If you have decided to undertake some renovation work on your office or are planning to move to a new location, there is one question you should ask before you put your hand to your wallet: How can you get the best out of your future business network?
The Internet offers a wide range of opportunities to increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace, but the dependency of business operations on web connectivity can sometimes prove problematic. Whether yours is a small, medium, or large business, you will constantly need a connection that allows you to work quickly and efficiently.
So, what can your company do to smartly design IT infrastructure and avoid a slow and unreliable Internet connection, which could cause slowdowns and drops in productivity (and possible loss of money)? tips and tricks to follow in case of restructuring your office or moving to a new location, which will help you get a fast and reliable Internet connection. Here they are for you.
Table of Contents
1) Check The Actual Internet Coverage Of The Chosen Area
It may happen that the enthusiasm of having finally found the location of our dreams makes us overlook the importance of carrying out a thorough check of the actual Internet coverage. We, therefore, rely on the websites of commercial operators in the network services sector, filled with attractive promotional offers. Often these offers focus solely on the aspect of economic convenience and leave out important details such as the distance from the control unit, the technology available in your area (ADSL or fiber), and the actual speed that can be reached. from the connection. It is good to obtain this information before making your choice: serious operators make public every detail regarding their internet coverage, but many specialized websites and apps can help the customer make their own decisions. Relying on an IT consultancy service to avoid scams.
2) Ask Yourself How Much Bandwidth You Need
We will be honest with you: bandwidth is never enough for us, especially when managing a company that intends to look to the future and keep up with technological development. The most suitable bandwidth for your company, in any case, depends on the services provided and the activities carried out in the office, the number of PC workstations, and the use (or not) of modern cloud services, which require a fiber connection optical (and not in mixed copper fiber). Again, the help of expert consultants can only come in handy.
3) Consider The Possibility Of a Second Connection
If your company’s productivity is heavily dependent on Internet services, you should consider installing a second line. Breakdowns happen, and when the Internet connection is practically absent and the bandwidth is unusable, having to wait for a large national network operator to carry out the necessary repairs can cost your business dearly.
4) Think About The Number Of Network Points To Install
During the installation phase of the system, the moment has come to decide how many networks points to install in the various PC stations, it is good to take into account the future development of the company, since not always a limited number of network points translates into a saving of money for the client. Often, having to rework the entire system at a later time proves to be much more expensive than making room for a few more cables when installing the wiring.
5) Place The Rack Cabinet In The Right Place
The racks are specific cabinets used to maintain accessible and well-organized network devices used for business connectivity (such as servers, switches, storage systems, etc.). The cabinet should be placed in a cool and dry place, possibly air-conditioned, where it can make noise without disturbing the employees (there will be fans almost always running to ensure the right system temperature). Its size depends on the size of the company and the number of systems it hosts.
6) Consider Installing a WiFi Network
Having a WiFi line in the office in addition to the LAN network is now a consolidated practice. The wireless network allows you to connect smartphones and mobile devices quickly and without the clutter of cables, thus ensuring connectivity to customers, any visitors, employees, and stations far from the wiring. The Access Point of a WiFi network should be positioned in a central point and possibly on the ceiling, to ensure maximum signal coverage and an optimal connection. In the case of very large environments, it may be necessary to install more than one Access Point.
7) Plan The Eventual Installation Of a Video Surveillance System
If you have considered the idea of installing security cameras, it is a good idea to carry out the wiring when setting up the IT infrastructure: this will allow you to identify the most convenient position for the video surveillance system cables which will be connected to the ‘rack cabinet.
