S 5.7 Network management

Initiation responsibility: IT Security Officer, Head of IT

Implementation responsibility: Head of IT

Networks can be managed centrally or locally at the various nodes. This will depend on the technical possibilities and administration of the network nodes. In any case, central co-ordination of all network activities of a government agency or company is required in order to avoid redundancies. The following should be controlled centrally:

• selection and routing of cables,
• selection of the IT systems and applications in order to avoid incompatibilities,
• central allocation of network addresses and user IDs,
• the organisational allocation of network components, e.g. to departments

Local management of the various network nodes and the connected IT systems is also possible.

In this respect, the functions and responsibilities of system administrators must be clearly specified and regulated (see also S 2.26 Appointment of an administrator and his deputy).

Review questions:

• Is the network managed, co-ordinated, and administered by a central instance?
• Are the functions and responsibilities of network administrators clearly regulated?