Does it ever feel like your team is on a plateau and you can’t seem to get to a point of peak efficiency? Do you have problems nearly every day with work stoppages because someone’s internet is slow or has dropped out?
Using a cheap router as your “office network” is one of the reasons many companies can’t seem to run as optimally as they’d like. When just about everything a modern business does requires an online connection, how you build and protect that connection has a direct impact on your bottom line.
Many small business owners just pick up a cheap router at Walmart or another retailer and that’s the extent of their business network. They think that all wireless connections are pretty much going to be the same.
Speed
But it’s not only your internet plan that decides the speed of your network, the networking equipment you choose has a lot to with it. Did you know that just upgrading from Wi-Fi 5 to a Wi-Fi 6 router can boost connection speed by 250%?
Security
Beyond speed, another important consideration with your business network is security. If you pick up a cheap, consumer-grade router for your office, it’s not going to provide the type of protection from security breaches needed for business data.
Because your network is the backbone of your Louisiana office, it’s important to invest in an enterprise-class system that’s going to keep your data and devices secure and help you get off a work plateau by boosting productivity and reliability.
Pieces to a Great, Fast & Reliable Business Network
Wi-Fi Access Points
Many single-router networks suffer from weaker connections the farther a device is from that one point of contact. Router interference can also be common due to walls and even microwaves, which run on a similar frequency as Wi-Fi (2.4Ghz).
A mesh network consists of using several wireless access points throughout your office to deliver a strong and reliable signal throughout the property. And a network using multiple points of connection instead of just one is more reliable. If one of them goes down, your team is still online because the other access points pick up the slack. Unlike a single router network, where if the router goes down, everyone is offline.
Benefits of upgrading to Wi-Fi access points include:
- More reliable network
- Easy to expand your signal
- No more weak Wi-Fi areas
- Better handling of multiple devices
- No single point of failure
Ethernet Cabling
While wireless internet is definitely convenient, ethernet cabling is both more secure and faster. If a hacker wants to get into a wired network connection, they have to have physical access to your building. Unlike Wi-Fi where data is traveling through the air and can be grabbed from outside.
An Ethernet connection is also faster than Wi-Fi. Wired connections can be as fast as 10Gpbs (gigabytes per second) or more, while Wi-Fi is typically less than 1Gpbs, and tops out at 6.9Gbps.
An IT pro, like Carl’s Computer Care, can help you with a mix of both faster wired and more convenient wireless networking so you’re getting the best of both worlds.
Firewall/Gateway
A gateway efficiently connects two different parts of a network together and a firewall monitors all traffic to secure your entire network.
Not having a firewall leaves your devices at risk of a breach, allowing hackers to steal data, plant ransomware, or do device takeovers for things like cryptocurrency mining.
Some of the things that a firewall does to protect your business network, devices, and data include:
- Monitor all incoming and outgoing traffic
- Provide alerts for anything suspicious
- Block malicious scripts
- Run automated commands to quarantine threats
- Add access security protocols to prevent insider attacks
Managed Network
Without your internet connection, your office (just like most others) would be pretty much at a standstill. With no ability to get email or connect to cloud applications and data, a majority of companies couldn’t operate effectively.
It’s important that your network be managed and monitored by an IT professional on an ongoing basis to keep it well maintained and address any potential problems before they occur.
Benefits of signing up for a managed network plan include:
- Cost savings by minimizing hardware expense & downtime
- Improved team productivity
- 24/7 monitoring for any security threats
- Ongoing equipment maintenance
- Better network speed and reliability
- Improved network security
- Someone to call for immediate help if anything goes down
- Peace of mind knowing your network is being well managed
Upgrade Your Business Network to Enjoy Faster & More Secure Internet
Carl’s Computer Care can assist your Louisiana business with an affordable upgrade to an enterprise-class network that improves productivity, efficiency, and keeps your business data more secure.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation! Call 225-315-3498 or reach us online.