Our blog post last week sorted out the essential elements to cobble together your small business network – switches, and routers. Let’s continue the discussion by designing the best network for your biz. Does your business occupy one floor, multiple floors, or numerous buildings?
A business on one floor with many computers, several printers, and other devices needs at least a LAN or local area network. A PAN, or personal area network, is not a good idea unless you’re a micro-business not expecting to grow. A LAN will accommodate your business as it grows into more floors, too.
A WAN or wide area network easily link two or more business locations. If your business employs many employees working remotely, a VPN or virtual private network fits perfectly. The encrypted connection provides excellent security, too.
Do you need a server? If you have more than a few computers, yes. A server improves security and allows quicker data access for all employees. Does it need to be on site? No, you can utilize cloud or colocation services.
Your budget for network design will help sort out whether a LAN or WAN is best for your purposes as will your plans for growth. It’s smart to purchase the best equipment you can afford, which will scale with your business growth in the next three to five years.
What cobbles all your equipment together with the switches and routers, it’s the cabling and wiring. If your IT person is not well versed at this, it’s best to budget and hire an expert in cabling and wiring.
Author: Kris Keppeler, a writer who finds technology fascinating and loves humor. She writes for Crossing Genres on Medium.com and Does This Happen to You? on Channillo. Award-winning podcast producer who enjoys telling stories. Follow her @KrisKKAria on Twitter or on LinkedIn.
Small Business Solutions 