Effective network design starts with a clear understanding of the systems, users, security requirements, and operational priorities the network must support. Reliant System helps organizations plan network architecture that balances connectivity, security, reliability, manageability, and future needs.
Whether you are evaluating an existing environment, preparing for an infrastructure change, or planning a new network, the engagement begins with an agreed scope. Recommendations are then developed around the requirements and constraints identified during discovery.
What Network Design May Address
- Business applications, users, devices, and connectivity requirements
- Network segmentation and access-control considerations
- Routing, switching, wireless, remote-access, and internet connectivity needs
- Capacity, performance, availability, and redundancy requirements
- Security controls and dependencies between network services
- Existing technology standards, operational processes, and budget constraints
- Expected growth, planned changes, and ongoing management needs
Our Network Design Process
1. Discovery and Scope
We work with relevant stakeholders to identify business objectives, technical requirements, known concerns, project boundaries, and decision criteria. The scope also defines which locations, systems, applications, and network services are included.
2. Current-State Review
When an existing environment is involved, available diagrams, configurations, inventories, dependencies, and operational concerns are reviewed. The goal is to understand the starting point and identify information that must be validated before design decisions are made.
3. Architecture Development
Potential design approaches are evaluated against the agreed requirements. This may include logical and physical topology, segmentation, connectivity, resiliency, security, management, and transition considerations.
4. Design Review and Validation
Assumptions, constraints, dependencies, and tradeoffs are reviewed with stakeholders. Feedback is incorporated so the proposed architecture reflects both technical needs and practical operating conditions.
5. Implementation Roadmap
The final design can be organized into phases, prerequisites, decision points, and validation steps. This gives internal teams or implementation partners a practical basis for planning the work.
Potential Network Design Deliverables
Deliverables are defined for each engagement and may include:
- Current-state and proposed network diagrams
- Documented requirements, assumptions, constraints, and dependencies
- Logical architecture and segmentation recommendations
- Routing, addressing, connectivity, and access-control considerations
- Availability, redundancy, security, and management recommendations
- Phased implementation or migration roadmap
- Testing, validation, and acceptance considerations
- Questions or decisions requiring additional stakeholder input
The exact depth and format depend on the agreed project scope. Reliant System can focus on architecture planning alone or develop documentation intended to support a later implementation effort.
Network Design FAQs
Can you review an existing network?
Yes. A network design engagement can begin with a review of an existing environment, available documentation, known issues, and planned changes. The scope determines how much configuration or technical validation is included.
Does network design include implementation?
Design and implementation are separate activities unless both are included in the agreed scope. The design can provide a roadmap for internal staff, another technology provider, or a separately scoped implementation project.
Will the design account for cybersecurity requirements?
Security considerations can be incorporated throughout the architecture, including segmentation, access, remote connectivity, management, resilience, and monitoring dependencies. Specific controls depend on the environment and project requirements.
Can you work within our existing technology standards?
A design can account for existing platforms, internal standards, vendor requirements, support capabilities, and other constraints identified during discovery. Any product-selection or procurement work should be defined explicitly in the scope.
Discuss Your Network Requirements
Contact Reliant System to describe your current environment, planned changes, and network design goals. We can use that information to discuss an appropriate scope and starting point.