Whether you’re moving around the office, passing through an airport, or sitting at a café, there’s a constant need to be connected to the internet. When it comes to small business, staff and customers alike expect reliable access to Wi-Fi. It’s paramount in a world where accessing information on demand has become the norm.
Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity is crucial in maintaining day-to-day operations, and can often be a competitive advantage – something that many small business owners are beginning to understand. Gartner predicts that in 2018, 40 percent of enterprises will use Wi-Fi instead of ethernet cable as the default connection for non-mobile devices, such as desktop computers, desk phones, and printers.
But creating that reliable Wi-Fi network is more than just plugging in a few wireless access points. Here are some considerations for small business owners looking to deploy or upgrade their network.
Crowded house
Unless your business consists of a small number of users sitting within a contained area, it’s unlikely the Wi-Fi connectivity is anything spectacular. It’s the bane of any user’s experience to access a lagging internet connection – or, worse, one that drops out altogether. Delivering an optimised connection to all users will become more complex as additional devices integral to business operations, from tablets to IoT sensors, are added to your network and more employees bring their personal devices to the workplace (BYOD).
Poor Wi-Fi connectivity can have a negative impact on business productivity and customer loyalty. In order to optimise user experience, it’s important to install enough access points to deliver powerful and fast Wi-Fi to every user. Self-healing, encrypted mesh network with seamless Wi-Fi roaming that is automatically enabled will both speed up efficiency levels and eliminate black spots. A fully integrated 4G LTE radio with an internet failover and failback solution should also be used to detect connection activity, including failure, restoration and stability.
Tread with caution
While Wi-Fi brings clear advantages for SMEs, there are also hidden dangers – the big one being security. Belgian cyber security researchers recently disclosed a flaw in most modern Wi-Fi systems that could allow hackers to read encrypted information or spread malware across a network.
With business infrastructures increasingly spanning from on-premise into the cloud, and critical business information being transferred from one place to another, it’s important to make sure data is protected – no matter where it lives or where it’s going. A cloud-managed network controller that relies on Power over Ethernet (PoE) can easily be deployed to deliver greater network visibility and integration. A cloud-based dashboard is another way that small businesses can build, manage and, most importantly, monitor all their Wi-Fi access points.
For businesses that offer guests or customers Wi-Fi access, best practice is to set up two separate wireless networks. It may seem obvious, but ensure your business-only network is secured with a strong password to deter hackers. This will keep your confidential business information secure, while customers can still benefit from your guest service.
Managing your Wi-Fi
The more connected devices you have, particularly with the rise of the Internet of Things, the more complicated managing your network will become. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can take that pressure off business owners. They can handle everything from monitoring network traffic volumes, and figuring out the most cost-efficient networking ecosystem for the business, through to securing the network.
Seeking expert advice is a key port of call for any networking project, because it means you can leave it to the professionals, while you get on with running your business uninterrupted.
James Bergl, Regional Director – ANZ, Datto
