Sometimes you might encounter situations where your network is limited in the amount of data it can process at any given time. The unfortunate truth is that it can be difficult to identify exactly what the problem is that is causing the slowdown, but one of the most common issues—the network bottleneck—is a pretty safe bet. But what exactly is a bottleneck, and what can be done to solve it?

Consider the design of a bottle; it is rounded at the bottom with the top growing more narrow as you reach the opposite end. The design itself seems to be one that limits the amount of fluid that can pass through it at any given time to keep you from drenching yourself in whatever it is you are drinking.

For another example, imagine a two-lane highway on a busy day. With so many cars traveling to the same destination, both lanes need to be functioning at maximum efficiency to deliver the traffic in a safe and effective way. What happens if the path is restricted to just one lane, though? Can the road handle the same amount of traffic, or does traffic grind to a slow and painful crawl? We’ll let you call on your own experiences during the morning commute for that answer.

A network bottleneck is similar in the sense that the amount of data is restricted by the design or limitations of its container. The flow of data throughout your network infrastructure is governed by the bandwidth and capabilities of its hardware. If the network is trying to transport too much data at the same time, a network bottleneck can surface, creating problems in the process. Here are some of the common causes of network bottlenecks; these causes are generally caused by issues related to the hardware components:

• CPUs
• Graphical processing units
• RAM shortages

Network bottlenecks are known to create several issues that can impact the efficiency of a network and the productivity of its users. With insufficient resources to transport data, the network may experience considerable slowdown that impedes your company’s ability to function. Tasks that would normally take a small amount of time might be longer or drawn out, forcing your employees to either rush through the tasks to get them done on-time and on-budget, or worse, skipped over entirely in favor of other tasks that can actually be completed. You don’t need us to tell you how much of a problem this can be.

Depending on the nature and design of your network, you might have bottlenecks that are completely accidental and have gone by the wayside for far too long. Furthermore, unless you are actively looking for them, it can be tricky to find where exactly they are. Thankfully, you don’t have to go through this process on your own. With the help of professionals like us, you too can find bottlenecks and dramatically improve the performance of your network.

415 IT can help your business discover and address network inefficiencies, including bottlenecks. To learn more about our network audit services, among others, give us a call at (415) 295-4898.