By Matthew Campbell, Head of SME and FTTH at SEACOM
Connecting your business to the internet actually requires a bit of thought. You cannot simply choose an internet service provider (ISP) and hope for the best. Your ISP needs to be reliable, efficient and offer great services. This will determine the effectiveness of your office WiFi and internet.
There are several ways to set up your WiFi router to ensure that you get complete coverage throughout your business premises. All employees will need a stable connection to the WiFi signal, so consider the following points…
Understand the office space
To start, look at how big your office space is. Look at where the walls and barriers, such as pillars and partitions, lie within the space. Then, determine which rooms and areas will need WiFi connectivity – draw a basic floor plan if this helps. This will help you to determine the best position for the WiFi router and boosters, if needed. In most cases, an office WiFi booster or additional access point may be required.
Determine your line requirements
Before choosing an appropriate internet package, you will first need to determine your line requirements, which is a pretty simple process. How many employees need to be connected? What will those employees be doing on the internet? If video calls are a big part of your business, or if employees need to transfer large files, then you will need a bigger internet package with more bandwidth and data.
Fibre installation is the best option
Without a doubt, fibre is the fastest, most reliable high-capacity internet connection available today. It is an absolute necessity for modern businesses. Your office may have fibre pre-installed, which is amazing. You’ll need to contact the fibre network operator (FNO) for that line and get a list of their ISP partners.
If fibre is not installed, then it may be a matter of getting a cable laid directly to your office. WonderNet offers an easy way to determine whether your office may have fibre. Simply visit our homepage, type your address in the “@ office” box and see whether fibre is available in your suburb. From there, you can choose a suitable internet package.
Consider a hybrid solution
While WiFi offers easy wireless connectivity, it can sometimes glitch. Many modern offices use a hybrid solution of WiFi and ethernet connections. Ethernet is simple a cable that runs directly from the router to the computers. It ensures a more stable and reliable connection to the fibre line. Hybrid solutions offer greater flexibility, scalability and reliability. It also allows a company to connect more devices without additional equipment costs.
WiFi security is a key concern
Any WiFi network should be password protected and encrypted. This will keep your business network safe from unwanted users and hackers. Try to change your WiFi password regularly to prevent potential security breaches or ex-employees from accessing the network. In addition, keep your IT security software and firewalls up-to-date. Create online safety guidelines for employees and consider blocking access to certain websites during work hours.
Futureproof your office WiFi and internet connections
When it comes to installing new tech in your office, it’s important to know how long these will be viable and meet your needs. Scalable WiFi solutions will ensure that as your business grows, so does your network. A connectivity solution designed for 10 employees will not be good enough when you eventually have 20 employees. Choose an ISP with the future in mind and that can offer scalable, future-forward solutions on a contractual basis.
There are an estimated 4.7-billion active internet users worldwide and this number is growing rapidly by the day. To keep up with the rest of the world, you need to ensure that your business can connect with a local and global community. Access to fast, reliable and affordable fibre internet is essential. For more information about our fibre offerings or to get a quote for an internet upgrade, please contact us today or check if we’re connected to your address.