Networking is what makes computers fun. Most people don’t think of it that way, but without networking there would be no Internet. Hard to remember a time without the Internet, right? Now imagine your business without the Internet. This is just one of the many reasons why having a healthy network should be one of your focal points.
As I touched on above, the Internet can be the key to a business’s success. An unstable connection or slow speeds can be a sign of potential network issues which can be very damaging to a company’s productivity. As part of my services, I’ll give a thorough diagnostics of your network and pinpoint any bottlenecks or slowdowns. Along with diagnostics, I’ll analyze your current environment and ensure its capable of handling your current network load. A major focus of that analysis will be your company’s Internet connection.
ISP’s (Internet Service Providers) are constantly updating their Data Plans with faster speeds at lower monthly rates. That plan that looked like a steal a few years ago, may have you overpaying for outdated packages. I’ll work with you to calculate the Data Plan that works best for your company and plan a smooth upgrade if your current speeds just aren’t cutting it.
If you’re moving into a new office space or have network equipment that’s starting to have that antique look, I’ll design a new network infrastructure that will handle your current needs while allowing for any future expansion. Technology is constantly evolving and its important to keep one eye on the future while building for today.
If you have 2 or more branches or want to connect your home computer to your office, I’ll design you a network that acts as if every office is in one single location. A lot of ISP’s offer packages that allow direct connections to different locations, but high prices often keep these solutions out of reach for smaller businesses. This forces you to send files to co-workers via email or other unsecure methods leaving your data vulnerable. My solutions use your existing Internet connections while establishing a singular secure network between each of your locations. You’ll be able to share files safely from branch to branch or even send reports directly to another office’s printer. It will be as if every employee is working right next to each other, but with a lot more personal space.
Have you ever been at home or on the road and realized you needed to drive all the way back to the office because you forgot to copy a report or spreadsheet to your thumb drive. It’s happened to me more than once. Well, technology has advanced to the point where you don’t need to make that round trip anymore. Virtual Private Networks, or VPN‘s for short, are a cost effective solution that allows you to remotely connect to your office from anywhere in the world. You can copy files to and from your busniness and home computers or more conveniently just work directly off your business computer and keep your work in the office where it should be. Your entire office can be available to you from the comfort of your couch or the beach on those perfect sunny days. Best of all is that VPN’s are encrypted, so you don’t have to worry about anyone stealing your data while you’re on the road.
Wireless connectivity is one of the best and worst inventions in the history of technology. If you’re not sure what I mean, just look down at your phone. Wireless technology is what allows your smartphone to be “Smart.” That’s the good. Have you ever been on a call or in the middle of watching a video when your connection decides to take a 5 minute vacation. That’s the bad. The same ups and downs apply to your company’s wireless network. When you connect your laptop to your wireless network you probably see 5 or 10 other networks available to you. All those extra networks are actually interfering with your signal and can cause slowdowns or even dropped connections. While there’s nothing you can do to stop others from setting up their own wireless networks, there are things you can do to strengthen yours.
I’ve been designing wireless networks since WiFi first became available and have a strong understanding about what inhibits and improves wireless signals. I’ll do a comprehensive site survey of your workspace and advise you on what you can do to get the most out of your network. Some problems can be fixed with a simple settings change, while others may require more complex solutions. Rest assured, I will always propose the most cost-effective and reliable solution for your business.
If you’re interested in what you can do to secure your wireless network, take a look at my Network Security services.
If you have a growing business, it may be time to explore Network Monitoring. Your bandwidth is a limited resource that is shared by everyone in your company. Knowing who and what is using it can be the key to a well-functioning network. Not only will you be able to see real-time statistics of Internet usage from every device in your company, but you can receive daily reports to help you pinpoint your peak usage hours. This will help you to design a more efficient network with less slowdowns and a more productive staff.
