Internet Service And Networking For Your Small Business
Having a reliable internet connection for your small business is not really a luxury anymore. In today's business environment, email, social media, and networking are critical to the success of the business. A commercial internet account offers you more than just a way to get online; it gives you a connection to the world that your business needs to thrive and grow.
Network Setup
One of the first things you need when you are getting your business connected is an internal network that offers you the ability to connect workstations and maybe wireless devices throughout your business. Deciding the extent of the network is the first step in determining where your connections need to be in the building. Most businesses will want to have hard lines to workstations for speed and stability.
If you can choose the location of the connections prior to moving everything into the office, the technicians that are running the cables will be better able to hide all the wires and maintain the professional look of the office space. If the office is already set up, the techs will still be able to hide a lot of the cables, but they may have to be a little more creative in how they run them so that you don't see them when the job is complete.
Internet Speeds and Network Requirements
The internet connection coming into your business may seem fast, but when you are splitting the connection between all the workstations in the office, it can slow down substantially. Make sure that you let the ISP (internet service provider) know that you need a connection that is feeding your network so they can put together a commercial package for your business.
The cost will be a bit higher than a residential connection, but the speed and bandwidth allocation should also be higher. Make sure the ISP understands how many workstations will use the connection so they can work with you to provide service that is not going to log or cause you problems with bottlenecks or dropped connections.
Wireless Connections
If you opt for a wireless connection in your office, it is critical that the connection is secure. It is a good idea to have a wireless connection come in separately so that it is separate from the connection that your server uses. If you are providing a public connection point, separate wireless channels are the best option to keep people off the office connection and out of the businesses network.