Network Operations Center

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A Network Operations Center or NOC (pronounced "nock") is one or more locations from which control is exercised over a computer or telecommunications network, or part thereof.

Large organizations may operate more than one NOC, either to manage different networks, or to provide geographic redundancy in the event of one site being unavailable or offline.

The acronym NOC may be prefixed or appended to the network or product managed by that centre. An example of this usage is "INOC" being "International Network Operations Center".

This term is normally used when referring to telecommunications providers, although a growing number of other organizations such as public utilities (SCADA) and private companies have also adopted these centers to both manage their internal networks and to provide monitoring services.

The location housing the NOC may also contain many or all of the primary servers and other equipment essential to running the network, although it is not uncommon for a single NOC to monitor and control a number of geographically dispersed sites.

[edit] Examples

• Network Operations Center (Georgia State University)