Center?
To understand what a Network Operations Center (NOC) is, it helps to first understand network operations and what network teams do.
Vmware defines network operations as the “tools, processes, and practices used to manage the lifecycle of a network infrastructure.”
Furthermore, network operations teams are responsible for maintaining network performance and reliability. They handle configuration of new resources, update existing systems, and often play a key role in identifying and mitigating security threats.
At the heart of these operations is the Network Operations Center, or NOC (pronounced “knock”). This centralized facility gives IT professionals full visibility into the network so they can oversee performance, resolve issues quickly, and support business continuity. It also acts as the first line of defense when outages or system failures occur.
NOC teams manage a host of activities, including:
- Network monitoring: Collecting data on network performance, availability, and usage.
- Fault management: Identifying and resolving network problems.
- Configuration management: Tracking and managing changes to network configuration files.
- Security management: Detecting and responding to security threats.
- Capacity planning: Forecasting future network needs and ensuring that adequate capacity is available.
- Policy enforcement: Enforcing network protocols and service level agreements.
- Talent provisions: Providing contractor, vendor and freelancer management.
To put it more simply, a NOC provides your company’s IT professionals with a centralized location to monitor, supervise, and maintain your specific network(s) and IT infrastructure. There are also a few other key points that NOC employees work on, including:
- Performing proactive maintenance
- Resolving issues
- Generating reports
- Analyzing network data
- Coordinating with other teams
Without a working NOC, businesses wouldn’t have the same level of uptime and network reliability. Your NOC literally saves money by ensuring optimal network health, and it may also prevent anomalies and security threats.
What is a NOC Engineer?
A NOC Engineer is someone who manages the NOC. Solutions for connectivity and security problems, as well as enacting changes to improve the efficiency of a network, are designed and implemented by a NOC engineer.
NOC engineers will also oversee and manage basic functions of the NOC, including monitoring the temperature of hardware and installation of new equipment and keeping an eye on the usage of the network.
What is a NOC Specialist?
A NOC specialist is someone who often works under a NOC engineer. These professionals are the staff that typically enact the changes and operations designed by the NOC engineer. Their job also consists of continuous monitoring to provide real-time data.
What is the Purpose of a NOC?
The main purpose of a Network Operations Center (NOC) is to maintain the performance, security, and availability of an organization’s network infrastructure. NOC teams work around the clock to detect anomalies, respond to threats, and resolve technical issues before they impact users or business operations.
To support these efforts and coordinate teams, many NOCs use a large video screen to display real-time data on network health, traffic, and alerts. This centralized visual tool helps engineers and specialists coordinate responses efficiently—especially during incidents like Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks or hardware and software failures.
What Kinds of Organizations Use NOCs?
Large organizations that have a need for extensive networks will often have in-house NOCs. Large corporations, universities, and government agencies, among many others, will have their own sophisticated NOCs with staff to address problems whenever they come up. We’ll touch more on this subject in a little bit. For now, though, let’s pay attention to some of the more specialized questions we get asked about NOCs on a regular basis.
Network Operations Centers (NOCs) – Frequently Asked Questions
Read through the following list of questions to get a better understanding of NOCs, ranging from network monitoring solutions to the best NOC consoles for your business. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a better idea of what you need. You can always contact Saraval Industries for assistance.
Why is specialized furniture essential for a NOC?
The IT staff that work in your company’s NOC often face a high-pressure environment that doesn’t have room for any mistakes. Remaining efficient under these circumstances is a must, and having the right furniture makes it easier. Additionally, ergonomic benefits, including injury prevention, increased productivity, and improved mental clarity, will help keep NOC employees fresh.
Another prime reason to purchase ergonomic furniture for your NOC is to make sure everyone has access to critical technical integrations. For instance, a NOC worker may need multiple screens to perform their job accurately, so it’s wise to get them a desk with at least two monitor arms. This is a prime example of technical furniture for NOCs.
What types of NOC furniture does Saraval Industries provide?
Saraval Industries has provided furniture for 30+ years, and we place an emphasis on technical furniture. Just a sample of the styles we offer for NOCs include:
- Consoles
- Monitoring stations
- Custom ergonomic chairs
- Technology integration
Why are these things so important? Well, without specialized monitoring stations, it will be much more difficult for IT to keep a close eye on your network and its components such as firewalls, switches, servers, and routers. Also, having a desk that integrates with technology means not having to worry about where all the cords, screens, etc. are going to go.
Another important point is that without custom ergonomic chairs, your critical IT staff may suffer from neck or joint pain. As a result, they’ll have higher absenteeism and lower employee morale.
How do custom NOC furniture solutions improve operational efficiency?
Almost every worker has experience using uncomfortable or awkwardly placed furniture. This often leads to lower quality work and even higher turnover rates. Instead of taking this path, you can actually save money in the long run with custom furniture solutions. In fact, when you choose the right furniture, it will boost operational efficiency by improving alertness, enhancing morale, and reducing discomfort and fatigue.
Offering better space utilization helps streamline information presentation. Furthermore, having an efficient workspace layout reduces unnecessary movements and wasted time. Selecting your custom NOC furniture solutions by task requirements and working style will also help your individual employees provide their best work.
What industries typically require Network Operations Centers?
Certain industries are much more prone to having NOCs and will usually keep their NOC operating 24/7. These include:
Each of the above listed industries is vitally important and letting IT issues sneak by could cause irreparable harm. That’s why even proactive maintenance must be performed regularly. After all, without timely firmware updates, software patches, and infrastructure changes, your company will spend a lot more time chasing down network-related security threats.
How are major tech cities continuing to grow and evolve? Well, in New York, they’re currently working on the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub to help the eastern part of the state compete with NYC. The city has big tech companies such as Adobe, Microsoft, and Salesforce, though, so the I-Corridor Tech Hub may have to go after smaller businesses that take care of big issues.
San Francisco, meanwhile, provides a home for Cisco, Airbnb, Uber, etc., which helps solidify its presence among major U.S. tech hubs. In Chicago, there are several major tech changes afoot. Their existing businesses include Sprout Social, Avant, and Caterpillar. Finally, in Dallas, you can find tech names such as Texas Instruments, AT&T, and Opendoor. No matter what city or company you work for, a NOC is always imperative.
Can Saraval Industries assist with NOC design and planning?
Not only does Saraval Industries offer custom NOC furniture solutions, but we also offer customized layout planning. Additionally, our experts provide consultation services to help ensure your NOC is well-designed to meet the needs of your employees. For example, following ergonomic standards and integrating technology into your furniture will make each worker’s day easier and more efficient.
How do I get started with upgrading or building a new NOC?
Whether you’re building a brand-new NOC or need to upgrade an existing one, your first step should be to seek out Saraval Industries’ consultation process. Next, we’ll help you decide on the best custom designs and furniture selections to ensure your workers are unencumbered and can fully focus on their tasks. Once your furniture is ready, our team can even help you install it properly. Our focus is on making sure your employees are comfortable and able to work more efficiently.
The Ideal Design Layout for a NOC
Now that we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about NOCs, we’re going to shift our focus to helping ensure you set up the perfect layout for your office. The layout of a NOC is important to the efficiency of the team. The ideal design layout for a NOC depends on the specific needs of the organization it will be supporting.
When designing a NOC, there are several key considerations that must be taken into account. First, you need to determine the size of the NOC. This will dictate the amount of equipment and personnel that can be accommodated. Second, you need to consider the type of networks being managed. This will affect the types of monitoring.
Also, a well-designed NOC will have clear lines of sight and easy access to all equipment. The workstations should be arranged in a way that allows for collaboration and communication.
How to Arrange a NOC
There are a few different ways to arrange workstations in a NOC. The most common arrangement is the use of pods. Pods are small groups of workstations that are arranged in a circle or U-shape. This arrangement allows team members to easily see and talk to each other.
Another popular arrangement is the use of an open floor plan. This type of layout eliminates walls and partitions between workstations. This allows for better communication and collaboration between team members.
Furniture That Can Help
When designing your NOC, it’s important to choose furniture that will help your team be more efficient and effective. Command center furniture is designed to help you create an effective NOC.
When choosing Network Operation Furniture, it’s also critical to consider the needs of your team. You’ll need to decide how many workstations you need, what type of monitors you need, and what type of storage you need. Additionally, you’ll need to choose furniture that’s comfortable and ergonomic to ensure that your team can work effectively.
Network Operations Center Furniture
When it comes to outfitting your network operations center (NOC), the right furniture can make all the difference in the world. After all, you and your team will be spending a lot of time in this space, so you want to be sure that it is comfortable and conducive to productive work. But with all the different furniture options on the market, it can be tough to know where to start.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for NOC furniture:
- Ergonomics: First and foremost, you want furniture that is ergonomic. This means that it will be comfortable to sit in for long periods of time and that it will support good posture. Look for adjustable chairs and desks that allow you to customize the fit to your own body.
- Functionality: You also want furniture that is functional. This means having enough storage space for all of your equipment and being able to easily access everything you need. Look for desks with plenty of drawer space and shelves or cabinets that can be used to store equipment.
- Durability: Since NOC furniture will be getting a lot of use, you want to make sure that it is built to last. Look for furniture made from high-quality materials that can stand up to heavy use.
As mentioned, with all the different furniture options on the market, it can be tough to know where to start. Saraval Industries, with their wide inventory of NOC Furniture, can help you find the perfect furniture for your needs.
Technical Furniture
The technical furniture design for your needs must be designed for mission-critical environments. Therefore, the functionality and ergonomics of the furniture are important considerations here, as well.
Here are some factors to keep in mind when supplying new or used technical furniture to your NOC environment:
- Modular workstations can be configured to meet the specific needs of your team.
- Technical furniture should be easy to clean and maintain.
- Monitor arms and keyboard trays can help optimize ergonomics.
- Cable management is essential to reduce clutter and keep cords organized.
- Power and data ports should be easily accessible.
- Storage solutions can help organize equipment and supplies.
- Furniture must be durable enough to withstand heavy use.
Contact Saraval Industries For All Your NOC Furniture Needs Today
When outfitting your NOC with new or used technical furniture, it is important to work with a vendor who understands the specific needs of mission-critical environments. Saraval Industries is the leading provider of new, used, and refurbished technical furniture. We specialize in command center furniture and network operations center (NOC) design. Our team of experts can help you create an ergonomic and functional NOC that meets all of your specific needs.