What Is Change Control And Why Does It Need To Be Managed

What Is Change Control And Why Does It Need To Be Managed Give Two Ex

Explain what change control is and why it is important to manage it effectively. Provide two examples illustrating the impact of mismanagement of change control. Discuss why a network requires constant monitoring to determine the percentage of capacity being used. Describe the potential consequences of not monitoring capacity usage. Define bandwidth. Explain why a company needs standards regarding who can expand the network or add applications that require heavy bandwidth.

Paper For Above instruction

Change control is a systematic approach to managing all changes made to a project or system, ensuring that modifications are introduced in a controlled and coordinated manner. It encompasses processes for requesting, reviewing, approving, implementing, and documenting changes. Effective change control is essential in maintaining the integrity, stability, and security of an organization’s IT environment. Without proper management, changes can lead to disruptions, security vulnerabilities, and increased costs.

Mismanagement of change control can have serious consequences. For example, in a software development setting, unapproved or improperly implemented updates might introduce bugs, leading to system outages or security breaches. An instance of this was the 2017 Equifax data breach, where a failure to properly manage a security patch contributed to the compromise of sensitive data. Another example involves network modifications; unauthorized changes made without review can cause network downtime. For instance, in 2013, a poorly managed network change led to significant downtime at a major retailer, disrupting sales and damaging customer trust.

Monitoring network capacity is critical because it enables administrators to gauge the percentage of bandwidth being utilized. Constant monitoring helps identify usage trends, prevent congestion, and ensure quality of service (QoS). If capacity is not monitored, the network may become overloaded, resulting in slow performance, increased latency, or complete outages. These disruptions can hinder business operations, reduce productivity, and lead to financial losses. Furthermore, failure to monitor network usage can impair the ability to plan for future capacity needs, risking abrupt overflows as demands grow.

Bandwidth refers to the maximum rate of data transfer across a given path or connection in a network, usually measured in bits per second (bps). It determines how much data can be transmitted at one time and thus influences the overall speed and performance of a network. Adequate bandwidth ensures smooth data flow for applications such as video conferencing, cloud services, and file transfers, which require high data rates for optimal operation.

Organizational standards regarding who can expand the network or add bandwidth-intensive applications are essential to maintain security, performance, and compliance. Without clear policies, unauthorized personnel might introduce vulnerabilities or overburden network resources, resulting in performance degradation or security breaches. Establishing standards ensures that network expansions are aligned with organizational goals, are adequately planned, and do not compromise existing infrastructure. It also facilitates accountability and helps in regulatory compliance, especially in industries handling sensitive data.

References

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  • Cisco Systems. (2020). Network management and monitoring functionalities. Cisco. https://www.cisco.com
  • ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018, Information technology — Service management — Part 1: Service management system requirements.
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  • Goyal, S. (2019). Network security essentials. Springer.
  • Rouse, M. (2021). Bandwidth. TechTarget. https://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/bandwidth
  • Fitzgerald, J., & Dennis, A. (2018). Business data communications and networking. Pearson.
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2020). Guide to enterprise telework and remote work solutions. NIST Special Publication 800-207.
  • Larson, M. (2016). Effective network management. Addison-Wesley.

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