What Is The Most Important Part Of Your Business Network?
In most cases, it's your router ...
Posted by Pritesh Ganatra on 14/05/2024 @ 8:00AM
The final words from my last blog post led me to determine a business network's commonest point of failure. We're heading into the VoIP era and plunging feet-first into having the traditional PSTN/ISDN networks disconnected forever ...
The router you purchase for your business network should always be a high-quality, business-grade product!
I want your business to run smoothly. Now, even more so than ever, technology professionals need to be upfront and straightforward when upgrading a business to an up-to-date system. As far as VoIP/SIP technology is concerned, getting the right solution when there are over 100 choices means that the person selling or demonstrating to you must, on all accounts, be ethical and honest about their chosen product.
"It should fit your business like a tailored silk glove!"
So, when considering what hardware are at the top of your critical list, you should also consider what is, and is not, under the control of a) you as a client and b) we as the supply chain. I have come up with my particular suggestions as to how to plan a network and what to do in planning for that all important disaster recovery planning.
From the viewpoint of what is controllable, in my professional opinion, I believe that the most central of all devices that will cause the widest impact if a failure occurs is your humble broadband router.
As a generalisation, the router is the central device that performs up to four critical tasks:
The device takes the incoming feed from the broadband (WAN side)
It also is the interface that (under normal circumstances and for most SME-size businesses) distributes the internal IP addresses (DHCP) for every single device on the network (LAN side)
The router can be your firewall, which aids in the blocking of those all-intensive cyber-attacks
And finally, the router is also the device that has the Wi-Fi radio architecture built-in to the device
If this one single device fails, your business will grind to a halt!
Obviously, there are many other points of failure such as if there is an internet outage, but that is beyond your control as a business or our control as resellers in the supply chain. Even if you are contracted directly with a supplier such as BTNet, your point of contact will have no control over the engineers who repair the network side.
Of course, internal switches can fail, but as there is usually no fancy programming for most businesses your technology partner should be able to quickly replace it and your hard-wired network is back up and running in no time.
"As I said, this is a generalist and highly simplified explanation!"
The router you purchase should always be a high-quality, business-grade product and not a cheap domestic one as it is probably the most important function piece of hardware in your business right now.
Remember, businesses must have completed the move to VoIP networks by December 2025 as stated by Openreach, the part of BT PLC which owns and operates our legacy copper.
Now, would be a great time to talk to me about making the move.
Until next time ...
PRITESH GANATRA
Would you like to know more?
If anything I've written in this blog post resonates with you and you'd like to discover more about your business network and how you can make it more resilient, it may be a great idea to give me a call on 01604 926100 or take a look at my website which you can find by clicking here.
The word 'Technology' has too many connotations in today's world!
Where do we start? Simple terms like 'IT' and 'Telecoms'? or terms that appear NOT to have an actual meaning at all!, e.g. 'Internet of Things (IoT).
Technology also encompasses specialist products and services like 'Rugged' and 'Tough' android devices, Lone Worker Software, panic alarm devices, smart energy devices, low energy lighting, credit card terminal (PCI DSS) security, indoor/ outdoor Wi-Fi systems, Ultrafast Gigabit internet connectivity, access control systems, industrial IoT circuit controllers.
BTS UK can consult from simple solutions to the most complex, provide some of the products through a wholesale channel, bring together a multi-disciplined 'Task Force' to deliver and implement complete Technology 'projects'.
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