Modern businesses need the internet. It’s their lifeline to the world. They can connect with customers, store personal data, and process transactions. However, they must choose the right internet provider to see the anticipated benefits. What factors must be considered when making this choice?
Location
Location plays a role in selecting the internet provider. Businesses in urban areas will have plenty of internet options to choose from. One company might choose a high-speed fiber connection, while another prefers to use DSL for their internet. A business in a rural area will have fewer choices. Satellite might be the only option, or the business owner may be able to use a wireless connection. Determine whether ethernet service is needed, and learn about the reliability and capacity of the existing infrastructure.
Bandwidth
Business owners must determine how many employees will use the internet regularly to figure out the bandwidth needed. Make this calculation during peak usage times. Figure out what types of applications will be run and how many resources they use. While video conferencing can be done with little bandwidth, running a multiscreen setup requires significantly more. Furthermore, the owner must learn whether the service can be scaled as the business grows. If the provider can’t accommodate the company’s growing needs, it may be best to look for a different provider. Doing so ensures the business won’t need to switch providers when things take off.
Redundancy
Downtime hurts a business. When the company cannot be reached, sales are lost, and customers may look elsewhere for products and services only to never return to the business that experienced the downtime. Determine what is acceptable when it comes to downtime. Determine how much downtime will cost the company and at what point the business will suffer severe consequences. Review each provider’s Service Level Agreement (SLA) to ensure it aligns with the established downtime tolerance level.
Backup Option
Always ask about a provider’s backup options. These backups ensure the connection remains uninterrupted, even during a disruption. Failover connections are one backup option, but some providers use an automatic switchover, which takes the service to a cellular network.
Connection Options
Businesses today may choose from several connection options. DSL remains the choice of many, although more people are now moving to fiber internet, as it is the fastest available. Look into cable, satellite, wireless broadband, and ethernet. When doing so, consider the benefits and drawbacks of each to ensure the proper selection is made.
Why Ethernet Service?
Many companies today refuse to use anything other than ethernet for their internet service. It uses existing copper telephone lines to send and receive data at high speeds. It is faster than DSL and less expensive than fiber internet. However, ethernet availability is limited, and the transmission speed and quality may deteriorate further from the provider’s central office. Latency isn’t an issue when this option is chosen, and the data security is much greater than seen with wireless options.
Consider all options when comparing internet providers and connection types. Many business owners rely on ethernet services today because they offer numerous benefits. Companies that work with sensitive data regularly, such as healthcare and financial organizations, often find ethernet is the best option because it offers significantly higher security. Keep this in mind when choosing a provider that meets the organization’s needs completely.