As an IT manager, you have a vast amount of responsibility on your shoulders, and if you’re anything like us, we’re willing to bet this stress sometimes infiltrates your dreams.
Take a minute to think about your worst work-related nightmare. We’re guessing it involves something going wrong with the IT environment, being unable to resolve it, and taking the blame for downtime and lost productivity.
One of the quickest ways for this situation to become a reality is with an unreliable internet connection.
So how can you avoid seeing your terrible dream come to fruition?
Here are some best practices you should keep in mind when upgrading your internet circuits:
- Find an internet connection that provides fast and reliable access to data/content
- Implement an SD-WAN solution with multiple vendors and mediums
- Balance your internet needs with your budget
- Ensure any increase in bandwidth is compatible with your firewall
- Consider your organization’s long-term goals
There’s a lot to take into account when you’re renewing an internet contract. However, you don’t have to do it alone.
You can lean on our resources and expertise to help you confirm you’re taking your business’s internet circuits in the direction that will support your organization into the future.
Best Practice #1: Internet Circuits Should Be Fast and Reliable
This point may seem obvious, but there are some important implications when you think about it at more than a surface level.
First, determine what “fast and reliable” means for your business. Generally, fast internet includes using a dedicated internet circuit for your business.
The best option is fiber internet because it avoids common speed problems, such as oversubscription, latency, and jitter.
Ultimately, your internet circuit needs to allow your users to access anything on your network and do it quickly. This includes supporting voice, video, and data applications.
An important note is if you’re considering switching to a cloud-hosted phone system in the future or along with your circuit refresh, you’ll need to ensure your bandwidth is capable of connecting your users to the cloud to make quality voice and video calls.
Best Practice #2: Incorporate SD-WAN and Redundancy
When you set up an enterprise network for your business, incorporating SD-WAN (software-defined wide area network) is critical to configuring a network that supports your users.
The software analyzes your internet traffic and balances the connection across your network to ensure it doesn’t cause users issues.
The best circuit packages incorporate SD-WAN along with multiple vendors and mediums to access the internet. At least one of these options should be fiber internet.
Best Practice #3: Find the Fastest Option for Your Budget
If budget isn’t a concern, your best option for internet circuits is to incorporate SD-WAN with multiple fiber connections.
However, you live in the real world, and your IT department has budget constraints. How then do you provide the best service within your budget?
If your budget allows for it, you should choose fiber internet for your primary connection, but broadband is the best alternative.
When you think of additional circuits, most businesses will have their internet needs met by implementing fiber and broadband internet from two separate vendors.
This provides for redundancy, and you can meet your bandwidth needs without solely contracting for expensive fiber circuits.
Best Practice #4: Internet Circuits Must Work With Your Firewall
Before you upgrade your internet circuits, you’ll want to take a look at your firewall capacity.
Firewalls can’t handle unlimited bandwidth. You’ll want to find out your current device’s limit and ensure your new bandwidth falls within that range.
Failing to take your firewall into account means you don’t get to use all of the bandwidth you’re paying for. It could even exacerbate connection problems by bottlenecking traffic at the firewall.
If you genuinely need more bandwidth than your current firewall can handle, you’ll need to replace it with one that is compatible with your new speeds.
Best Practice #5: Your Internet Circuit Should Meet Current and Future Needs
It’s undeniably essential to ensure any changes to your internet circuits work with the entirety of your existing environment. However, you should also consider how they’ll work in the next few years.
When you sign a new internet circuit contract, you’ll be tied to it for around 3 years, so try to anticipate how your organization will grow during that time.
What is your organization’s strategic plan for employee growth? More employees require more bandwidth.
Do you have any plans to acquire or merge with other organizations? Either option could change your internet use.
Will you move some or all of your data to the cloud in the next few years? Businesses require more bandwidth to access cloud applications and data.
Internet Circuits and Your Business
When you consider updating your internet circuits, it’s best to think about all of the moving pieces affected by your connection.
Analyze your best connection options for your area and their price. Then think of how those options work with your organization’s existing applications and goals for the future.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to fit all of these puzzle pieces together on your own. When you’re ready to look at your options for replacing or renewing your internet contract, schedule a free 30-minute consultation with one of our technology experts.
We’ll ask you about your current solutions, immediate goals, and long-term plans to find the best internet circuit for your business.
Not quite ready for a meeting? Learn more about your internet circuit options with these free resources: