Perhaps never before has the global economy faced such uncertainty — at least not on this scale. While many view this time of change as a crisis, others see it as an opportunity. Here are some of HP ProCurve’s top recommendations for weathering the global economic storm from a networking perspective.

Don’t panic. Now is not the time to overreact. It’s also not the time to freeze up. Your business must move forward, and your network must move forward in support of it. That said, you can be more prudent and strategic as you...

Take advantage of the opportunity. The most successful businesspeople and enterprises always turn a setback into an opportunity. As many organizations will struggle in this tenuous environment—some will fall altogether—the time is ripe to boost your company’s competitive positioning and profitability. Your network can be a significant enabler for these efforts—delivering new services, capabilities, and efficiencies that create competitive advantages and boost revenue.

Make sure you implement solutions that positively impact business agility and scalability (ProCurve’s standards-based solutions and modular offerings, for example). Doing so will ensure your organization can take advantage of market opportunities and scale in accordance with demand.

Focus on network security. Business continuity is essential in uncertain economic times. The margin for error is increasingly narrow, and network downtime can have a devastating impact on your organization. Make sure your business maintains pace and your enterprise assets are protected by bolstering network security. A good place to start is ProCurve’s Network Security Center.

Seek employee productivity gains. With shrunken budgets and, in many cases, fewer employees, business efficiency is crucial. Use your network to empower your workforce. By automating certain tasks and delivering IT tools that boost efficiency and productivity, your company can effectively do more with less.

According to industry analyst Nick Lippis in the November 4, 2008 Lippis Report:
“As corporations reduce staff, remaining employees are required to increase their workload. For those business and IT leaders who view IT, networking, and communications in particular as strategic, they will leverage IT to ensure that employees can increase productivity. Business leaders can choose to guide their firms into a period of huge productivity growth on the order of 5 to 10 percent during this downturn as RIF [Reduction in Force] is complemented with business processes automated through IT.”

Leverage your network for new business services. The biggest way your network can help grow business during the economic downturn is by delivering new capabilities and services. Networks are no longer merely utilitarian conduits. They have become business drivers and enablers. If you can tap your network to further engage your existing customers or attract new clientele, your company has a better chance of sailing smoothly through the economic storm.

Get more than one infrastructure bid. The days of indiscriminate spending are over. That’s why it’s important to look at several vendors whenever you seek new networking solutions. You also may want to reevaluate the ongoing costs of your existing infrastructure systems. While change is often associated with spending, keeping your current systems might be more costly than making a switch.

Beware of hidden costs. Look carefully at total cost of ownership (TCO) when purchasing and maintaining networking solutions. Support, upgrade, and replacement expenses can be debilitating for companies who think their budget is safe after their networking gear is installed. For example, HP ProCurve offers Lifetime Warranty for most products, with free software upgrades and free phone support.

Lead efforts to make your IT efficient and effective. Nothing can tether—or unleash—your business more than your network. It is a key enabler of technologies for virtualization, automation, consolidation, energy and space efficiencies, unified communications, and much more. In addition, a robust Wireless LAN based on 802.11n standards can extend your network’s reach and impact while reducing costs.

Sometimes the problem isn’t the equipment. This is also a great time to break down traditional walls between IT teams. If your organization is moving to standardized processes such as ITIL or BCP, become fluent in those processes and how the network can make them more effective.

Seek safe, long-term partners. Not every networking vendor will make it through this economic downturn, and you don’t want to be left with unsupported networking gear. As an integral part of HP and as a leader in the networking industry, you can rest assured that HP ProCurve will be here to support you in both the immediate and long-term future.

Remember, the goal of any economic downturn is to first survive, then to thrive. To do that, you must look for new ways to grow your business, lower costs, and mitigate risks. By leveraging your network, you can be a calming beacon as your organization navigates rough waters.

If you have questions or need help from a networking standpoint, please call your GreenPages account executive at 800-989-2989.

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