A reliable, redundant and secure internet connection is critical for businesses as it enables smooth and efficient online operations. A reliable internet connection ensures that employees can access the internet and use online services without interruption, which is crucial for many businesses that rely on the internet for their daily operations. A redundant internet connection, on the other hand, ensures that there are multiple ways to access the internet, providing a backup in case of an internet outage. This helps to keep the business running even in the event of a network failure.
A secure internet connection is equally important as it helps to protect a business' sensitive information and data from unauthorized access and data breaches. Cybersecurity threats are increasing day by day and a secure internet connection can prevent cybercriminals from accessing a business' sensitive information and data, which can help to minimize the risk of data breaches and protect the business's reputation. In short, a reliable, redundant and secure internet connection is crucial for a business to keep their operations running smoothly and securely, protect their sensitive information and avoid unexpected downtimes.
There are several broadband internet options for businesses, including:
Cable: This uses the same cables as cable TV to provide internet access.
Fiber Optic: This uses fiber-optic cables to provide internet access.
Cellular: This uses cellular networks to provide internet access.
Satellite: This uses satellites to provide internet access in remote areas.
Businesses should consider the speed, reliability, and cost of each option when choosing a broadband internet service. Depending on their specific needs, businesses may also want to consider additional features such as:
SD-WAN: SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) is a technology that allows businesses to use software to manage and optimize the connections between their branch offices and their corporate network. This can improve network performance, reduce costs, and increase security. In simple terms, it is a way to manage a wide area network using software, instead of traditional hardware-based solutions.
Wireless Internet (Cellular): In simple terms, POTS lines is a traditional analog telephone service that uses copper wire telephone lines to transmit voice and data, and it's typically used for individual residential or small business use and provides a single telephone line for making and receiving calls with no advanced features.
Backup (failover) Internet Connection: is a secondary internet connection that kicks in automatically if the primary connection goes down, to ensure that the business can keep running without interruption. This can be done through a variety of ways including: using a cellular modem or wireless connection as a failover, or by routing the traffic through a VPN over a different connection. Having a backup internet connection can be critical for businesses that rely heavily on the internet for their operations, such as e-commerce or cloud-based services, to minimize downtime and keep the business running smoothly.
Why should you use SD-WAN for your business?
Thereare several reasons why a business should consider using SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) on their network infrastructure:
Improved Network Performance: SD-WAN uses software to optimize network traffic, resulting in improved network performance and faster data transfer.
Increased Flexibility: SD-WAN allows businesses to use multiple internet connections, including broadband, LTE, and MPLS, and automatically routes traffic over the best path, providing increased flexibility and resilience.
Reduced Costs: SD-WAN can help businesses to reduce costs by using less expensive internet connections for non-critical applications, while still maintaining high-quality connections for critical applications.
Improved Security: SD-WAN includes advanced security features, such as encryption and firewalls, which can help to protect businesses from cyber threats and data breaches.
Easy to Manage: SD-WAN is easy to manage, as it can be centrally controlled, which makes it easy to make changes and updates to the network, reducing the need for expensive on-site IT support.