What Do You Know About
Nowadays, it’s difficult to find a business that doesn’t rely on wireless internet, or WiFi. However, not all businesses have the same WiFi needs. A small caf in your town may only need to support one or two networks and have very basic security requirements, whereas an office building may need to support hundreds of devices while maintaining high security standards at all times. Regardless of the type of business you run, selecting a WiFi installation that will meet your needs is critical. Here are some tips on how to choose the best commercial WiFi installation for your business.
Finding a wifi system that meets your requirements is critical when making your decision. Before purchasing your new wifi equipment, think about how many devices will connect to your network. This can help you decide whether to buy a mid-range or enterprise-level system. Enterprise solutions, in addition to costing more than mid-range products, can support more users and devices. If your business is only going to have a few employees using their smartphones or laptops at any given time, then you might want to save money by purchasing a mid-range product. However, if your business has several employees who need to access wifi in different areas of your building (such as warehouse workers who are constantly on their phones), then an enterprise solution would be better suited for these needs.
No matter how much you may think you know about wireless networking, there are some installations that should be left to professionals. Enterprise-grade wifi systems should only be handled by knowledgeable individuals, just as you would not install your own air conditioning system or repair a gas leak. Although there are many DIY instructions available, as with any home improvement project, skipping a professional can end up costing you more in terms of time and money than hiring someone right away. Your bandwidth requirements should be assessed as part of your company’s business plan in order to determine how much your commercial wireless internet costs will be. You may require a higher capacity network than businesses with fewer employees or lower traffic requirements if you have more customers using wireless Internet at once and they are all simultaneously downloading files and streaming video.
In general, consumer-grade wireless access points are less expensive than commercial grade ones, so if money is tight, prioritize those. The next thing you should consider is coverage. If a location has a large space that needs wireless access, it would be smart to invest in a powerful wireless solution from one of your more expensive providers such as Cisco Meraki or Ubiquiti Networks. Consider the features that are most significant to you. Depending on your business model, optional features like guest networks, security measures, and even voice calling capabilities may be of significant value.