What is an Enterprise Network?

Enterprise networking is the foundation of information technology for a large organization. 

It’s the infrastructure that allows users to engage with business-critical applications and data on multiple devices. This can include multiple elements such as real and virtual networks, on-premise and geographically disperse data centers, even a public, private or hybrid cloud. 

Generally, an enterprise network is made up several Large Area Networks (LANS) joined together into a Wide Area Network (WAN) so that users can access the same applications and information across the organization. It also prioritizes performance so that users can easily access what they need on any device in any location. 

What is the Role of an Enterprise Network?

Enterprise networking describes the types of networks created by mid-sized and large organizations for efficient data sharing and application access by users across the organization. Enterprise networks commonly have these characteristics: 

• Size– Enterprise networks are typically marked by the size of network and/or the size of the organization itself. A larger organization will have more users and applications to support, making the enterprise network larger. 

• Complexity – Due to its size and the organization’s business needs, an enterprise network can be more complex than networks supporting smaller organizations. Complexity increases as other factors are added such as multiple locations and remote users. This is why many organizations will opt for managed enterprise network solutions that rely on the provider to manage and monitor a particular network element. 

• Performance – The top objective for any enterprise network is performance. Regardless of where users are located, the network is designed and refined to enable access to business information for optimal productivity. 

• Reliability –Just as important as performance is enterprise network reliability. Without it, a highly performing network goes underutilized and productivity suffers.

• Scalability – Unlike networks for smaller organizations, enterprise networks typically require—and build in—scalability. This allows the network to grow and evolve with the organization over time and according to its needs. 

The Importance of Connectivity in an Enterprise Network

The modern enterprise network cannot function without connectivity. 

That may seem obvious, but connectivity can be an overlooked element in an enterprise network amidst the other complexities of design and implementation. But connectivity, especially reliable connectivity, is critical to the function of today’s enterprise network.

As more and more enterprise networks migrate to the cloud, connectivity is the bridge between the user and the information and applications they want to access. 

In fact, assessing your connectivity to ensure it meets your organization’s needs is one of the top ways to improve your enterprise network. This is particularly important if you have multiple locations sharing collective bandwidth. 

The emergence of fiber connectivity offers a huge benefit for enterprise networks. Not only does it offer faster speeds, it’s more reliable, more secure, and more energy efficient than standard cable connectivity. 

Enterprise Network & Organization Growth

Today, enterprise networks are the backbone of modern organizations. Designed to empower users with access to business systems and information, an enterprise network fuels business goals and company growth when it’s reliable and high performing. Connectivity is a critical element for an optimized network, helping to ensure application availability and a productive user experience. 

Learn how Frontier Multi-Site Connectivity reliably supports high performance enterprise networks.