Information system infrastructure planning-threshold setting based on risk analysis

Abstract

Information systems infrastructure planning performed based on the data collected from network monitoring and asset management systems can be developed further to include risk assessment and analysis as an input to the threshold setting methods in the two-dimensional load-age balance graph. The two-dimensional load-age balance graph is used to present generic value for network devices load gathered as measured values through the network managements system, and age - gathered from the asset management system. Threshold lines are defined in such graph to present areas of different interest from the perspective of low-high age, low-high load, or some other selection criteria. This paper explores how the threshold values can be set to reflect risk assessment methodology of the owner/maintainer/user. The position of each networking device in the graph is unique, disregarding the threshold values. However, the total score for the system, determined based on the position of a device in the graph area, depends on the defined threshold. The paper analyzes the impact of the threshold change based on the risk assessment criteria to the total score for a system. The total score can then be used to compare different systems, or to compare the same system in time.