Network throughput.
WHAT BANDWIDTH IS
The maximum rate a link can carry.
WHAT COMMITTED CAPACITY MEANS
A rate the provider guarantees.
WHAT BURSTABLE MEANS
The ability to exceed the committed rate, usually charged separately.
WHAT METERED BILLING MEANS
Charging by volume transferred.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
Which model applies What happens when you exceed a commitment Whether transfer in and out are charged differently
THAT LAST POINT
Outbound transfer is frequently the charged direction, and the expensive one.
WHAT DRIVES CONSUMPTION
Serving media Backups transferred offsite Replication between locations Bots and automated traffic
THAT LAST ONE
Frequently a substantial proportion, and entirely unproductive.
WHAT TO MONITOR
Usage against commitment Growth trend Which services consume most
WHAT TO PLAN
Capacity ahead of need, since increases take time to arrange.
WHAT TO REDUCE
Unnecessary transfer: uncompressed content, unoptimised media, unnecessary replication.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
A delivery network, which moves transfer away from your connection.
