What is a managed Network as a Service? + 7 reasons to use one

As organizations increasingly adopt cloud-first strategies, the demand for flexible and efficient network management solutions escalates. 

Managed Network as a Service (NaaS) addresses this by delivering tailored network services that ensure high performance and reliability. This approach allows businesses to leverage cutting-edge technology without the hassle of managing complex infrastructures.

Let’s take a look at how managed NaaS can simplify network management. We’ll cover: 

• What is a managed Network as a Service (NaaS)?
• Key features of managed NaaS
• 7 reasons to use managed Network as a Service
• Best practices for implementing managed NaaS
• Meter’s managed Network as a Service
• Next steps: Transform your network with Meter’s NaaS

What is a managed Network as a Service (NaaS)?

In a managed Network as a Service (NaaS) plan, a single vendor provides all the necessary hardware, software, and ongoing management services for a company’s network. This combination of custom products and services eliminates the need for businesses to design, install, and manage a network on their own. At Meter, the goal is to ensure seamless operation and reduce the complexity of IT tasks to support your existing team and engineers.

A NaaS includes multiple levels of support

• All-inclusive hardware and software package: The NaaS provider supplies and maintains all physical devices and software needed for network operation, simplifying infrastructure management.
• Enterprise controls: Advanced controls ensure security, compliance, and policy enforcement across the entire network.
• Deep visibility: Comprehensive monitoring and analytics tools offer insights into network performance, helping to quickly identify and resolve issues.

This approach ensures robust network management, supporting the growing complexity of modern IT environments.

Here’s how traditional network management approaches fall short

Unlike traditional approaches where companies buy, install, and manage their own network equipment, a NaaS covers everything from installation to ongoing maintenance. Office managers and business owners no longer have to worry about coordinating multiple vendors or dealing with network issues themselves. Instead, the NaaS provider ensures that the network is always up-to-date, secure, and performing optimally, allowing office managers to focus on their core responsibilities without IT distractions.

In the past, expanding a network required a significant investment in new hardware and expertise. With NaaS, scaling the network to accommodate more devices or new locations is straightforward and cost-effective, thanks to its subscription-based model. This model not only reduces upfront costs but also provides predictable monthly expenses, making budgeting easier. 

Key features of a managed NaaS

When choosing a managed NaaS, ensure it includes these key features for a strong, flexible, and secure network solution:

• Centralized cloud management: Choose a provider that offers a unified dashboard. This will make it easier to monitor, configure, and manage your network from anywhere.
• Automated updates: Make sure your NaaS automatically updates network devices and software with the latest features and security patches to reduce vulnerabilities and performance issues.
• Scalability: Ensure the NaaS can easily adjust network resources to meet your changing demands, avoiding the extra costs of buying things you don’t need, as well as the mistake of under-budgeting.
• Comprehensive security features: Opt for a NaaS that includes robust security measures like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption to protect your network and data.
• Continuous monitoring: Select a provider that offers 24/7 monitoring to detect and resolve network issues quickly, minimizing downtime and ensuring high availability.

7 reasons to use a managed Network as a Service

Managed NaaS offers a comprehensive solution that aligns with the dynamic needs of modern enterprises. Here are seven key reasons to consider switching to NaaS:

1. Cost efficiency

NaaS reduces capital expenditures because hardware and software costs are included in the subscription. This allows businesses to allocate funds to other critical areas, improving financial flexibility.

2. Scalability and flexibility

NaaS allows you to scale network resources up or down based on demand, ensuring you only pay for what you need. This flexibility lets you quickly adapt to business growth or changes without wasting resources or facing performance issues.

3. Enhanced security

NaaS includes advanced security features and continuous monitoring, protecting your network against threats. Regular updates and patches by the provider keep the network secure by addressing vulnerabilities promptly.

4. Reduced complexity

NaaS simplifies network management through centralized control, eliminating the need for in-house expertise. This reduces the complexity of managing a network and frees up your staff to focus on other tasks.

5. Improved performance and reliability

NaaS solutions are designed with high availability and redundancy. Proactive monitoring and issue resolution further enhance performance and reliability, ensuring your network runs smoothly.

6. Focus on core business activities

With a NaaS provider managing the network, your IT team can focus on strategic projects instead of routine maintenance. This allows your company to innovate faster and respond quickly to market changes.

7. Access to the latest technologies

NaaS providers constantly update their services with the latest network technologies and innovations. This helps your business avoid obsolescence and stay competitive in the market.

Best practices for implementing managed NaaS

Transitioning to a managed NaaS solution requires careful planning and execution. Here are some best practices for a smooth and successful implementation:

• Conduct a comprehensive network assessment: Understand your current setup to ensure the new solution meets all requirements. Assess your network infrastructure, strengths, weaknesses, and specific needs.
• Define clear objectives and requirements: Set clear goals for what you want to achieve with NaaS, including performance benchmarks, security needs, and scalability targets. This guides the selection and configuration of services to align with business needs.
• Plan for a phased implementation: Start with non-critical network segments or specific locations, then gradually expand. This helps identify and resolve issues early, ensuring a smoother overall transition.
• Provide robust training and support: Work with your NaaS provider to offer training sessions and create easy-to-follow documentation for users. This reduces the learning curve and ensures your team can fully utilize the new system.
• Establish monitoring and feedback loops: Use performance metrics and user surveys to regularly assess the NaaS implementation. This helps identify areas for improvement and ensures the solution continues to meet your needs, allowing for necessary adjustments.
• Gain support from key stakeholders: Involve IT staff, management, and end-users in the planning process to gather input and build ownership. Communicate the benefits and objectives of the NaaS solution and address any concerns they might have.
• Continuous management: Keep the NaaS solution aligned with changing business needs by establishing a dedicated team or role responsible for coordinating with the NaaS provider and providing regular updates to stakeholders.
• Regular reviews: Schedule periodic reviews to evaluate key performance metrics, gather user feedback, and make necessary adjustments to the NaaS configuration for ongoing improvement and optimization.

Meter’s managed Network as a Service

Meter's Network as a Service is designed for scalability. 

With Meter, you get a comprehensive solution that includes site surveys, installation, testing, hardware, software, dashboards, and ongoing maintenance—all in one integrated package.

• Cost efficiency: Your monthly fee covers hardware, software, installation, ongoing maintenance and support, network management, and security.
• ‍Scalability: We provide complimentary hardware upgrades and extra hardware as your business grows. Looking for a new space? We’ll move your network if you need to relocate.
• ‍Enhanced security: Your subscription includes DNS security, VLANs, and VPNs. You’ll also have access to a comprehensive dashboard for easy monitoring.
• ‍Reduced complexity: We’ve got all of the setup plans covered—from ISP procurement and network design to installation, configuration, and management.
• ‍Improved performance: From fully integrated security appliances, routing, and switching to redundant designs, we cover all the bases to improve the performance of your network. 

‍Latest technologies: Meter switches offer enhanced flexibility, visibility, and configurability with new digital twin capability—with free upgrades as they’re released. Meter’s 1G and 10G Security Appliances provide better network monitoring across your entire office. Meter also provides Wi-Fi network access points devices that create a larger Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) to expand your Wi-Fi network safely.

When First Round Capital was setting up a new office, Director of IT Ryan Donnon wanted a solution that aligned with the firm's cloud-first strategy, and Meter came through. 

“I call Meter an ‘End-to-End Networking as a Service’ company. If you need your internet infrastructure up and running quickly and easily, just call Meter. They’ll get you from 0 to 100 with little to no pain,” said Donnon. 

Similarly, when Loom needed to expand its network with new offices, Meter’s NaaS was the right choice. 

“Networking as a service is much more viable, and that’s exactly what Meter provides,” explained Prema Nagarajan, Director of IT at Loom.

Meanwhile, technology company Thumbtack experienced significant cost savings with Meter. They achieved a 3x cost reduction over the duration of their new lease. Their on-call support requests also decreased by 80%, allowing the team to concentrate on more critical projects.

Next steps: Transform your network with Meter’s NaaS

Meter simplifies network management with our seamless, cloud-managed infrastructure.

We provide an end-to-end solution that handles everything from design and installation to ongoing maintenance and support. We keep your network working seamlessly with:

• Supercharged security: Our centralized platform monitors, manages, and enforces security policies with DNS security, malware protection, VPN capabilities, and real-time insights to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data integrity.
• ‍Complete network transparency: Monitor and control your network remotely with our intuitive dashboard, automating configurations and eliminating manual IT intervention.
• ‍Improved speed and reliability: Integrated security appliances, routing, and switching ensure seamless network interoperability, high availability with redundancy, and preventive enterprise controls.
• ‍24/7 operations: With 24/7 operations and automated network health monitoring that alerts the entire team if the network goes offline, your network is fully supported at all times.
  

Try a demo of Meter to see what sets us apart.