FCAPS

FCAPS (fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security) is a network management framework created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The primary objective of this network management model is to better understand the major functions of network management systems.

FCAPS is the ISO Telecommunications Management Network model and framework for network management. FCAPS is an acronym for fault, configuration, accounting, performance, security, the management categories into which the ISO model defines network management tasks. In non-billing organizations accounting is sometimes replaced with administration.

Fault management

The goal of fault management is to recognize, isolate, correct and log faults that occur in the network. Furthermore, it uses trend analysis to predict errors so that the network is always available. This can be established by monitoring different things for abnormal behavior.

Configuration management

The goals of configuration management include:

• to gather and store configurations from network devices (this can be done locally or remotely).
• to simplify the configuration of the device
• to track changes that are made to the configuration
• to configure (‘provision’) circuits or paths through non-switched networks
• to plan for future expansion and scaling

Accounting management

The goal is to gather usage statistics for users. Accounting management is concerned with tracking network utilization information, such that individual users, departments, or business units can be appropriately billed or charged for accounting purposes.

Performance management

Performance management is focused on ensuring that network performance remains at acceptable levels. It enables the manager to prepare the network for the future, as well as to determine the efficiency of the current network, for example, in relation to the investments done to set it up. The network performance addresses the throughput, network response times, packet loss rates, link utilization, percentage utilization, error rates and so forth.

Security management

Security management is the process of controlling access to assets in the network. Data security can be achieved mainly with authentication and encryption. Authorization to it configured with OS and DBMS access control settings.

Security management is not only concerned with ensuring that a network environment is secure, but also that gathered security-related information is analyzed regularly. Security management functions include managing network authentication, authorization, and auditing, such that both internal and external users only have access to appropriate network resources.