DiData partners with Network Associates for global network analysis

Dimension Data has entered into a multi-million Rand international partnership with Network Associates to provide a best of breed network auditing service across the globe.

Through its Global Services division, the Group will utilise Network Associates` market leading Sniffer suite of network analysis and application management tools, used by more than 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies.

"We have taken our partnership with Network Associates further, however, by building a number of services around the Sniffer suite of products," says Mike Maree, of Dimension Data Global Services. "We have added artificial intelligence to ensure that not only do customers get a best of breed network analysis product, but also the services to ensure that whatever problems or potential issues detected are solved." Maree says network auditing tools are vital, but if they simply alert businesses to problems without resolving them, they may not be worth the investment.

"For a network audit service to give maximum return on investment it must ensure around-the-clock availability for customers and partners by providing real analysis of network performance," he says.

"Network audits must take a snapshot of the current network configuration and structure, but more importantly, provide a global overview and in-depth analysis of the network status."

Maree explains that many organisations recognise problems, but not their causes. Thus, if they experience slow communication between remote branches and head office, for example, they simply throw extra server hardware or memory at the problem.

"Companies often try to resolve problems through a process of elimination, rather than by pinpointing the exact problem, and then solving it logically," he says.

"Our strategic partnership with Network Associates is in line with our new cluster of global networking services, the Global Services Operating Architecture (GSOA)," explains Maree. "The key concept is to take the best point product available on the global market, and then embody that product into our global services architecture, using middleware that allows for its seamless integration.

"Network Associates` Sniffer is the best product in the world for gathering network data, and turning that data into information. Combined with our technology experience and skills, it is transformed into an unbeatable global service."

Sniffer delivers award-winning network management tools to help customers proactively monitor their network and resolve problems before they impact users, customers, or the corporate bottom line.

"All statistics and data generated by Sniffer are reviewed and interpreted by an audit team, and predictions and recommendations made for the customer," says Maree. "Problems are identified before they occur, enabling better informed network planning.

"The offering provides the ability to define network vulnerabilities and block loopholes. It decreases downtime while increasing productivity, and enables optimisation of the performance of the network."