What to look for in an Outsourced NOC service provider

You weighed pros and cons, Small Office Network Setup Cost and Benefits. You can now outsource your NOC services. If you are looking for an outsourced NOC partner, look for a partner that offers a variety of custom options. Your needs are unique and your business faces its own challenges.

Below is a list of criteria from our free ebook "Choosing a NOC Partner": Everything you should consider when outsourcing your monitoring services. To meet your requirements, your NOC service provider must prove:

The ability to monitor your complex network environment

This feature includes not only the Network Setup but also the latest virtual, distributed, cloud-based environments and all intermediate hybrids. Older devices and current operations must also be supported because they are still dependent on them - and they work.

The ability to perform synthetic transactions

Synthetic transactions test the availability and functionality of your system. These transaction functions are generally outside the scope of business monitoring software platforms. Your NOC provider should provide these services.

Flexibility, as NOC notifies you

Your NOC partner should provide alert options that include a variety of options, depending on who needs to be notified and how serious the problem is.

Flexibility when NOC notifies you

Your NOC partner must be able to consider your internal business hours, holidays and office hours. You must be able to withstand notification delays that occur due to time or persistent thresholds, and you must be able to suspend the alert during known maintenance windows.

Level 1 Renovation

Monitoring and discovery are just the first steps in keeping your network alive. The goal of NOC is to prevent interrupts (and bring them back online when interrupts occur). Look for a NOC partner with a history of troubleshooting and resolving interrupts and deficiencies.

Support Around the Clock

If you need support and quick response around the clock, look for a partner who can answer your calls around the clock.

Attention to continuous improvement

A qualified NOC partner needs to continually improve monitoring to learn more about their Small Office Network Setup, and their people.

15 Questions You Should Ask Your NOC Provider

If you think you have found the right NOC provider, you should ask the following 15 questions:

1. What is the supplier's main business? Is the provision of NOC services the main service or a "compliment" to another main offer?
2. Is your location in the US? (Tip: Think about financial issues and outsourcing compliance issues abroad.)
3. Can they be scaled to support your business? Is there a minimum that you should buy?
4. Are your employees on duty or on-site? When is NOC?
5. How will your NOC access your network? Is there a portal to ensure uninterrupted monitoring?
6. Is the platform flexible and customizable or limited to out-of-box functionality?
7. How are run books developed and maintained?
8. Does the NOC provide subcontracting?
9. How do you alert NOC and handle interrupt escalations? How can you communicate with NOC?
10. How fast can you diagnose and fix problems?
11. Can the NOC monitor existing and new technologies?
12. Do you (the customer) need to open and manage merchant or carrier travel tickets? Or can the NOC handle it?
13. How long does the implementation of an outsourced solution take?
14. Is the outsourced NOC price fixed, staggered or varies with use?
15. Can I see a demo? How about a free trial?